FAQs - Wheat Growers Association

Are all wheat crops in Canada GMO?

There no GMO wheat varieties commercialized or approved for use in Canada. The only GMO approved crops in Canada are canola, soybeans, grain corn and sugar beets. You can read more about that here.

Why can people with gluten sensitivities eat wheat in Europe but not Canada?

Gluten and gliadins are present in all wheat grains and can induce celiac disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Analysis of ancient (often referred to European wheats) and modern wheats show that the protein content of modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) has decreased over time while the starch content increased. In addition, it was shown that compared to bread wheat, ancient wheats contain more protein and gluten. Gliadins and the glutenins are the two main components of the gluten fraction of all wheat seed. North America grows more hard red wheat which is higher in gluten. More information can be read here.

Do wheat growers spray their crops with glysophate?

Glyphosate has been approved by CFIA and Health Canada for use in genetically engineered crops and weed control in all crops for late season annual weed control. There are strict application restrictions that must be followed by producers and the Canadian Grain Commission monitors all harvested crops to ensure they do not exceed Canadian grain safety limits. You can learn more here.

Glyphosate will be re-authorized for 15 years as safe by the European Commission, according to leaked documents.

What are wheat growers doing to help fight climate change?

Canadian grain farmers have been very pro-active regarding their land-use. “Since the mid 1980’s the adoption of no till and reduced till in Canada has increased dramatically, especially in the prairie region. No till essentially involves eliminating all tillage operations, and placing seed, fertilizer or manure with minimal soil disturbance.” (https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/soil-and-land/soil-management/flexibility-no-till-and-reduced-till-systems-ensures-success-long-term).

We have reduced the number of passes that equipment makes over the land, therefore decreasing any disturbance or releasing of stored carbon and minimizing fuel use. Well over 70% of western Canadian farmers for years have been practicing some form of reduced or no till seeding in their operations. Western Canadian grain farmers are actually net positive for carbon emissions.

How are wheat growers working towards net zero?

No one cares for the environment as much as farmers. It’s our land and water, and our livelihoods. Modern Canadian grain farmers are early adopters of the latest technology, ensuring long-term environmental stability. Farmers maintain a climate balance through the high levels of carbon-sequestering used in the production of sustainable, high-quality food for Canadian and for export. Modern agriculture is part of the solution through carbon sequestering, low-till farming, better water management, more efficient equipment, and crop-protection techniques.

Canadian farmers have and will continue to play a major role in carbon sequestration. In 2019, for example, grain growers captured 33 Mt (Mt = 1,000,000 tonnes) of CO2 (equivalent) more than they produced.  Grain growers are already net off setters of CO2.

There are no mandatory restrictions on fertilizer, so why is it an active policy?

Fertilizer is a necessary input, but an expensive one. Canadian farmers use agronomists to plan what crops will be rotated through their land and how much and what types of fertilizers are applied throughout the growing season. The federal government wants to reduce the amount of fertilizer that Canadian farmers use, without understanding the consequences of a reduced yield for domestic and export use. You can learn more here.

If the government has exempt farmers from carbon tax so why is an active policy?

The carbon tax has had a huge impact on farms. All of their inputs (fertilizer, sprays, machinery, parts, trucking, etc) are charged the carbon tax. In many industries these costs can be passed along to the end consumer. Unfortunately, farmers sell their grain on world commodity prices and therefore have to both bear the cost and compete against other countries that don’t have a carbon tax. The impact of the carbon tax varies from farm to farm, depending upon the size and type of crop as well as the equipment being used. The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) have calculated that the carbon tax at $170/t GHG per acre costs farmers $68.26 per acre. The federal government has introduced a rebate that “is set at $1.47 for 2021 and $1.73 for 2022, per $1,000 in eligible farming expenses, for the fuel charge year. Any credit claimed would be required to be included in taxable income. (https://www.bdo.ca/insights/carbon-tax-rebate-farmers). The governments rebate comes nowhere close to covering the carbon tax imposed upon grain farmers. While there are some efforts to eliminate the carbon tax for drying grain, it has not passed all legislative approvals yet. (https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/44-1/c-234)

How is the Wheat Growers Association funded?

The Wheat Growers Association, like many agricultural associations, primarily relies on a combination of paid membership fees, corporate sponsorships, and donations to fund its activities. These funding sources play a crucial role in supporting the association’s initiatives, advocacy efforts, and member services.

If the Wheat Growers Association has sponsors and paid members, why are donations requested?

The Wheat Growers are a Saskatchewan registered non-profit association. We represent the three prairie provinces and receive no government funding or grain check-offs. (https://www.agricorp.com/en-ca/Programs/GFPP/Pages/HowItWorks.aspx). Our volunteer directors receive no per diems and represent Canadian grain farmers and industry, speaking to federal and provincial agriculture officials advocating for positive agriculture policies.