Ritz Repeatedly Calls Oberg A Thief — Then Recants

Under threat of legal action, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz hastily retracted widely circulated comments he made last week accusing CWB chair Allen Oberg of stealing farmers money. This word was only used figuratively and I retract it, Ritz said in a statement emailed to reporters Nov. 12. It remains our government s belief that


Letters – for Nov. 17, 2011

We welcome readers comments on issues that have been covered in the Manitoba Co-operator.In most cases we cannot accept open letters or copies of letters which have been sent to several publications. Letters are subject to editing for length or taste. We suggest a maximum of about 300 words. Please forward letters to ManitobaCo-operator, 1666DublinAve.,Winnipeg,



Letters – for Nov. 10, 2011

A Tonne Of Discontent Brandon Souris MP Merv Tweed found a tonne of grain delivered to his riding office Nov. 4. (See photo on page 19.) Farmers are angry that Tweed s government is breaking the law and denying us a vote on our CWB. Canada is watching as Tweed and his Minister of Agriculture



German Grain Trader Toepfer Expands Into Canadian Special Crops

Germany s largest grain trading house, Alfred C. Toepfer International, said Nov. 3 it is taking over two Canadian trading companies, giving it its first processing facilities in Canada. Toepfer, whose majority shareholder is Archer Daniels Midland said it has bought Western Grain Trade Ltd. and Western Grain Cleaning &Processing Ltd., which are Saskatchewan-based processors

Canada Farm Terminals See Unsure Fate After Wheat Board

With only old, wooden elevators to buy crops around Unity, Saskatchewan, farmers like Mervin Slater banded together in 1993 to sell shares and build a modern grain terminal. The towering concrete and steel facility is one of nearly a dozen farmer-run grain terminals to spring up on the Canadian Prairies since the 1990s, offering farmers


Ritz Thirsty For Barley Freedom Beer

When legislation Bill C-18 passes to kill the wheat board s monopoly, Gerry Ritz says he ll celebrate with a glass of barley freedom beer. It might even be made with malt from Rahr Malting in Alix, Alta., where the minister of agriculture visited Nov. 1 to celebrate the company s announcement to spend $6

Ritz Announces Supply Chain Logistics Forum

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announc ed a new industry forum to exchange views and work to improve the logistical system for farmers, the handling industry and customers. The Crop Logistics Working Group was announced in an address to the Inland Terminal Association of Canada (ITAC) Nov. 7. The Crop Logistics Working Group will be