WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — A new study, released on Jan. 9 by the Canada-U.S. Task Group, a group of Canadian and U.S. non-profit and trade organizations, documents the commercial flow of grain from the U.S. to Canada. 

The study addresses U.S. and Canadian trade volume, handling and processing practices for more than 15 commodities traded between the U.S. and Canada.  The analysis was provided to the Canadian and U.S. governments as input in the consultations for the development of phytosanitary measures under Canada's proposed Grain Import Framework (D-12-05). 
 
The study, located online, examined data from 2010-12. On average, corn is the number one commodity moving north from the U.S. to Canada at 1.05 million tonnes per year. Average soybean exports to Canada are 245,000 tonnes while wheat exports are 69,000 tonnes.  Additionally, the report indicates that 380,000 tonnes of screenings enter Canada on average, but this category mainly encompasses highly processed grain commodities that will be exempt from the proposed framework.

According to the study, 54% of all U.S. grain exports to Canada were transported by truck, followed by rail at 32% and water at 14%. The high percentage of truck movements highlighted a potential problem if inspections and certificates would be required on each shipment.  However, based on the risk assessments of the various crops and taking into consideration their end-use in Canada, it is expected that only a small number of these U.S. shipments will require a phytosanitary certificate.

The study also found that Canadian processing practices generally minimize phytosanitary risks that may arise from U.S. shipments. The commodities are typically cleaned at the recipient's facility and screenings are heated, hammered and turned into feed or sent to landfills which mitigate phytosanitary risks.

Additionally, the Task Group has been engaged with the Canadian government to address concerns and will continue to participate in the governmental consultation process to improve Canada's Grain Import Framework (D-12-05) implementation.