A new proposal from the Canadian Grain Commission will give producers more time to dispute a primary elevator’s grade and dockage assessment of their grain.
The proposed amendments to the Canada Grain Regulations would allow producers to dispute the assessment - even if they are not present at the time of delivery - and would specify that samples must be retained for a minimum of seven days, or until an agreement on grade and dockage has been reached between the elevator and the producer.
If a producer disagrees with a Canadian Grain Commission (CGC)-licensed primary elevator’s assessment of their grain, they have the right under the Canada Grain Act to request that a sample be sent to the CGC for a decision on grade and dockage. In many cases, however, producers hire truck drivers or commercial hauling services to deliver their grain, meaning they are not present at the time of delivery to potentially dispute the elevator’s grade and dockage assessment.
The proposed changes are in response to feedback from producers, producer associations and elevator operators about grain grading dispute resolution received during recent Canada Grain Act review consultations.
“The proposed improvements would be an important first win for grain farmers, in response to the feedback we received during the Canada Grain Act review consultations,” said federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. “Our government will continue working with the Canadian Grain Commission to modernize the Act to benefit Canadian grain farmers.”
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