Canadian Wheat Growers Association Archives - Page 2 of 11

Farmers, grain companies want federal government to continue railway shipping targets

Ritz’s office says he and the transport minister haven’t made a decision yet

By Allan Dawson November 6, 2014

Farm groups and grain companies said last week their grain transportation woes are far from over as the federal government considers whether to keep or lift minimum movement orders for the railways. In an emailed statement Oct. 31, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz’s office appeared to backtrack from a news story earlier in the week saying

Cereals, National news

Will railways be fined $100,000 a week instead of daily?

Ottawa isn’t saying, but the Canada Transportation Act states fines apply ‘per violation’

By Allan Dawson October 3, 2014

CN Rail is facing federal fines for failing to meet legislated weekly targets for moving grain — this much is known. But the big question in the grain industry last week was whether those $100,000 fines will be levied per day — as federal officials indicated in press statements last winter — or whether the penalty

Chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson says the CGC and Atradius Credit Insurance couldn’t develop an insurance-based protection plan. The CGC will consider options, but in the meantime the current plan remains in place. photo: allan dawson

Cereals, News

Grain commission bonding replacement plan stalls

Insurance industry rules make it difficult to protect farmer payments for delivered grain

By Allan Dawson August 8, 2014

After a year of negotiations to develop an insurance-based producer payment protection plan, the Canadian Grain Commission has called it quits, surprising and disappointing some farm groups. The CGC has been attempting to replace the current bonding system to protect farmers against payment defaults for grain delivered to merchandisers. It had been negotiating with Atradius

Cereals, News, Oilseeds

Viterra files service complaint against CN Rail to CTA

A trickle of cases alleging inadequate rail service for grain could turn into a torrent

By Allan Dawson July 8, 2014

Viterra is the latest organization headed to transportation court seeking better rail service for grain. It filed a level-of-service complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) against CN Rail June 20 alleging the railway breached its level-of-service obligations by failing to provide cars in accordance with CN’s car-rationing plan. Industry observers don’t expect it to

Cereals, Opinion

Lunar eclipses, voodoo — and doughnuts

By Laura Rance-Unger April 29, 2014

The mythology around lunar eclipses — especially “blood moons” like the one we witnessed early April 14 — is that they foretell of significant events, ranging from doomsday scenarios to the second coming. Without any pretence of superstition, we couldn’t help but note this in the context of our story this week about three major farm

Cereals, Crops

Grain transportation hot button among wheat growers

Delegates urged Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz to consider ending the revenue cap or consider running rights

By Alex Binkley February 19, 2014

The state of grain transportation dominated the recent Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association annual convention in Ottawa last week with producers calling on Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz to take action. In a brief presentation to the convention, Ritz said there had to be more accountability in the grain transportation network. Afterwards delegates peppered him with

CWB’s planned purchase of grain handling and port terminal assets from the Soumat arm of Toronto’s Upper Lakes Group Inc. has renewed calls for the wheat board’s contingency fund to be paid to farmers.

Cereals, News

CWB facility purchase raises concerns

By Allan Dawson December 4, 2013

CWB Ltd. is buying handling facilities, but some farmers are wondering who’s paying the bill. CWB announced last week that it would purchase Mission Terminal, Les Élévateurs des Trois-Rivières and Services Maritimes Laviolette for an undisclosed amount. Some have concerns that the former Canadian Wheat Board’s contingency fund, which farmers claim as theirs, will bankroll

Cereals, Crops, Pulses

Menzies to head CropLife Canada

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff November 14, 2013

Ted Menzies, longtime Alberta farmer and former member of Parliament, has been named the new president and CEO of CropLife Canada. Menzies will join the organization January 1, 2014 and will work from its head office in Ottawa. “Ted earned the respect of colleagues from across the political spectrum during his time in federal politics.

Cereals, Crops, Opinion

The need for speed

By Laura Rance-Unger April 11, 2013

When the Harper government gutted Canada’s environmental review legislation as part of the 2012 omnibus budget, the public was told it was because the process was inefficient, slow and standing in the way of economic development. But as researchers at the University of Toronto noted, federal officials “provided no evidence apart from the testimony of

Cereals, Crops

Manitoba farmer continues push for merger of commodity groups

By Allan Dawson April 11, 2013

A Halbstadt farmer says his call to create three big Prairie-wide commodity groups is getting positive reviews — but no organizations have officially embraced the idea so far. Last month, Danny Penner issued a discussion document calling for the merger of existing commodity groups to make them more efficient and effective. “In person, I have

Daily Network News

Moroccan fertilizer maker OCP expects output to drop 30 per cent in Q2, sources say

Feed Grain Weekly: Demand rises despite war uncertainty

How farmers can manage stress, anxiety during spring seeding

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