Market Power: 50 Years Forward, 50 Years Back

As a farmer, I m alarmed at an elected government denying farmers a say in arguably the most important question in the history of Prairie farming. Without the marketing and representative power of the Canadian Wheat Board, grain farmers would be a scattered bunch of thousands peddling their wares to a handful of powerful grain

Is Supply Management Next?

The Conservative government s decision to end the Canadian Wheat Board s monopoly has supply management s critics in the media, business and academia sharpening their knives. Not surprisingly, the detractors are saying it s also time for an open market in milk, eggs, chicken and turkey. If marketing freedom and open markets are good


Churchill’s First Grain Ship Arrives

Churchill’s port may not survive the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board, says Manitoba’s minister through Churchill, then this port doesn’t have a very bright future.” Last week, the MV Pacific Bulker loaded approximately 27,000 tonnes of Canada Western Red Spring wheat destined for Nigeria. Wheat and barley represent most of Churchill’s traffic, Struthers noted.

In Brief… – for Aug. 4, 2011

CWB lowers new-crop PROs:The Canadian Wheat Board has lowered new-crop wheat, durum and barley values for the upcoming crop year beginning August 1. In setting its latest PROs, the board cited U.S. economic uncertainty; a higher Canadian dollar; increased production in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan; higher Russian wheat sales; improving durum production outlook, and reduced weather


CWB Working On Open-Market Model

The Canadian Wheat Board is working on a model for converting the single-desk seller of western barley and wheat into an open-market grain company. But for this “new entity” to survive the federal government must make major concessions, including assuming CWB employees’ pension liability, says chair Allen Oberg. “It’s our view that it’s the government’s

Wheat Board Should Get On With New Role: Richardson

The Canadian Wheat Board should not receive ongoing government help after its grain-marketing monopoly ends, but needs to quickly plan for a new role, the head of Richardson International Limited, Canada’s second-largest grain handler, said on July 7. Canada’s Conservative government, which holds a majority of seats in the House of Commons, plans to pass


It’s Time To Move On

Allen Oberg, chairman of the Canadian Wheat Board, spoke about the future of the CWB at the Western Canadian Farm Progress Show in Regina recently. While reading and listening to his presentation online, I was struck with just how much this debate is now focused on the plight of the reformed CWB, and not about

More Than 5,100 Signed Petition For CWB Vote

As of June 24 more than 5,100 people had signed the Manitoba government’s online petition calling on the federal government to let farmers vote on whether or not to create an open market for wheat and barley Aug. 1, 2012. That figure doesn’t include those who have signed petitions in Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural


Who’s Responsible For A Viable Open-Market CWB?

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says the Canadian Wheat Board can survive in an open market, but it’s up to the board and the industry to figure out how. Ritz arrived for a half-hour visit at the board May 30 – his first-ever foray into its downtown offices – to inform officials there what he had

Group Promotes Canada’s Forgotten “Blue Water” Port

Early in The Second World War, Russian forces successfully fended off an attempt by Hitler’s armies to cut off the country’s crucial northern lifeline: the deep sea Port of Murmansk. A huge monument now stands over the harbour in recognition of the fanatical defenders and their battle to keep open a vital route bringing in