The Amazone drill advertised in our July 10, 1986 issue was said to be ideal for no-till, minimum-till and conventional seeding. The ad noted that the company also produced several other types of equipment, all of the same width so that they could be used for tramline operation.
A controversy over canola producer cars was in full swing that month. The Canadian Grain Commission was allocating 10 per cent of canola sales to producers, who could ship cars to Vancouver and receive a premium by selling to grain companies that needed to complete a cargo. Meanwhile, canola prices had dropped $100 per tonne since the fall, prompting farmers to hold on for a higher price. Accordingly the federal government was being asked to waive the July 15 deadline for repaying canola cash advances.
Prices were also down for wheat, with the wheat board initial payment for 1 CW set to drop $36 per tonne with the new crop year, so farmers were rushing to deliver before July 31. The board said delivery prospects were good, other than farmers might have to deliver to elevators other than the normal one of their choice.
However, space had been tight earlier in the year because of heavy deliveries of 3 CW for which there was limited market and low quota. Quotas were higher for 2 CW, so elevator managers had been grading 3 CW as 2 CW tough, as the discount was only $1 per tonne. The CWB was cracking down on the practice.
Improper trading was coming to light at the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange that month. A former XCan Grain official was being investigated after unusual trading success by his brother-in-law, and three traders were fined for filing improper records. The individuals all later received jail terms.
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