Quit Signing Declarations

[wmoebis]

Good on you, thank you for testing the waters and confronting the issue. Did the grain Co tell you that in writing? That would be best.

Perhaps Agriville members and our associates can crowd fund to support you in a legal challenge? Or maybe the excess checkoff dollars could be used.

Once agaim in the CPC's review of the CGC done at their Request called the Compas Review it was recomended that a Grain Farmers Advocacy Office be established to handle complaints and affairs that the Office Of Assisstant Commissionors handle.

When they opened the Grain Act they closed the Office of Ass't Commissioners but never opened Advocacy Office. There for leaving farmers with no avenue to investigate or complain.

IMHO this is just another piece of the puzzle how CGC got 140 mil surplus. Close much needed offices In the Interest of Producers and pocket the money that had been invested.

[helmach]

Good on you, thank you for testing the waters and confronting the issue. Did the grain Co tell you that in writing? That would be best.

Perhaps Agriville members and our associates can crowd fund to support you in a legal challenge? Or maybe the excess checkoff dollars could be used.

no grain co called me a day later after I told my area rep I wouldn't sigh it after they tried forcing it on me.

I'm goin to call this compliance officer again tomorrow morning and try to get answers to the questions I originally asked. this is the email he sent back to me yesterday which practical says nothing and answers zero of the concerns I voiced.




I apologize for taking a few days to get back to you, I was away for one of them and then waiting on some feedback from within the CGC. This is what I was told:

The producer declaration was developed when KVD was removed as a requirement for wheat registration. The industry, WGEA, is the owner of this document. The CGC was involved in developing it. It is a simple cost effective way for elevator companies to segregate grain.

I don’t really have any further information on it other than to say it’s been around for a while now and is an industry standard. In my 11 years at the CGC as the Compliance Officer taking complaints from producers, you are the first to raise an issue with this process.

Feel free to give me a call this week if you’d like to discuss further.

Corey Birch

Compliance Officer, Industry Services
Canadian Grain Commission / Government of Canada
corey.birch@grainscanada.gc.ca / Tel: 204-984-8623 / TTY: 1-866-317-4289

Agent de conformite, Services à l’industrie
Commission canadienne des grains / Gouvernement du Canada
corey.birch@grainscanada.gc.ca / Tél: 204-984-8623 / ATS : 1-866-317-4289

[bgmb]

Very good posts raising important issues. big question is where are our checkoff funded producer groups? Nothing in the media, mos of us sign whatever the grain buyer puts in front of us.

[Klause]

G3's declaration says you won't deliver spring thrashed grain.

And don't use a bunch of registered chemicals (why are we registering them for use if they cause market issues??? And why is the farmer responsible???) The label is a legal document, if the crop is on it, a producer or applicator is legally allowed to use the product at the rates and timing set forth on the label for the crops listed


Viterra, don't use certain chemicals.

Make sure your crop is grown from seed that came from "allowed" sources.


WTF does any of this have to do with variety declarations?

I'm bringing it forward to the CGC also, and I'm trying to light the fire under an ag group to go after them on this.

[wardtoma]

Very good posts raising important issues. big question is where are our checkoff funded producer groups? Nothing in the media, mos of us sign whatever the grain buyer puts in front of us.

Under the Act the buyer must accept delivery of the grain, however the price offered is the sticky point. Buyers have the right to implement such a declaration and and past discussions with various governments have been clear that making the declarations illegal is not possible.

The declarations have grown beyond grading. Issues around Maximum Residue Limits of crop protection products and deregistered varieties in export markets caused the declarations to become a mechanism by which the seller guarantees that named or unapproved products were not used on the crop or grown.

Ward Toma
General Manager
Alberta Canola

Attend one of your Power Your Profits meetings in Alberta this November. Meting dates and locations are the www.albertacanola.com.

[Klause]

Under the Act the buyer must accept delivery of the grain, however the price offered is the sticky point. Buyers have the right to implement such a declaration and and past discussions with various governments have been clear that making the declarations illegal is not possible.

The declarations have grown beyond grading. Issues around Maximum Residue Limits of crop protection products and deregistered varieties in export markets caused the declarations to become a mechanism by which the seller guarantees that named or unapproved products were not used on the crop or grown.

Ward Toma
General Manager
Alberta Canola

Attend one of your Power Your Profits meetings in Alberta this November. Meting dates and locations are the www.albertacanola.com.

And how is this "right" bestowed on a grain company? Based on what legislation?

Why are products registered for use if they can't be exported? Seems there's a disconnect with the producer left holding the bag.

Does Alberta Canola represent producers, the industry, or both?

[wmoebis]

Are the declarations only valid until time the truck is dumped then become the responsibility of elev? The only time farmers can ask for a 3rd party inspection is at time of unload. Elevators don't have to keep a sample after that time. Also how many elevators keep a 1000g sample anyways? Samples they keep for ISO audit is 250g and most truck samples are only aroynd 250 and CGC requires 1000g
What will ztand up in court farmers signed affidavit that elevator accepts or a sample that is too small and kept in the unsecured care and accessible to elevator staff only?

[wardtoma]

And how is this "right" bestowed on a grain company? Based on what legislation?

Why are products registered for use if they can't be exported? Seems there's a disconnect with the producer left holding the bag.

Does Alberta Canola represent producers, the industry, or both?

Perhaps "right" was not the best word to use. There is no legislation that makes it specifically illegal, which really sounds like lawyer-speak, but it best describes it. (Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer)

You are absolutely right about the disconnect between approvals and foreign buyer requirements. This problem will always exist in international trade. It's also why we try so hard to get information about these situations out to growers so they are informed and can make the best decision for their farm.

Alberta Canola is a farmer governed and farmer funded organization representing canola growers in Alberta. It is a refundable check-off commission established in 1989 with a board of 12 regionally elected canola farmers. Our annual reports are available on line at https://www.albertacanola.com

Ward Toma
General Manager
Alberta Canola