Saskatchewan producer groups call for the creation of an export sales reporting program
** Data Requirements for a Transparent Market**
In April 2021, Sask Wheat commissioned a report on data requirements for a transparent market. This report provides a comprehensive overview on data gaps in grain markets and the solutions required to put producers on an equal footing when planning their cropping decisions and marketing their production.
SASKATOON (July 5, 2021) - A coalition of Saskatchewan producer groups is calling for the creation of an Export Sales Reporting Program to improve market transparency for farmers. Groups represented in the coalition include APAS, SaskBarley, SaskCanola, SaskFlax, SaskOats, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and Sask Wheat.
The producer groups believe Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s current review of the Canada Grain Act provides a significant opportunity to expand the Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC’s) responsibilities to collect and disseminate data to improve market transparency.
Improving market transparency is a key issue for farmers as shown by resolutions passed at five Saskatchewan producer commissions’ Annual General Meetings in 2021. Recent market disruptions, changes in trade patterns, and lagging information on supply and demand dispositions have illustrated farmers’ need for timely marketing information to maximize returns and improve profitability.
Without timely available data on export sales, farmers are unable to accurately understand market dynamics and time their sales to improve profitability. This puts farmers at a distinct competitive disadvantage to other players in the supply chain who already have much of this information available to them. Additionally, export sales reporting would be valuable for commodities with no futures market or price discovery mechanisms available.
The producer groups strongly believe that Canadian farmers need timely access to sales and export data and are calling on the CGC to create a daily and weekly Export Sales Reporting Program.
American famers have had access to sales and export data since 1973 through the USDA’s Export Sales Reporting Program. The lack of information in Canada has prevented farmers from accessing the same level of information needed to make informed marketing decisions as other supply chain participants. The competitive disadvantage that results from this information asymmetry is harmful to farmers and represents a missed opportunity to put Canadian farmers on a level playing field.
The producer groups have written to Minister Bibeau, highlighting the opportunity to improve profitability for farmers and grow the Canadian economy through the creation of a mandatory Export Sales Reporting Program. The producer groups will continue to work together to advocate on behalf of Saskatchewan farmers.
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For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Shawna Mathieson
Executive Director
SaskOats
306-530-8545
Amber Johnson
Director of Marketing and Communications
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
306-668-3668
Dallas Carpenter
Communications Manager
Sask Wheat
306-653-7967
Cally Nicholl
Communications Manager
APAS
306-789-5176
Cole Christensen
Communications Manager
SaskBarley
306-250-1099
Tracy Broughton
Executive Director
SaskCanola
306-975-6620
Wayne Thompson
Executive Director
SaskFlax
306-664-1901