Reading Time: 4 minutes The Canadian Wheat Board will succeed in an open market, its CEO Ian White predicts. "I’ve got no doubt we can run a viable business," White said in an interview in his office last week. "We hope it will be profitable in its first year. That’s what we’re targeting." The board always said the single […] Read more
CWB ready to compete, expecting to be profitable
Ritz to press CWB for interim no-cost buybacks
Reading Time: 2 minutes Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has pledged to push the Canadian Wheat Board to allow no-cost buybacks for farmers who’d like to market grain ahead of the official end of the single desk. Ritz told the recent annual meeting of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association in Moose Haw that he would push for such […] Read more
Ex-CWB directors seek to shut down feds’ appeal
Reading Time: 3 minutes The legal battle over the Canadian Wheat Board has taken another twist: its eight fired directors are now looking to quash Ottawa’s appeal of a declaration that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz erred in deregulating the CWB’s marketing desk. Ritz introduced Bill C-18, the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, on Oct. 18. C-18 received royal […] Read more
Conference explores life after the CWB monopoly
Reading Time: 3 minutes In a post-monopoly world, the Canadian Wheat Board will disappear altogether, or it will become the "eBay" for grain exports by bypassing the grain-handling system with container shipments. Or it will become something in between. It all depends on who was talking at the recent two-day conference here organized by the universities of Saskatchewan, Regina, […] Read more
Frozen wheat lawsuit goes against CWB
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Manitoba Court of Appeal has upheld a lower court ruling finding the Canadian Wheat Board liable for negligent misrepresentation in a 1983 wheat sale and must pay $4.6 million in damages, plus costs. The Dec. 14 ruling by Chief Justice Richard J. Scott stems from a trial held in 2009. Wheat board spokeswoman Maureen […] Read more
CWB fusarium programs to disappear
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers plagued with fusarium head blight are likely to see deeper discounts in the wake of the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly, the board’s agronomist Mike Grenier says. “I think you’ll see deep discounts pretty quickly on an individual year,” Grenier said during the recent 7th Canadian Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight. “I guess you just […] Read more
Experts see CWB legislation entering legal limbo
Reading Time: 3 minutes A parliamentary expert says federal plans to change the Canadian Wheat Board are likely on hold until the courts have had their final say on last week’s ruling in favour of opponents. "The federal government can get the legislation through Parliament, but they won’t be able to implement it as long as it’s before the […] Read more
Manitoba winter fertilizing ban begins Nov. 10
Reading Time: 2 minutes Did you know the last day to fall-apply fertilizer in Manitoba is Nov. 9? That’s how long Manitoba farmers who still plan to apply fertilizer this fall have to get the job done. Otherwise, they must wait until next April 10 under new regulations that came into effect last spring. Although the changes were announced […] Read more
Farm group under fire from farmers over CWB stance
Reading Time: 2 minutes Mostly it has been farmers fighting the government over the Canadian Wheat Board’s future, now it’s farmer against farmer. Three western Manitoba producers paid for an inserted advertisement in the Manitoba Co-operator last week accusing the Keystone Agriculture Producers (KAP) of not working to save the Canadian Wheat Board and suggesting KAP members request their […] Read more
Manitoba’s KAP bows out of CWB fight
Reading Time: 2 minutes Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), once a steadfast supporter of the Canadian Wheat Board, now accepts the board is going lose its single desk. Manitoba’s largest farm group now wants to ensure farmers benefit from the controversial change, says KAP president Doug Chorney. “We’re just facing the reality of the circumstances that we find ourselves in,” […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
