In Brief… – for Apr. 28, 2011

New president:Sinclair Harrison of Moosomin, Sask. has been elected president of the Hudson Bay Route Association (HBRA). Harrison, longtime president of the Farmer Rail Car Coalition and former president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, was named to the position at a board of directors’ meeting in Virden following the HBRA’s 68th annual convention

Shrinkage Deduction Ending At Process, Transfer Elevators

The official term is “shrinkage” but farmers often call it “tookage” and won’t be grieving its demise. The Canadian Grain Commission has ordered licensed process and terminal elevators to stop making shrinkage deductions effective March 19. “Comprehensive shrinkage” is defined as the loss in weight of grain while it’s handled or treated, and shrinkage deductions


CP Working To Improve Grain-Shipping Service

Canadian Pacific Railway says avalanches and more orders to move grain than were forecasted are why its service is slow. “We are working to understand capacity needs and we are focused on implementing service reliability initiatives,” CP spokesperson Breanne Feigel said last week in response to complaints from the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA). “We

South Korea Looks To Expand Overseas Grain Farming

South Korea, the world’s fourth-largest grain importer, plans to expand overseas grain production to ensure supply and curb inflation as it faces record-high grain prices. The Finance Ministry said in a statement March 2 that it would form a task force team with the ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs to prepare measures by the


Delisting Western Barley Futures Not In Cards Just Yet

Although open interest in western barley futures on the ICE Canada trading platform continues to be virtually non-existent, officials with the exchange are hoping the industry will again participate in the contract and prevent the delisting of the commodity. “We are not currently considering delisting the western barley contract at this time,” said Brad Vannan,

CGC Seeks A Doubling Of Fees

The Canadian Grain Commission wants to more than double its service fees in anticipation that Ottawa will soon cut back support for the agency. Under the proposal, fees, which have been frozen since 1991, could average $1.80 a tonne, up from about 70 cents, said CGC spokesman Remi Gosselin. “We are getting 50 per cent


Protecting Canada’s Grain Quality Reputation

The Canadian Grain Co m m i s s i o n , t h e Canadian Wheat Board and the Western Grain Elevators Association have jointly issued a release reminding farmers that producer declarations protect the returns farmers earn from the international marketplace. The declaration system relies on producers to attest that the grain

West Coast Wheat Shipments Drop

Total West Coast grain movement so far this crop year is just a bit off the pace from 2009-10. As of week 18 (Dec. 5) grain terminals in Vancouver and Prince Rupert shipped out almost 6.4 million tonnes of the major grains and oilseeds, down seven per cent compared with the same period a year


Variety Declarations Put To Test

The Canadian Wheat Board is being sued for more than $50 million by a Saskatchewan farm that has its delivery contract cancelled for delivering an ineligible variety of Red Spring wheat. But industry officials say the lawsuit by Hudye Farms Inc. and two associated companies is really a test of the four-year-old grain variety declaration

Cwb Announces Grain Handlers Of The Year For 2010

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has awarded four grain-handling facilities with its “Grain Handler of the Year” designation, recognizing excellence in the grain companies that serve farmers. “Acknowledging our grain industry partners’ expertise, high performance and commitment is at the core of this awards program,” said Ian White, CWB president and CEO. “We all work