Put politics aside and move forward with drought support, urge Canada’s grain growers

Jul 23, 2021

Ottawa, Ontario - In light of the devastating drought and its impact on grain farmers across the country, the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) would like to thank Minister Bibeau for invoking the late participation provision for AgriStability. The announcement was made yesterday during the Minister’s tour of hard-hit areas in Manitoba.

“We are very grateful for yesterday’s announcement,” said GGC Chair Andre Harpe from his farm in Valhalla Centre, AB. “Right now, AgriStability is the only program that can offer some meaningful support to Canada’s grain farmers, many of whom are facing a devastating impact from this year’s drought.”

As a result of yesterday’s announcement, farmers and ranchers who have not yet enrolled in AgriStability can still access program support, provided the provinces invoke the late participation provision – which remains a critical measure to support Canada’s grain farmers. However, farmers will still not feel the full effects of these measures until the compensation rate for the program is increased from 70 to 80 per cent, a move which will rely on cost-sharing with the individual provinces and territories.

GGC has reiterated that while the provinces do face unique fiscal challenges, an investment in agriculture is more than worth it to support rural communities and the food security of all Canadians.

“This is a time where we must come together.” Harpe added. “We need everyone at the table to avoid playing politics and act quickly to provide an actionable and accessible support system for farmers.”

Source : GGC

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.