Tuesday’s agriculture leaders debate, sponsored by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), provided little new information on economic challenges being faced by Western Canadian farmers.

The parties were represented by Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberals), Luc Berthold (Conservatives), Alistair MacGregor (NDP) and Kate Storey (Green Party).

APAS Vice President Ian Boxall was on the combine and did not watch the debate. However, after checking social media and talking to a few other producers, he says the discussions did not directly address the main issues facing farmers.

“I want to know what’s the plan for the future of agriculture? How are we going to fix our trade issues? If these trade issues continue, what will be done to ensure producers’ interests are covered?” said Boxall.

At the beginning of the election campaign two weeks ago, APAS released a list of the five most pressing issues facing Saskatchewan farmers. The top two were agricultural risk management programs and protecting producers from trade injury.

‘I’d like to see these parties come out with a suite of programs for Business Risk Management programs that are concrete and have certain levels of triggers that producers can rely on,” said Boxall.

The Tisdale area farmer says concrete measures need to be announced and not ”just a bunch of fluff.” He has this advice for all of the federal political parties.

“Roll out your policy for agriculture and sell it on its merits. That’s what I want to see from the political parties,” said Boxall.

The full video of the debate be viewed on the CFA website, as well as a summary of the proceedings.