Elevator Association, Grain Commission Going To Court

The Western Grain Elevators Association’s (WGEA) appeal to the Federal Court of Canada concerns how much moisture shrinkage elevator companies are allowed for tough, damp, moist or wet grain artificially dried at the farmer’s request. A Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) order, which took effect last Aug. 1, changed the formula that grain companies use to

CWB Predicts Small Rise In Wheat Output

Canada’s monopoly wheat exporter maintained its forecast for a small rise in production from the world’s No. 3 seller this year, but offered a slightly more upbeat forecast for global output. The outlook from the Canadian Wheat Board, one of the world’s biggest grain marketers, offers modest relief for millers who have been hurt this


Wanted: Young Farm Leaders

Canola checkoff dollars could soon be used to get younger farmers more involved in the Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA). Most of the association’s $1-a-tonne checkoff goes to promote canola consumption crop and improve yields. But MCGA president Rob Pettinger said in an interview following the association’s March 1 annual meeting it might be time

Bunge Sees Record Canada Canola Area

Canadian farmers look to plant a record canola area of 19.5 million acres (7.9 million hectares) or more this spring, driven by expanding crush capacity and strong global demand, an official with Bunge Ltd. said on Feb. 28. The biggest wild card is high potential for serious spring flooding that could take much land out


Some CGC Fees Proposed To Increase More Than 400 Per Cent

Farmers and grain companies could suffer sticker shock when they see the new fees the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is proposing. For example, the CGC is proposing a fivefold increase for inward grain inspection. If endorsed, the CGC will charge $107.50 a car to grade wheat as it enters a terminal elevator instead of the

Conference Board Of Canada Issues Report On Grain Transport

Giving the grain-handling and transportation sector a more commercial orientation would improve its efficiency and speed up the movement of wheat from terminals to ports, says a report issued by the Conference Board of Canada. “The greater flexibility allowed by regulators has helped to address some of the industry concerns, with the result that performance


Wheat Growers Oppose Wheat Board Vessel Purchase

Ashocking announcement has erased all doubt as to the level of contempt that the Canadian Wheat Board holds for western farmers. The CWB purchased two brand-new ships for the purpose of transporting grain on the Great Lakes. Farmers with no choice in the matter will finance the $65-million purchase over four years. At the CWB’s

Putting Farmers First A Priority

I am writing in response to a letter to the editor re: “Farmers need equal treatment” in the February 17 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator. Sagan needs to get his facts straight on the Canadian Wheat Board. For over 65 years, western Canadian grain farmers have had no choice in the marketing and distribution of


Ritz’s Reckless Rhetoric

It appears from the Feb. 17 issue of theCo-operatorthat Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is upset with the Canadian Wheat Board’s (CWB) decision to buy two boats to ship grain into the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Market Trends Suggest Higher Prices In Store

Market fundamentals are expected to trump global political uncertainty as the Canadian Wheat Board raises its 2010-11 pool return outlook (PRO) values for wheat by as much as $13 per tonne. The board’s latest PROs see durum values up $1-$5 per tonne from its January PRO levels, while Pool B feed barley values are up