Government promises to producers raises many issues, they say.   Ottawa—Not only must the federal government support the agrifood sector through the COVID-19 pandemic, it needs to keep farmers and others in the food chain fully informed on its policies, Conservative MPs say. In a public letter to Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, the MPs said Canadians “need to know that the essentials they rely on will be available. This is especially true when it comes to fresh food and produce.” During the last few weeks, a number of pandemic-related issues have arisen in the agriculture sector that could cause large economic harm to the agriculture sector and the food supply chain, said Conservative ag critic John Barlow and fellow MPs Richard Lehoux and Lianne Rood. Four issues that need action are a cattle set-aside program to help producers cope with closed packing plants, providing financial certainty to farmers through improvements to the Business Risk Management (BRM) programs, assisting dairy farmers forced to dump milk and clarifying producer eligibility for a Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). “It's incumbent on you to answer these questions and clarify your government's position on these issues,” the MPs said. “It has been apparent that when it comes to the agriculture sector–your government has been reactive, instead of proactive.” A temporary cattle set-aside program should be set up as requested by the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA), they said. Meat processing capacity in Canada was in crisis before the pandemic hit and has worsened as four meat processing plants have closed or reduced shifts during the pandemic. CCA wants Ottawa to re-build a set-aside framework from when BSE hit the cattle sector in 2013. It should “to implemented immediately to best address the array of challenges brought forward by packing capacity shortages.” It's discussing the proposal the federal government. “We learned many lessons during the hard years of BSE, and it is time to implement the policies that previously helped us weather the storm,” CCA President Bob Lowe said. A set-aside program would encourage farmers to is to delay the marketing of cattle when processing capacity isn't available and feed them maintenance rations, he said. This would allow cattle marketings to stretch out over a longer period of time and be managed by existing packing capacity, until slaughter capacity can be regained. The program was originally developed in concert between governments and the Canadian beef industry during the BSE era and considered successful. The Conservatives also asked for action on the BRM review that the federal and provincial ministers said in December would conclude this month. No definitive word has come on that timeline. Dairy farmers forced to dump milk when there is no processing capacity also deserve help, the MPs said. Some farmers have not been able to qualify for a CEBA, “even though you have publicly advocated that producers could use the program,” the MPs said. “In the short term, what is your government doing to help producers who do not qualify for this program? “While Conservatives understand that the situation Canada faces is unprecedented, it is incumbent on the Liberals to answer these questions,” the MPs said. Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.