By Curtis Galbraith

New Grain Growers of Canada chair wants to work on trade, AgriStability

Dec 10, 2020 | 4:14 PM

The new board chair for the Grain Growers of Canada says he wants to continue the good work the group has already done.

Valhalla farmer Andre Harpe was elected to the post at the organization’s recent annual general meeting.

He says there are a lot of things affecting agriculture right now and the business is at what he calls “a very important crossroads.”

“International trade, we can use the Huawei China example, there are things like that. (Also), huge, important things like sustainability and even our government have talked about how agriculture can lead us out of the pandemic.”

Harpe says discussions about changes to AgriStability are also very important.

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“There has been an offer put out on the table (by) the federal agriculture minister. Right now, we are really hoping that the provinces actually pay attention to it and actually negotiate in good faith to get something on the table for farmers.”

The federal government recently offered to increase support to 80 per cent of losses from 70 and to eliminate the margin limit.

Harpe says this is one of the few times he has seen all groups from all commodity sectors saying something needs to change.

He adds this program is important for northern Alberta as crops were not as good as they could have been, even though southern Alberta did very well.

Harpe says market conditions are always changing, but canola is doing well right now and is hoping other crops start to do better.

“Production is down slightly overall. But, also, at the same time, I think it has been found out that China is actually accessing more canola than has been previously thought through other countries. So, not only is production down a little bit but also, at the same time, usage is going up.”

Harpe says dry conditions have impacted the soybean crop in South America.

In addition to being the Grain Growers of Canada board chair, Harpe will also continue as a director with the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.

He has been with the GGC board for about a year and says it has been interesting to see how farmers are different in different parts of the country, but their needs are the same.