(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Major retailers say federal bread pricing probe underway

Major Canadian grocery retailers Metro and Loblaw say a federal investigation is underway concerning the pricing of certain commercial bread products. Toronto-based Loblaw and its parent firm, George Weston Ltd., announced Tuesday they’re aware of an “industry-wide investigation” by the federal Competition Bureau concerning a “price-fixing scheme involving certain packaged bread products.” The two companies


Nominations open Nov. 1 for wheat and barley association directors

Nominations open Nov. 1 for wheat and barley association directors

The election will be held at the 
MWBGA’s annual meeting Feb. 15, 2018, 
but advance ballots are also available

Nominations to fill three positions on the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association’s (MWBGA) board of directors open Nov. 1 and close Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m. Incumbent MWBGA chair Fred Greig of Reston intends to stand for election, he said in an email. The other two incumbents are Dylan Wiebe of Altona and Justin

Farmer in wheat field

Column roils wheat grading controversy

Former NFU president Stewart Wells claims the system is under attack, 
but the grain trade says a small change will protect a big market

Is the Canadian wheat grading system under attack? That’s the concern being raised by former NFU president Stewart Wells, who says the U.S. has painted a target on it, and the local grain trade is helping them zero in. Read more: Grading system needed to ensure proper compensation Wells wrote about his concern for the nation’s


Grading system needed to ensure proper compensation

Canada’s wheat grading system is essential so farmers get fairly compensated by grain buyers, says Stewart Wells. Without it grain companies can pay farmers different prices for the same quality of wheat. “It’s about transparency and farmers being paid properly and fairly for what they do,” Wells said in an interview Oct. 11. “If there

Stand up for our grain grading system

Stand up for our grain grading system

It would be a mistake to alter the Canadian Grain Act to allow U.S. grain to enter our system

In 2014, a longtime advocate for grain trade deregulation and a former researcher for the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association was quoted in the ag press as saying, “I don’t remember one serious conversation about market power and the dangers it imposed.” Apparently that conversation still hasn’t happened for the farmers who are lobbying to


WCWGA searching for new executive director

Robin Speer, who has had the job since Nov. 2, 2015, joined CN Rail last month

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) is seeking a new executive director. Robin Speer, who took over the job from Blair Rutter Nov. 2, 2015, joined CN Rail in mid-September as manager for public affairs in Saskatchewan. Speer said in his new position he will work with Saskatchewan municipalities, industry organizations, city and provincial officials. “I will