The LineUp
The LineUp content hub features the latest releases and articles as they are distributed by Newsline, and it serves as a central location for the agriculture sector and media professionals to stay informed and up to date.
Major projects list incomplete without the Port of Vancouver, says GGC
Sept. 11, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) warns that the federal government’s major projects list remains incomplete without the inclusion of urgent upgrades required at the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port and the country’s most critical trade chokepoint. Connecting the Canadian economy to the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region, the Port of Vancouver is essential to Canada’s economic growth and prosperity. More than 50% of the grain grown in Canada is exported through the port, accounting for $35 million in daily exports of grain and grain products. Yet the infrastructure that underpins this trade, such as the Second Narrows Rail Bridge and New Westminster Rail Bridge, built in 1969 and 1904 respectively, are chokepoints at capacity with no redundancy if they fail. GGC is calling on the Government of Canada and the Major Projects Office to designate the Port of Vancouver and its connecting rail infrastructure as a project of national significance to secure trade, protect economic growth, and maintain Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of essential products to the world. Unless critical trade-enabling infrastructure is prioritized, GGC says, Canada’s nation-building agenda will remain incomplete and fall short of its economic potential. -30- About Grain Growers …
Learn the latest on gene editing in pigs with Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam
Swine Innovation Porc hosting webinar with leading expert in animal genomics and biotechnology Aug. 28, 2025 (Ottawa, Ont.) – Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) is pleased to announce that their latest webinar, a “Global Overview of Gene Editing in Pigs” with Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, will be taking place on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET. “Advances in gene editing are at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to modern agriculture,” explained SIP General Manager, Daniel Ramage. “Through this webinar, Dr. Van Eenennaam will highlight global research breakthroughs and explore how the regulatory landscape is shaping this important technology for our producers.” Van Eenennaam is a Distinguished Professor of Cooperative Extension in the field of animal genomics and biotechnology in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis, where she has been a member of the faculty for over 20 years. Her research and outreach program focuses on the use of animal genomics and biotechnology in livestock production systems. “I am excited to be able share insights into the world of gene editing and the impact that it has on modern agriculture,” added Dr. Van Eenennaam. “Through my presentation, producers will be able to …
GGC Summer Tour to Bring Farmer Voices to the Forefront of Federal Policy
OTTAWA, August 11, 2025 – As policy pressures mount across the grain sector, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is touring the Prairies to hear directly from producers and bring their concerns directly to Members of Parliament and back to Ottawa. From August 11 to 14, GGC Executive Director Kyle Larkin will be visiting grain farms across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, joined by local Members of Parliament. The GGC Summer Tour will spotlight the real-world impact of federal decisions on grain farming including trade uncertainty, the capital gains tax increase and decreasing research funding. Larkin will be available for media interviews to highlight challenges facing grain producers and the policy changes needed to support their immediate and long-term success. Who: Kyle Larkin, Executive Director, Grain Growers of Canada; Members of Parliament; Grain Growers of Canada members What: Grain Growers of Canada Summer Tour – Crop tours and meetings with MPs When and Where: Why: With harvest approaching and policy and trade uncertainty continuing to disrupt the grain sector, GGC is working to bring the realities of grain farms directly to Ottawa. Ahead of the fall parliamentary session, the Summer Tour will connect GGC with producers and local MPs to ensure federal …
Grain Growers of Canada Announces New Executive
July 31, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is pleased to announce its newly elected executive, representing a strong and united voice for grain farmers across the country. Scott Hepworth, a grain farmer from Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and Director with the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, has been elected Chair of GGC. With deep roots in prairie agriculture and a strong background in policy advocacy, Hepworth brings steady leadership and a clear vision to the role during a critical time for the sector. Joining him on the executive are Sally Parsonage, a grain farmer from Baldur, Manitoba and Vice Chair of Manitoba Crop Alliance, as 1st Vice Chair, and Daryl Fransoo, a grain farmer from Glaslyn, Saskatchewan and the Chair of the Wheat Growers Association, as 2nd Vice Chair. Together, they bring strong governance experience and a clear understanding of the policy environment shaping Canadian grain production. “We are proud to welcome our new executive, whose leadership brings valuable experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing grain farmers,” said Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “With Scott, Sally, and Daryl’s leadership in these roles, GGC is well positioned to advance short-term and long-term policy solutions that …
