Farmers fear consolidation, not foreigners, in Viterra bid

Reuters / For most of the past year, western Canadian farmers have braced for the rush of competition that will follow the end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s 69-year-long monopoly on grain marketing in August. Now, they’re preparing for the possibility of seeing less than expected. The fertile region’s biggest grain handler, Viterra, said March

FNA gets into cash advance administration

Ontario’s ACC wants to expand in the West, but only into crops that aren’t covered now, says Jaye Atkins

Farmers taking out cash advances on their crops this year will see some changes in who is administering the programs. As the Canadian Canola Growers Association expands its administration to take over the crops formerly handled by the Canadian Wheat Board, a new player has emerged to manage the program for several commodities in Ontario


Tax credits rise on wheat, barley

Staff / Wheat and barley growers whose money stayed in the Western Grains Research Foundation’s checkoff fund during 2011 can expect a relatively larger tax credit for their buck. Prairie growers — other than Alberta barley growers, who pay into a different checkoff fund — will see their WGRF checkoff money eligible for federal Scientific

Letters, March 22, 2012

Taxpayers on the hook (again) When I first saw the article in newspapers about $4.5 million for Maple Leaf upgrades, my first thought was, is it election time again, and so soon? I do not understand why Minister Vic Toews, chastises the city of Winnipeg and the media reporting as to what and whose sewage


CWB officials promote pools at grower meetings

While the Canadian Wheat Board had its monopoly, some farmers complained getting a “good, average price” for wheat wasn’t good enough. But in the coming open market, the board is betting lots will think that’s pretty good. “The average of the market through a pooling operation does actually return people the best value, overall, over

Cigi being wooed to move to Saskatoon

Fears that scrapping the monopoly-powered wheat board could undermine Winnipeg’s grain sector hegemony were bolstered with news Saskatoon wants Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute) to move there. The offer came Nov. 29 during a meeting with Saskatoon economic development group representatives, Rex Newkirk, Cigi’s director of research and business development said in an interview March


Farmers still waiting for marketing choice

On behalf of tens of thousands of successful farmers who eagerly anticipate a new wheat and barley era, we strongly encourage both private grain companies and the new voluntary Canadian Wheat Board to use all possible resources to successfully conclude their ongoing negotiations on handling agreements. The Grain Growers’ policy has always been marketing choice

CWB books $6 billion in revenues for 2010-11

Prairie wheat and barley growers saw payments of about $5.5 billion for their deliveries to the Canadian Wheat Board during the 2010-11 crop year. The CWB released its annual report for 2010-11 Feb. 21 showing $6.071 billion in combined pool revenue, with $3.792 billion paid out to pool participants, another $1.709 billion paid out through


CFIA lays charges over cattle shipments to U.S.

Three cattle operations and a local veterinarian have been charged for allegedly failing to accurately record the ages of cattle shipped to the United States. Lisa Gauthier, a spokesperson for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said in an email that the charges under the Health of Animals Act and regulations were approved by prosecutors following

Canadian Wheat Board seen gaining grain-handling deals

Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said Feb. 27 he is confident the Canadian Wheat Board will strike agreements with grain handlers to allow it to start buying farmers’ 2012 crops for future delivery. As of Aug. 1, the wheat board plans to continue buying and selling upcoming crops, even though farmers will be no longer