(Alice McFarlane/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Canadian Canola

Farm group wants action to protect producers

Mar 29, 2019 | 10:56 AM

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) has come up with a plan of attack to help producers through the trade dispute with China.

APAS President Todd Lewis said problems with the Federal-Provincial AgriStability Business Risk Management program are an immediate concern. In 2016, fewer than 40 per cent of Saskatchewan farms were enrolled in AgriStability.

“The coverage levels are minimal with the basket approach,” Lewis said. “They have messed around with the reference margins. It’s not a bankable program but it’s the program we have in place now for the short term and producers can sign up. That’s why we picked that one.”

Lewis said there is only one month until seeding and producer should sign up.

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“We’ve asked that fees be waived to get more people signed up and hopefully we can make some changes to the program if needed and make it more useful for farmers.” Lewis said.

APAS has proposed an enhancement of AgriStability coverage to deal with export market issues and the federal government waive enrollment fees for 2019 AgriStability applications.

They have also asked that the 2019 enrollment deadline be extended past April 30, and late enrollment penalties be dropped.

Lewis said governments should prepare for AgriStability interim payments should trade issues seriously reduce farm income. The groups would like to see revisions to the Cash Advance program year limits to ensure that producers can receive an advance on stored grain from 2018 production with flexible repayment terms while still having access to the full $400,000
limit for 2019 spring advances.

APAS has written Prime Minister Trudeau and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe with proposals to support producers dealing with depressed prices resulting from China’s import restrictions on Canadian Canola.

APAS will be attending meetings today to discuss these suggestions with the Federal Ministers of Agriculture and International Trade Diversification in Saskatoon.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF