Politicians in Ottawa will have one more farm voice bending their ears in the coming months.
Soy Canada held its inaugural meeting Aug. 22.
The new organization will be focused on developing national policy for the soybean industry, funding agronomic research and conducting market development work.
“I’ve been involved in farm politics and policy for the last 20 years, and this one has got a lot of enthusiasm,” said Ernie Sirski, vice-chair of Soy Canada.
“It’s exciting to be part of. It’s part of a growth industry.”
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Canadian growers planted 5.5 million acres of soybeans this year. Acres have almost reached their capacity in Quebec and Ontario, and the growth is all out West.
Growers in Sirski’s home province of Manitoba planted 1.25 million acres of the oilseed this year. Another 280,000 acres were seeded in Saskatchewan.
Soy Canada is arising out of the ashes of the Canadian Soybean Council, which was established in 2005.
That organization has been dissolved and the remaining funds rolled into Soy Canada. Sirski said the former national organization didn’t place much emphasis on policy or research.
The new national body represents 27 organizations, including producer groups, seed developers, crushers and exporters.
All of the organizations will contribute to a checkoff that will provide core funding for Soy Canada to pay for staff and office space.
Grower groups in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan will pay five cents per tonne of soybeans produced in their provinces.
