Wheat Growers Question CGC Increases

Before the Canadian Grain Commission hikes user fees, there needs to be a thorough review of services, says the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. “Our approach on this is that before we raise any fees we should first have a critical examination of all of the services that the grain commission provides,” WCWG executive director


In Brief… – for Dec. 16, 2010

Ukraine extends export quotas:Ukraine’s government on Dec. 8 extended grain export quotas, set to expire on Dec. 31, until March 31, 2011, Interfax Ukraine news agency quoted Farm Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk as saying. “The question is resolved. The quotas are extended by the decision of the government,” Prysyazhnyuk said. Ukraine’s Economy Ministry said earlier it

Letters – for Dec. 2, 2010

The November 18 issue was very interesting reading and has prompted me to write to compliment Laura Rance for her excellent editorial on the changes in the Animal Care Act and the increased authority for provincial animal-welfare officers. I also have to say that the two letters to the editor regarding dogs riding in the


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

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


Wheat Markets Up 50 Per Cent – for Aug. 12, 2010

The hottest run-up in the wheat market since 2008 prompted the Canadian Wheat Board to issue a special market advisory last week to alert farmers to potential pricing opportunities. David Boyes, the board’s commodity risk manager, said two market fundamentals – severe drought in Russia and excessive moisture cutting production in Western Canada – were

Wheat Markets Up 50 Per Cent – for Aug. 12, 2010

The hottest run-up in the wheat market since 2008 prompted the Canadian Wheat Board to issue a special market advisory last week to alert farmers to potential pricing opportunities. David Boyes, the board’s commodity risk manager, said two market fundamentals – severe drought in Russia and excessive moisture cutting production in Western Canada – were


Excess Moisture Application Forms In The Mail

Application forms for the aid promised by federal and provincial ministers earlier this month are in the mail and farmers can expect payments in late August or early September, officials say. Farmers have until Aug. 3 to apply for the 2010 Canada-Manitoba Excess Moisture Assistance Program (CMEMAP), which pays $30 for each acre of annual

Farm Aid Highly Political

Why should governments top up crop insurance coverage in a year where there’s a widespread disaster when they wouldn’t likely have the same response if the problem was regional? Amazingly, last week’s annual meeting of federal and provincial agriculture ministers concluded with a detailed program announcement for flooded Prairie farmland. Rarely do governments act so