Parliament Leaves Grain Farmers Behind by Passing Bill C-202
June 18, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is disappointed in Parliament’s decision to pass Bill C-202 without the thorough review and scrutiny required by parliamentarians, without consideration of its impact on international trade, and without regard for Canada’s export-oriented grain sector. The legislation, which amends the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to prohibit the inclusion of supply-managed goods in future trade negotiations, poses serious risks to the livelihoods of Canada’s 70,000 grain farmers, who export more than 70% of what they grow. “Despite the government’s stated commitment to growing Canada’s economy and expanding international trade, the first bill passed by the 45th Parliament restricts our trade negotiators’ ability to secure the best possible deals for Canadians,” said Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “This legislation received unanimous consent from Members of Parliament without consulting with the Canadians it impacts the most, forcing the Senate to fast-track a flawed bill.” Grain farmers, who rely on predictable, rules-based trade, export wheat, barley, canola, pulses, and other commodities to more than 160 countries, generating over $45 billion in export value each year. Bill C-202 now stands to undermine Canada’s ability to pursue and safeguard new and …
SIP Welcomes Alison Lee as Manager of Research Development
June 17, 2025 (Ottawa, Ontario) – Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Alison Lee as Manager of Research Development, effective June 12, 2025. “I am excited to join SIP and look forward to working collaboratively with all our partners to build on the Canadian pork sector’s strengths through research,” said Lee. “One of the main attractions of this role is the ability to work with SIP’s amazing partners in the industry, academia and government, including through Swine Cluster 4.” In her role, Lee will serve as a key liaison between SIP and the Canadian pork research community. Prior to joining SIP, she worked as the Researcher and Livestock Program Developer for Conestoga Meats, where she co-ordinated and managed research projects relating to meat quality, new technology development and animal welfare. Lee comes to SIP with a long history of collaboration in the pork industry. Her career has spanned the globe including experience in Hanau, Germany, as Research Manager in Swine Nutrition and Health for Evonik Operations GmbH. She also holds a PhD and B.Sc. from the University of Guelph, where her thesis investigated supplementation in sow diets and its effects on piglet health. “I am …
CWRC commits nearly $20 million to AAFC wheat breeding activities
June 10, 2025 (Carman, MB; Saskatoon, SK; Calgary, AB) – The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) has committed $19.9 million over the next three years to a core breeding agreement (CBA) with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for the development of field-ready wheat varieties. The new agreement will ensure Prairie farmers can continue to access high-quality wheat varieties and associated genetics from AAFC’s breeding programs for years to come. “This agreement is about making sure Canadian wheat farmers continue to have access to top-quality varieties that perform in the real world,” said Dean Hubbard, CWRC chair and a farmer near Claresholm, AB. “By supporting AAFC’s breeding work, we are helping tackle some of the biggest challenges on the farm, like disease, pests and tough weather, while keeping our focus on the quality standards our customers count on.” CWRC funding via the 2025-28 CBA will support the development of field-ready Canada Western Red Spring, Canada Western Amber Durum, Canada Prairie Spring Red, Canada Western Soft White Spring and Canada Western Red Winter wheat varieties that reduce business risk and enhance competitiveness for western Canadian farmers. AAFC will aim to develop wheat varieties with strong resistance to diseases such as Fusarium head …
Grain Growers of Canada Welcomes New Cabinet, Urges Immediate Action on Trade and Tax Relief
May 13, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) welcomes the appointment of Canada’s new federal Cabinet and urges immediate action to support grain farmers and protect the viability of the sector. As Parliament prepares to return, swift action is needed to safeguard farmers’ bottom line, sustain Canada’s role as a reliable supplier of grain and grain products, and prevent further strain on the economy. To grow Canada’s $45-billion grain export sector and secure the future of family-run grain farms, GGC is calling for urgent progress on three fronts: resetting trade relationships with Canada’s two largest trading partners for grain and grain products, the United States and China; passing legislation to permanently remove the carbon tax from on-farm activities; and issuing a formal reversal of the capital gains tax increase. Canadian grain producers are looking for these measures to be addressed before the summer recess to prevent further strain on family farm operations, export competitiveness, and the broader economy. GGC looks forward to working with Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald, Minister of Finance and National Revenue François-Philippe Champagne, Minister responsible for Canada–U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of International Trade Maninder …
