Canada’s postal disruption has thrown a wrench into a key program for Canada’s grain sector, complicating how producers submit harvest samples for quality testing. The Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program relies partly on mailed submissions, and with Canada Post job action underway, delays are mounting and growers must look to alternate routes.

The CGC has responded by encouraging participants to hand-deliver samples to offices or approved drop-off points across the country. These include CGC’s headquarters in Winnipeg, regional service centres, and partner locations such as grain elevators and commodity firms in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Mailing remains an option while the strike persists, though the CGC warns of delays and suggests some farmers may prefer to hold their samples until regular postal service resumes. The deadline to mail samples is November 30, 2025, and all samples must be received by December 31, 2025 to be processed for this year’s program.

The Harvest Sample Program is voluntary and provides growers with unofficial assessments of grain attributes such as falling number, vomitoxin levels, dockage, protein, oil and chlorophyll (for relevant crops).

Despite the disruption, producers seem to be adapting quietly. Local service centre staff report little vocal dissatisfaction. In many rural areas, growers are simply falling back on delivery options familiar from past labor disruptions.

In Alberta, the provincial government has moved quickly to establish a contingency framework for essential mail services during the postal strike. Starting October 1, some government mail functions will resume via designated drop-off sites and direct government distribution. Non-critical mail is being held back.

For growers who want certainty in sample delivery, now is the moment to check with local CGC offices or partners about drop-off points and logistics. The window to get samples in on time is narrowing, and workarounds will be necessary until postal service returns to normal.