Budget pushes CGC changes

The Canadian Grain Commission, grain industry watchdog and wheat quality guardian for 100 years this month, won’t be financed by taxpayers after 2014. Last week’s federal budget included $44 million to help the commission transition to full self-sufficiency over the next two years. The federal government also plans to reintroduce legislation to “modernize” the commission.



Cost versus benefit

Canada’s wheat-grading system might be costing more than the benefit it returns, says Richardson International’s vice-president of corporate affairs and general counsel, Jean-Marc Ruest. To ensure the quality of Canadian milling wheat-variety registration and wheat classes are regulated. There are many grades within each class, plus differentials for protein content. “People aren’t sure if the

CGC guarantees Canadian grain quality worldwide

The baker is already planning his production and quality-control program for months ahead, based on grain from halfway around the world he has never laid eyes on, much less inspected. But he isn’t worried. He knows he will almost certainly get exactly the right kind of wheat with the precise specifications he requested. He also


CWB tries to bring clarity to new open markets

Staff say the more grain it gets the closer it can get to providing the benefits of the soon-to-be-dismantled CWB

The tiny village of Somerset was shrouded in fog March 30, not unlike the outlook for Western Canada’s new open wheat and barley market. More than 80 farmers made their way through the morning mist to hear about the CWB’s new pricing options, which includes two pools and cash offerings. It was the last in

An independent view

The Co-operator began an ambitious project a few months ago, setting out to tell the history behind the Canadian Grain Commission as it celebrates 100 years of service this month. One of the things we discovered early into the effort was that there is a lot of history to tell — the story of how


Foreign traders vying for piece of North American grain-handling sector

The urgency to operate in the United States or Canada has grown because of increasing global demand for crops

For decades, the world’s leading grain traders like Cargill and Bunge enjoyed an unparalleled advantage: their smaller North American competitors lacked the flexibility and diversity of a global operation, and their foreign rivals lacked access to the biggest and most stable exporters in the world. That’s about to change. Large U.S. and Canadian grain companies

Rising barley demand promising for feed grain prices

Barley prices have proved to be an accurate leading indicator of what is to come in the corn and feed grain market

Reuters / Keep your eye on barley prices. Morocco’s recent removal of import duties on feed barley sets the stage for a scramble by other importer nations to cover their own barley needs in the weeks ahead. As a result, U.S. barley stocks can be expected to decline, and any steep cut in barley supplies


Canada’s Harper says Viterra bid not “primarily” foreign

reuters / Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said March 25 that the structure of Glencore’s $6.1-billion deal to buy No. 1 Canadian grain handler Viterra means it should not necessarily be seen as a full foreign takeover. Harper’s comments come as the Canadian government and regulators begin reviewing the offer by Swiss-based Glencore, already the

Letters — for 2012-03-29

Full costs to farmers underestimated Some years back Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson quoted a farmer saying that basis is a licence to steal. Two March 22 opinions are cases in point where we as farmers take a back seat to the private trade margin traders. In “The $5-million advantage of local processing,” Manitoba Cattle Enhancement