CWB sign

Support for single desk wasn’t ‘cooked up’

And farmers won’t control 
the voluntary CWB


In the heat of debate it’s easy to forget a fact or dismiss your opponent’s argument out of hand. Perhaps that explains why Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz accused Lowe Farm farmer Dean Harder of citing a “cooked up” number when the two were sparring April 15 in Winnipeg over the privatization of CWB — the



people in a meeting room

Farmers pack first MWBGA annual meeting

Three new directors were elected, of whom two favour 
mail-in ballots for future elections

So many came to the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association’s (MWBGA) first annual meeting at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg that hotel staff had to open an adjoining room to seat the crowd. An estimated 150 people attended, 121 members registered and 117 cast ballots, defeating one interim incumbent director and electing three new

Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association director David Rourke says it will do most of its research on joint projects with other provinces.

Giving farmers a role in variety development

Should farmers just provide a little assistance, or form their own breeding company?

What role should farmers play in developing new wheat and barley varieties? It’s a question Western Canada’s cereal groups are tackling together, says Brent VanKoughnet, a consultant working with the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA), one of the groups involved in the project. Directors and staff from eight organizations, with some funding and


Manitoba farmer

Should farmers pay for protection against grain company defaults?

The Canadian Grain Commission has proposed setting up a security fund paid for by grain companies, 
but Rob Brunel says Ontario’s farmer-funded model has merit

Rob Brunel knows farmers aren’t keen on more checkoffs, but the Ste. Rose du Lac farmer believes that’s the best way to replace the Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC) current security program. “My preference has been to set up something like Ontario has,” the chair of Keystone Agricultural Producers’ (KAP) Grains and Oilseeds Committee said in

grain shipping cars at an inland grain terminal

Saskatchewan coalition lays out plan for grain transportation reform

Its submission to the Canadian Transportation Act Review Panel contains nine 
recommendations, including protecting producer cars and market transparency

A coalition of Saskatchewan farm groups says western Canadian farmers lost an estimated $3.1 billion last crop year and could lose $2 billion this crop year because of a broken transportation logistics. The coalition formed by Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, the barley and wheat development commissions and Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) submitted nine recommendation


sunny field of barley

Barley, a smart carbohydrate

Recipe Swap: Savory Butternut Squash Barley Pilaf, Quick Breakfast Bread, and Curried Chicken and Barley

With winter well on its way early November is when we look for those filling, satisfying foods that give us energy and comfort for coping with cold weather. Barley recipes are especially popular during the month of November for many reasons. They’re the perfect ingredient for making the soups and stews we like to make

man at microphone

New provincial wheat and barley groups pledge to co-operate

There's agreement collaboration will make farmers' checkoff dollars stretch further

Western Canada’s new provincial wheat and barley organizations agree their best path forward is co-operating to make the best use of farmers’ checkoff dollars — but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some bumps in the road. Some were evident during a panel discussion at the Interprovincial Seed Growers meeting in Winnipeg Nov. 5 when


men seated at a conference table

Immediate priorities identified for new wheat and barley organizations

One is deciding if farmers should own their own plant-breeding company

There are two pressing issues the West’s new provincial wheat and barley organizations need to address soon, a Manitoba consultant working for the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) says. One is prepare for the July 17, 2017 end of the temporary western Canadian wheat and barley checkoff for funding research and market development,

Restless farmers and the Prairie grain business

Restless farmers and the Prairie grain business

What goes around…

While the percentage of grain buyers in heaven may only be slightly higher than that for railroaders, the stories that grandpa (or now great-grandpa) told about being shafted by the grain companies early in the last century may have been a trifle exaggerated. Then, as now, there was a bit of a “shoot the messenger”