Variety Declarations Put To Test

The Canadian Wheat Board is being sued for more than $50 million by a Saskatchewan farm that has its delivery contract cancelled for delivering an ineligible variety of Red Spring wheat. But industry officials say the lawsuit by Hudye Farms Inc. and two associated companies is really a test of the four-year-old grain variety declaration

Letters – for Dec. 2, 2010

The November 18 issue was very interesting reading and has prompted me to write to compliment Laura Rance for her excellent editorial on the changes in the Animal Care Act and the increased authority for provincial animal-welfare officers. I also have to say that the two letters to the editor regarding dogs riding in the


Wheat Board Director Tips Off Alberta Grains Council

Aleaked email shows that Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) director Henry Vos tipped off the Alberta government about a CWB barley study, but it’s not clear whether he has breached confidentiality rules. That can only be determined by the directors if it comes to their attention, said board spokesman and retiring District 9 director Bill Nicholson.

CWB Announces Feed Wheat Program

The Canadian Wheat Board has announced a new program to lock in a price for feed wheat. Based on the current Early Payment Option (EPO), the program for feed wheat allows producers to lock in an Early Payment Value (EPV) equal to 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175 or 200 per cent of the Pool


Monsanto Monitoring Attitudes On GM Wheat

The roadblock to rolling out genetically modified wheat isn’t consumer resistance in Europe or Japan, it’s ambivalence among Canadian farmers, according to Monsanto Canada president Derek Penner. “My attitude is there hasn’t been much shift towards GMO wheat (in Canada),” Penner told reporters Nov. 23 at the opening of Monsanto’s new Canada Breeding Centre at

Boosts Approved For CWB Initial Payments

Prairie wheat and barley growers’ initial 2010- 11 payments from the Canadian Wheat Board will see adjustments effective this week by as much as $90 per tonne for the highest-protein spring wheat. The increases, effective Dec. 2, will mean adjustment payments for Prairie farmers who will have delivered wheat, durum and barley to the CWB


Some Mum On Single Desk Versus Open Market

Since the first Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) directors’ election in 1998 candidates have declared themselves “for” or “against” retaining single-desk selling. In this year’s contest, five of the candidates running in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are mum on the question: Henry Vos, Brian Otto, Vicki Dutton, Terry Youzwa and Ernie Sirski, leaving

Democracy Doesn’t Just Happen

It’s election season for farmers. Not only did rural municipalities recently have elections, but producers have received ballots in the mail for director elections to the Canadian Wheat Board. Democracy is great, but it does have its foibles. Overall election activity was up across the province and that’s a good thing. Too many sit on


Four Groups Registered As Third-Party Interveners

The 2010 Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) election has been uncharacteristically quiet this time round. In 2008, there were allegations that federal government improperly engaged in the election when several Conservative MPs used their offices to mail letters urging farmers to elect candidates opposed to single-desk selling. There was also controversy over changes to the voters’

Farmers Making Progress In Fight For Better Rail Service

Ken Rosaasen has witnessed previous grain transportation battles right back to Hall Commission in the 1970s and believes farmers and grain companies are making some headway this time around. “I think the transportation issue is moving on to the front burner and I think it’s going to stay there,” the University of Saskatchewan agricultural economist