(Alice McFarlane/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Federal Election 2019

Leaders need a plan to reopen agriculture markets

Sep 13, 2019 | 12:01 PM

Grain farmers across the country are calling on the federal party leaders to outline their plans to support agricultural trade.

Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) Chair Jeff Nielsen urged political leaders to share their party’s plan to address the market access challenges facing Canada’s export-oriented agriculture sector.

“We are just weeks away from choosing a new federal government and we have yet to hear anything concrete regarding trade from any of our major parties or political leaders,” Nielsen said in a news release. “Whoever wins this election will be inheriting this situation and must have a strategy in place to address it in short order.”

China has dominated the headlines due to their halting of canola, soybeans, beef, and pork products. Nielsen said the market access problems experienced by farmers have extended beyond China including the stoppage of durum wheat trade with Italy, the shutdown of pulse products shipped into India and persistent challenges with Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

Nielsen said without any indication the geopolitical tensions will ease anytime soon, harvest 2019 doesn’t offer any cause for optimism.

Responsive measures

Some Sask. farmers to get winter elk hunting permits next year to protect land

Mar 12, 2026

Buy Now, Pay Later!

Spring 2026 Early Buy Program

Mar 09, 2026

SARM Convention

Sask RMs gather to address come concerns

Mar 06, 2026

“Canadian grain farmers need market certainty. That means having a federal government who acts aggressively to remove trade barriers that stand in our way and ensures that those with whom we have trade agreements live up to their commitments,” Nielsen said.

–

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF