The National Farmers Union (NFU) is warning Canadians about changes the government is proposing to make to the Canada Grain Act.

The NFU says Bill C-48 would stop the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) from carrying out its work in the interests of grain farmers, adding the bill would allow the government to end the bond security system currently in place.

"Bonding was the result of a lot of discussion...and it works," said NFU Board Member Ian Robson. "If you turn it over to a private insurance system, no private insurance company wanted to take on the risk, further to that a private insurance system would cost farmers a bunch of money because farmers would be paying the premium."

Robson noted that Bill C-48 would also make the issue of feed mill licensing more complex, adding the government-run insurance-based producer payment protection system that Bill C-48 introduces would be much less reliable than today's bond system.