Check-off Program Now Available to Canadian Grain Farmers

Canadian Government Delivers Voluntary Check-Off Program

By Graham Dyer, Farms.com

Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced July 27, 2012 that the producer check-off is now in place for Western Canadian grain farmers. The check-off helps to fund research, market development and provides assistance to grain producers. The check-off is one step in the transition process towards marketing freedom for western grain farmers. The transition comes after the announcement to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board.

The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act allows check-off monies to be used towards the following areas:

• Research activities into new and improved grain varieties;

• The promotion of the marketing and use of grain grown in Canada; and

• Technical assistance relating to the use of grain grown in Canada.

"Our Government committed to ensuring that a producer check-off would be in place beginning August 1 so that farmers continue to benefit from important research and market development," said Minister Ritz. "As marketing freedom becomes reality, farmers can be confident that this check-off will help ensure that their businesses remain on the cutting edge of research and innovation."

The check-off option is voluntary, and will be a deduction on farmer’s cash purchase tickets when they sell their grain. The check-off program will be fully transparent and will allow farmers to see first-hand their support to grain research and development. The program will not come off when dealing with imports or producer-to-producer sales.