OTTAWA – There is little chance forage producers will receive a slice of the $1.6 billion Crow Benefit payout, said a government spokesperson.
Forage producers have argued they should get a cut of the money and federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale has told them he is willing to listen to the arguments.
But Lyle Vanclief, his parliamentary secretary, said the government would only consider it if forage producers can convince grain producers to share. The government will not respond unless the industry speaks with one voice.
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“My personal assessment is that there is little chance they will get industry unanimity on this,” he said. “It is really up to them to sell the idea.”
Vanclief spoke after he heard a direct appeal for government aid during the annual meeting of the Canadian Forage Council March 23. Several forage producers made an appeal for help directly to Vanclief, arguing that the industry represents diversification which the government is promoting.
Council past-president Bill McCurdy told Vanclief the forage industry has little chance of winning grain industry support for its call for a slice of the payment. The forage lobby voice is far weaker than the grain industry lobby voice.
“We know we don’t stand much of a chance,” he told the Ontario MP. “We can’t win this without some superior help from somewhere.”
Vanclief offered no hint the government would be willing to intervene on the side of the forage industry.
He also made clear help for the sector will not come out of the $300 million fund created to help the transition from the Crow Benefit to market rates, as United Grain Growers president Ted Allen has proposed.
“There must be $3 billion in claims on that $300 million,” he told the forage council.
But Vanclief was not the bearer of only bad news.
He brought a cheque for $45,000 to help the council organize a forage summit later this year. It is a repayable loan.
And he promised the government will work to create a hay certification program that the council has been asking for as a tool in export sales.
