There’s mixed farm reaction to a decision by the Canadian Grain Commission to use a surplus fund of 90 million dollars.

The Grain Commission says farmers who participate in the Harvest Sample Program will receive falling number and don results for their wheat samples at no cost.

This will enable farmers to better market their crop.

These enhancements will be funded for the next 5 years from four million dollars in the agencies accumulated surplus.

The agency lowered inspection and weighing fees a year ago after accumulating a surplus of 130 million dollars.

The grain commission proposes to channel 90 million dollars to strengthen safeguards for producers, invest in grain quality assurance and enhance innovation in the grain sector.

In addition, 40 million dollars will go into a contingency fund to cover downward fluctuations in grain volumes to ensure consistent service levels and stable fees.

The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission supports the grain commission investment framework.

SaskWheat chair Laura Reiter says enhancing the harvest sample program and strengthening producer safeguards are good goals.

APAS president Todd Lewis is also supportive of the grain commission’s decision to improve services for grain producers.

He says since there was no fair or simple way to refund the surplus fees to individual producers, the grain commission is taking the correct path.

But the Alberta wheat commission is disappointed the surplus funds were not used to reduce service fees for Canadian grain farmers.

(ckrm)