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Prairie Farm Leaders Outline Priorities

April 17, 2009

Winnipeg – The three major farm organizations representing farmers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta emerged from a forum today with a renewed focus on the issues facing Prairie agriculture. Their discussions were framed around the Canada Grain Act, the livestock industry, the environment, inputs, and transportation.

Above photo (left to right): Greg Marshall (APAS), Ian Wishart (KAP), Humphrey Banack (WRAP).

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), and Wild Rose Agricultural Producers (WRAP) identified two major priorities, and developed an action plan to move these issues forward in the coming year.

Addressing Issues Concerning the Canada Grain Act

The farm groups believe that issues surrounding the Canada Grain Act must be addressed to ensure the act will be effective for producers, in particular the producer payment security mechanism and inward inspection and weighing. The current bonding system protects a producer’s grain delivery to an elevator and ensures that he or she will be paid. This is critical protection for producers and there must be no gaps until an effective replacement is put in place. The groups will continue to convey the urgency of this issue to federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and their provincial Agriculture Ministers.

Assistance for the Livestock Industry

The leaders of WRAP, APAS, and KAP emphasized their support for much needed assistance for the livestock industry, and recognized the need to call on the federal government to develop—in consultation with farm groups and provincial governments—a long-term strategy to ensure the financial viability of the Canadian livestock industry.

The organizations remain committed to working together to speak for Prairie farmers with a strong voice. The next meeting of the leaders will take place in Regina in October.

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For more information, please contact:

Ian Wishart, KAP President.  Cell: (204) 856-6964. 

Greg Marshall, APAS President.  Cell: (306) 746-7747.

Humphrey Banack, WRAP President.  Cell: (780) 679-4449.

Kristen Lucyshyn, KAP Communications.  Office: (204) 697-1140.  Cell: (204) 792-2661.