Prairie farm groups release results of seed royalty survey

Oct 30, 2019

Canadian agricultural producers do not support the two seed royalty models under consideration by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The Alberta Federation of Agriculture, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and Keystone Agricultural Producersof Manitobahave been surveying producers online on the proposed changes since July. More than 1000 producers contributed their comments.

“We look forward to working with the federal government now that the election is complete to ensure that any new seed royalty structure is ultimately fair for farmers and producers as it would ultimately impact their bottom line the most,” KAP President Bill Campbell said. “Plant breeding needs to be funded in a manner that is fair and driven by the interests of farmers.”

“What we heard from producers is that they are not in a position to absorb extra costs,” said Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. “As price-takers, farmers have little room in their margins for added expenditures. So there is little support for yet another expense toadd our bottomlines.”

“Producers are telling us loud and clear that they are not happy with either of the proposed models,” said Lynn Jacobson, president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture.“Our outreach confirms that they don't feel they've been sufficiently engaged in consultations to date.It’s our hope that AAFC will work to rectify this before any further decisions are made.”

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.