Thank you very much for having us today. It's a pleasure to appear before this committee.
My name is Andre Harpe. I am the chair of the Canadian Canola Growers Association. I'm joined by my colleague Dustin Pike, who is the vice-president of government and industry relations. I am speaking to you today from Valhalla Centre—northwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta—where I operate a 5,000-acre grain farm, growing primarily canola and malt barley.
The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents 40,000 canola farmers across Canada. We advocate on issues, policies and programs that directly impact the success of their farms.
In 2024, canola was, once again, the number one source of crop revenue in Canada, generating $13 billion and accounting for 25% of total crop receipts. More broadly, the canola sector contributes over $43 billion annually to the Canadian economy and supports over 200,000 jobs across the value chain.
This committee has an important task ahead in reviewing Canada's BRM programs for the upcoming policy framework. This work is both necessary and timely, as farmers are increasingly facing risks that extend well beyond traditional weather and price volatility. Since 2020, the global operating environment has fundamentally changed, leaving farmers to navigate one of the most uncertain and volatile periods in recent history. For today's grain farmer, this means confronting multiple interconnected shocks at the same time. Weather events, market closures, price volatility, high input costs and geopolitics interact in ways that magnify risk and reduce farmers' control. BRM programs must evolve in both responsiveness and design to reflect this new reality.
The situation in the Middle East is the latest example of how quickly and significantly my farm is impacted by things far beyond my control. Since January, the cost of the fertilizer I need for spring planting has increased by about 50%, which represents, for me, an additional $100,000. The cost of fuel has also increased significantly, as we've all witnessed. Together, fuel and fertilizer costs represent approximately 50% of my input costs. The volatility and risks are real and very significant.
I'll now turn it over to my colleague, Dustin, who will talk about our priorities at CCGA.