Letters, June 7, 2012

Farmers own CWB assets Gerry Ritz, once again, attempts to justify the confiscation of the contingency fund and other assets of the Canadian Wheat Board single desk, “Contingency fund not owed to farmers” in the May 31 issue. He is correct in stating that the fund was not generated by the CWB’s “normal” pooling operation

AAFC clarifies checkoff administrator’s authority

The federal government plans to sign an agreement with the Alberta Barley Commission to dictate how farmers’ money collected from the proposed new interim wheat and barley checkoff for research and market development is spent. “ABC and AAFC (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) intend to enter into an agreement that will specify what dollars-per-tonne amounts that


Viterra shareholders back Glencore

Reuters / Shareholders of Canada’s largest grain handler, Viterra Inc., voted overwhelmingly May 29 in favour of a friendly takeover bid by Swiss commodities trader Glencore International Plc., pushing the biggest deal in years for the global agricultural sector closer to reality. The deal was supported by 99.8 per cent of shareholders, far more than

CWB producer contracts change

CWB is advising Prairie farmers that important changes have been made to CWB permit and contract processes for the 2012-13 crop year. These changes have been made to streamline CWB processes for the new marketing environment and align with new IT system requirements. Landlords and interested parties who share in a producer’s returns can no


KAP questions checkoff administrator

The Keystone Agricultural Producers is miffed over a federal decision to appoint the Alberta Barley Commission as administrator for the new interim checkoff on western wheat and barley. “I can’t see why KAP couldn’t have handled it or why the Canola Growers or Corn Growers couldn’t,” KAP president Doug Chorney said in an interview last

Rust arrives ahead of usual

Leaf rust appears to be showing up on winter and spring cereals earlier than usual this year, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives May 25 insect and disease report says. There have been reports of rust on spring and winter wheat in the Dauphin-Grandview area. “It is unknown whether the pathogen overwintered in the area


Letters, May 31, 2012

Incorrect attribution on quote The CGC has been contacted by Mr. Bill Toews who advised that he is concerned about the attribution of a statement in the feature on the CGC’s 100th anniversary printed in the Manitoba Co-operator, Alberta Farmer Express and Grainews. In the piece entitled CGC guarantees Canadian grain quality worldwide, the quote,

Ottawa appealed ruling against Ritz on CWB Act

The Federal Court of Appeal reserved its decision May 23 after hearing the federal government’s appeal of a ruling last year that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz broke the law by not consulting with farmers before ending the Canadian Wheat Board single desk. The Appeal Court hasn’t signalled when it will render a decision. But its


Canadian exporters stymied by high costs

Canadian exporters are stymied by higher costs, including government fees, than their competitors and as a result Canada is only doing OK as an exporter, says Rob Bryson, vice-president of Parrish & Heimbecker. Despite buoyant commodity markets, the world is walking on the edge of another bout of bad economic times, he warned the annual

CWB has limited success striking deals with grain handlers

The Canadian Wheat Board’s limited success in teaming up with grain handlers to survive the loss of its marketing monopoly is raising doubts about price pooling, a nearly century-old way for farmers to manage their price risk. The CWB, which loses its monopoly on Aug. 1 and becomes one of many buyers of farmers’ grain,