Canary seed will soon be designated as an official grain under the Canada Grain Act.
Responding to producer calls for change and following consultations with stakeholders across the country, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is implementing regulatory changes that add canary seed to the list of official grains.
“After successive licensee failures where canary seed growers were left empty-handed, it was clear we needed to extend regulatory safeguards to the sector,” said Doug Chorney, CGC chief commissioner, in a statement. “We’re very pleased to be able to offer canary seed growers the rights and services provided by the Canada Grain Act and help ensure they are fairly compensated for their deliveries.”
Effective Aug. 1, grain producers will benefit from the same rights, services and protections on their canary seed crop as they do on other regulated grains, including:
- the right to have their canary seed assessed for grade and dockage following official grading standards at time of delivery;
- the right to dispute their grain’s assessment at a licensed primary grain elevator at the time of delivery through the CGC’s Subject to Inspector’s Grade and Dockage service;
- payment protections through the CGC’s Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program; and
- access to no-fee quality assessments through the CGC’s Harvest Sample Program.
The CGC has consulted with canary seed handlers and growers to determine the grade and quality specifications for this crop. A grade determinant table along with a moisture chart will be added to the CGC website in July.
