Grain eligibility declaration will be required at delivery beginning August 1, 2020

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The ratification of the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA) has brought about trade changes for several industries — including agriculture. What’s been less clear in the lead up to implementation on July 1 is the full impact of what some of the changes will mean on a day-to-day basis at the production and sale level.

Many are quite used to varietal declarations at delivery, but under new amendments to the Canada Grains Act — perpetuated by the USMCA — all deliveries of registered Canadian varieties of all crop types will be accompanied by a mandatory declaration as of August 1, 2020 (the first day of the new crop year).

Varietal declarations aren’t new, of course. Most farmers are already familiar with some version of a declaration at elevators and delivery points, but this change becomes mandatory for all grain grown from registered Canadian varieties being delivered, including if the grain was grown in the U.S.

The Canadian Grain Commission says that these “consequential changes” to the Canada Grains Act, because of the USMCA deal, means that U.S. grain that comes into Canada and is grown from a variety registered in Canada would receive an equivalent grade and be considered “Canadian” grain within the handling system from that point on.

The CGC says farmers will have to sign a declaration form at least once every crop year for each licensed grain company you deliver to. This declaration applies to all grain types, and, where applicable, all classes, that you will deliver to that company and must be made at or before the first delivery of the year. The same process applies to producer cars if you are selling grain to a licensed grain company. If you are using a producer car administrator, sign the form and send it to the administrator. If you are self-administering your producer cars, send your signed form to the grain company before your delivery.

If someone is hauling grain for you, you are responsible for ensuring the following:

  • you have signed a declaration form at that elevator before your delivery or sent a signed form with the load of grain being delivered
  • the person hauling your grain knows the kind (and class, if applicable) of the grain being delivered

The elevator receiving your grain will keep grain samples for random testing and monitoring as required, the CGC says.

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