We're getting near the end of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business' Red Tape Awareness Week.

Agri-businesses say they're among those most affected by red tape and 76 percent of farmers identify red tape as a serious concern compared to 69 percent of all businesses, according to CFIB.

Mandy D'Autremont with the CFIB says it's something that doesn't seem to be going away.

"For all the photo ops that we see governments doing on farm,s we 've really seen little relief over the years of the costly burden of rules and red tape," she says. "So it's important for us to highlight it this week and make sure that people are aware that red tape is an issue at the farm gate."

She says while a certain amount of regulation is needed to protect human health and the environment, CFIB believes it's the over-regulation that's stifling innovation in agriculture.

She sites inconsistent information, confusing forms, outdated rules and rude customer service from government agencies or getting the run around from an inspector as examples of what they're concerned with.

"One of the big examples that we're trying to highlight this year is Statistics Canada continues to insist farmers are filling out the census of agriculture during their busiest time of year, spring seeding," she says. "We were pleased, this year, the government has announced that will allow farmers to complete the census on-line, which can make it a little bit easier and a little bit faster for farmers to complete but it still doesn't take away the fact that they're still requiring farmers take time away from seeding in order to complete this 16 page survey."

D'Autremont says the Alberta Government's Bill 6 is another where there is a disconnect in understanding the realities of farming. She says the government has rushed through the legislation without considering what the impact will be on the sector. She says no one cares more about safety than those producers who have friends and family members working on the farm, but the added red tape and unnecessary rules will adversely affect producers.

She urges farmers and ranchers to make their voices heard while the government is drafting the rules around the legislation.