CWB Is Buying Boats

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) defended its controversial decision to buy into the Great Lakes shipping fleet last week, saying it will ultimately mean higher returns for farmers. The board’s goal is not only to get the best returns for farmers, but to cut their costs too, said CWB chair Allen Oberg. Oberg said the

The Business Case For Farmers Owning Lake Freighters

The Canadian Wheat Board has decided to purchase two lake vessels, based on a very strong business case that will result in significant economic benefits for Prairie farmers. This investment will generate revenue for decades to come, and pay for itself many times over – just as CWB ownership of rail hopper cars has done.


Letters – for Feb. 17, 2011

Wheat sold at a loss The 2009 crop took a year to get all the money from the Canadian Wheat Board. My cost to plant and harvest 160 acres was $25,897. When I got my last payment of $23,686 I lost $2,211 and did not charge for labour. I got $2.45 per bushel for No.

“Corn Pone” Opinions Don’t Serve Farmers

I would like to respond to John DePape’s ongoing criticism of the Canadian Wheat Board and DePape’s disparaging remarks about Travacon. Travacon has been called upon as an expert witness on several high-level rail hearings and it was Travacon’s analysis


Farmers Need Equal Treatment

Gerry Ritz doesn’t understand the wishes of western farmers who do not want to give up the Canadian Wheat Board in favour of the open-market system that the U.S. and Australia

Voluntary CWB Proposed In Bill C-619

Ontario MP Bruce Stanton has introduced a private members’ bill to end the Canadian Wheat Board’s singledesk marketing authority. Bill C-619 would give farmers the ability to “opt out” of having to market their wheat and barley destined for export or domestic human consumption through the CWB for at least two years at a time.


Cwb President Reappointed For Three Years

Agriculture Minister and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board Gerry Ritz has reappointed Ian White as president and chief executive officer (CEO), and David Carefoot as a director of the Canadian Wheat Board. “I am pleased Mr. White and Mr. Carefoot have agreed to continue serving western Canadian farmers,” said Minister Ritz. “As president and

CWB Director Has His Facts Wrong

In the Jan. 6 issueManitoba Co-operator,Canadian Wheat Board-elected director Bill Woods takes aim at the railways for what he calls “slick accounting.” Unfortunately, Woods has his facts wrong, which makes his whole argument meaningless. The annual review of regulated rail rates and charges showed that the revenue of CN and CP came in under the


Board Skips Tender Due To Low Protein

The Canadian Wheat Board didn’t fill a recent wheat tender from Japan because its wheat has a lower percentage of protein than Japan usually requires, a spokeswoman for the marketing agency said Jan. 27. But the wheat board remains confident of filling future tenders from Japan, its fourth-largest wheat export market, as talks with Japan’s

Free Trade Talks With Morocco Wins Praise From Ag Sector

Canadian farm groups and the Canadian Wheat Board were quick with praise last week for a federal initiative to launch free trade negotiations with Morocco, saying a deal is needed to keep Canadian durum and pulse exports competitive with shipments from the United States. The U.S. has had an FTA with the North African country