Who is the Grain Growers of Canada?

The Grain Growers of Canada was founded in 2000 to represent grain growers, through their respective associations, across Canada. The initial members were the Alberta Barley Commission, Atlantic Grains Council, Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission, Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, Ontario Soybean Growers, Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association and Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. Since then all

Single-desk support unchanged

Pro-single-desk directors continue to hold the balance of power at the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) following the most contentious wheat board election since they began in 1998. Four of the five directors elected want the CWB’s monopoly on the sale of western wheat and barley for domestic human consumption or export to remain. That includes


Pasta purists win prizes

A nine-year-old from Winnipeg with an eye for textures of pasta and an 11-year-old spaghetti fan from Beausejour are among the winners in the Canadian Wheat Board’s contest to describe a “spaghetti farmer.” The CWB in October launched the contest for children age 12 and under to submit artwork and writing showing a spaghetti farmer

Grain Growers of Canada enjoy lobbying success

“I personally cannot remember a time over the last decade that our issues have been the government’s issues.” – Ross Ravelli Grain Growers of Canada members revelled in their lobbying successes and plotted strategy for ongoing battles at their recent annual meeting here. “I personally cannot remember a time over the last decade that our


CWB election ends in controversy

Canadian Wheat Board election co-ordinator Ian Craven is investigating whether four Conservative members of Parliament (MPs) illegally used the CWB election voters’ list to send letters last month advising farmers how to vote. He’s also seeking a legal opinion as to whether federal politicians should be registered as third-party interveners. The letters, sent on House

Smart thinking

JOHN MORRISS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR At first glance, it’s beyond bizarre. Members of Parliament, at public expense, sending letters to constituents recommending how to vote in a Canadian Wheat Board director election (see page ). What were they thinking? A recent “blog” by Globe and Mail columnist Robert Silver provides a possible explanation. He says the


Shrinking loonie supports CWB PROs

A weaker Canadian dollar and a “dramatic drop” in ocean freight rates are supporting the Canadian Wheat Board’s latest pool return outlooks (PRO) for wheat. Wheats rose $5 per tonne in the November 2008-09 PROs released last Thursday. For example, the PRO value for No. 1 Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) at 14.5 per cent

Unregistered wheats back on agenda

“We want to open it up for discussion because that exemption from variety registration is available for all other crop kinds, in all others parts of Canada (except the CWB designated area).” – Michael Scheffel Earlier this year Western Canada’s wheat industry flatly rejected a federal government proposal to allow farmers to import and grow


CWB ends 2007-08 with record pool revenue

Strong sales and high prices generated record returns for Prairie grain farmers from the Canadian Wheat Board this past year. The CWB ended the 2007-08 grain year with a record $8.4 billion in gross pool receipts for wheat and barley. The net return to farmers after marketing costs is $7.8 billion, board chairman Larry Hill

LETTERS – for Nov. 20, 2008

At least on ballot, choice is clear I, along with three out of the five Canadian Wheat Board director candidates, wish to thank the Co-operator for your even-handed manner of providing equal space to all the candidates (Co-operator, Nov. 13, pages 21 to 25). While these three candidates advocate a particular policy they name as