Manitoba’s farm lobby group plans to increase its annual membership fees to $125.
Keystone Agricultural Producers officials said the $25 increase is needed to make up for falling membership numbers caused by fewer farmers.
KAP members approved the increase at their annual meeting on Jan. 25.
The membership is collected through a checkoff on commodity sales, and is refundable on request.
Ed Rempel, a farmer from Starbuck, Man., said $25 will buy him 60 pounds of nitrogen this year. Given grain prices, he said, spending the extra $25 on KAP will give him a much better return on his money.
The checkoff is one-half of one percent of sales.
Les Felsch, who farms at Ridgeville, Man., said the fee increase may make it more difficult for farmers to afford memberships, thereby reducing KAP’s membership even further.
Members passed a resolution creating a “supporter status” category for farmers who don’t reach the full $125 through the checkoff, but agree to leave their money in KAP rather than have it refunded.
