The Manitoba Corn Growers Association is calling on the new Progressive Conservative government to simplify the rules around the installation and inspection of grain dryers.
“Get the regulation sorted out so they (farmers) can get them approved,” said Theresa Bergsma, Corn Growers general manager.
“Especially used grain dryers, where there seems to be different rules in different areas and different rules for different dryers.”
The Keystone Agricultural Producers has worked with the Office of the Fire Commissioner to simplify the inspection process but many farmers remain confused about the regulations.
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A posting on an ag chat forum, from the fall of 2014, summarized the frustration:
“The inspection process is crazy here in Manitoba. (The) dept of labour/office of the fire commissioner are supposed to do the inspections but there was only one guy out of Winnipeg to do the whole province, needless to say it’s a nightmare trying to get an inspection done.”
Part of the confusion is around Canadian Standards Association stickers. As noted in a KAP publication from 2013, dryers built to CSA standards and hooked up with a CSA installation code of 149.1 or 149.2 should receive approval.
But those without a CSA sticker, or units that have been modified, must be installed using a different code. The codes, stickers and regulations remain perplexing for many farmers and some inspectors, Bergsma said.
“Get some clarity so all the people coming out to check them have the same information and know the same (rules).”
