Ottawa (Rural Roots Canada) – As Canadians prepare to head to the polls, grain growers want to make sure their voices are heard.

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) has launched Vote for Grain, a national campaign to help farmers engage with candidates and push for policies that impact their livelihoods. It gives grain farmers a direct way to engage with local candidates and understand where the parties stand.

The GGC says this election comes at a critical time, with farmers facing mounting challenges, everything from rising costs to the carbon tax to trade uncertainty with the U.S. It also highlights the needs for plant breeding investments, extended interswitching, and the right to repair, issues that directly impact farmers’ competitiveness and profitability.

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Tara Sawyer, chair of the GGC, believes this election and the decisions made in the years ahead will determine the future of Canadian grain farming.

“This is a critical time for grain farmers as we are being hit from all sides,” says Sawyer, in a statement. “Trade uncertainty, causing a fall in commodity prices, rising input costs, and increasing government taxation and regulation, is putting intense pressure on farmers. This election—and the decisions made in the years to come—will determine the future of Canadian grain farming. Political parties need to understand what’s at stake and commit to supporting our sector.”

To learn more about the Vote for Grain campaign or to participate, you can visit VoteForGrain.ca.