Wheat growing group says Agriculture Canada has wrong priorities

“These new priorities reflect a department that has forgotten its original mandate and is now focused on external priorities that do not benefit farmers or consumers.”

Agriculture Canada confirmed December 15 its top priorities would be sustainable agriculture and climate change. 

“In an increasingly complex and intertwined world, we must be deliberate in our actions to address the needs of producers, the industry, Canadians, and citizens around the globe,” it said. 

“Now more than ever, sustainability is — and will remain — a key driver of innovation in the face of mounting environmental challenges."

The release said Agriculture Canada used to be focused on farming science and practices which could help farmers and ranchers produce more and better yields and ensure safety and quality for consumers.

Jochum said Wheat Growers fears these priorities “indicate that the department has been ideologically captured, and it intends to try to substitute the scientific and technological skills of farmers, with those of bureaucrats.” He said history has shown this never works. 

At this point, he said it has no choice but to “reach out to everyday Canadians and warn them government interference in farming is about to worsen supply chain issues, and further inflate the price of food.” 

“None of us can afford for that to happen,” he said. 

Wheat Growers Alberta Vice-President Stephen Vandervalk said in August government targets for less greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer are misguided.

READ MORE: Wheat growers blast Liberal fertilizer plans

“You've got an industry that realistically is net negative already by nature of what we do; we lower greenhouse gases by our crops,” said Vandervalk. 

“We've spent the last 30 years perfecting our efficiencies to the point of ridiculousness.”