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


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


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


Letters – for Nov. 18, 2010

Dogs in a truck offence – offensive Just when a person is thinking that the urban-rural gap cannot get any wider– Dr. Terry Whiting is quoted in a Manitoba Co-operatorarticle concerning Manitoba’s new animal rights and welfare rules. In the specific quote of concern “Sheriff” Whiting informs us that driving a pickup truck with a

Regulating Railways Finds Rare Consensus

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) and Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) can agree on one thing – more regulation is needed to improve railway service for farm commodities. The Grain Growers of Canada, Canadian Canola Growers Association and the Western Grain Elevators Association say the same. All have sent that message to a panel


CWB Is About Much More Than Selling Grain

Iwould like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Garry Draper and my farm is located at Lenore, Man. My wife, Holly, and I have been married for 30 years and have two sons, Shaune and Michael. Both of our sons have bought farms, and together we farm 2,100 acres of wheat,

CWB Must Be A Strong Advocate For Farmers

For over 30 years, I have produced wheat and canola near Benito, Man. This has made me a strong supporter of the single-desk marketing and farmer control of the Canadian Wheat Board. These are the reasons I am asking for your support in the Canadian Wheat Board directors’ elections. It matters who we elect and