Farmers called for more government support for small acreage crops research during Keystone Agricultural Producers annual meeting.
“This is where we’ve seen a real lack of commitment,” said Paul Gregory, a forage seed grower in Manitoba’s Interlake region.
In two resolutions from the Manitoba Oat Growers Association, the federal government was encouraged to fund more and at a better-for-farmers share.
Nick Matheson, a director of Manitoba Crop Alliance and a flax grower, supported the call.
“MCA wants healthy public breeding programs,” said Matheson.
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“These programs will delivery varieties that will help our farmer members be more productive and sustainable.”
The government was urged to return to a 70-30 government-to-farmer cost-sharing formula.
Butch Harder, a southern Manitoba farmer, said private companies can’t be relied upon to provide new varieties to the small acreage crops.
“The industry doesn’t really give a damn about the smaller farmers and the smaller crops,” said Harder.
One of the resolutions called for the federal government to be more active in helping smaller acreage crops in challenging non-tariff trade barriers in foreign markets and to help develop domestic markets.
Matheson said the federal government has made it clear it wants to see Canada’s production of numerous crops expand, so it should be willing to more vigorously fund their development.
