AgGrowth Coalition to focus on BRM programs

Sep 14, 2017

The coalition is made up of six organizations

By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com

A group of six ag industry groups have formed an alliance focused on ensuring Canadian farmers are receiving the maximum possible benefits from federal government programs.

The AgGrowth Coalition consists of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Canola Growers Association, Grain Growers of Canada, Grain Farmers of Ontario, National Sheep Network and Canadian Horticultural Council.

The group formed in January after producers voiced their discontent for current business risk management (BRM) programs.

“Farmers were unhappy with some of the programs in the BRM suite,” Catherine Scovil, director of government relations with the Canadian Canola Growers Association, told Farms.com today. “We had discussions about what we can do to ensure the dollars being spent on business risk management are being spent in the best way possible.”

In August, the federal, provincial and territorial governments announced the creation of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), which will replace Growing Forward 2.

Part of CAP’s framework includes exploring changes into BRM programs, which the AgGrowth Coalition actively fought for, Scovil said.

“(The Coalition) is very pleased and encouraged about the (program reviews),” she said. “What we want to make sure of is that industry and associations are engaged as a partner in those discussions and that we’re working together to understand the key risks facing farmers.”

And farmers are a part of AgGrowth Coalition’s vision.

Mark Brock, chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario, is also AgGrowth’s chair. And Jeff Nielsen, president of Grain Growers of Canada, is the coalition’s vice-chair.

And they understand the importance of having modern business risk management programs that reflect Canada’s modern agricultural landscape.

“Modern farming is a smart global business, supporting strong communities across the country with sustainable practices,” Brock said in a Sept. 11 release. “It’s time to modernize our agriculture programs, reflect the risks that are part of this reality and support the opportunities in front of us.”

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Canadian Pork Council are also involved with the AgGrowth Coalition.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.