(Michael Thompson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

State of Prairie winter wheat still unknown

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Snow cover is rapidly disappearing across Western Canada, but it will still be a few weeks until the extent of any damage to winter wheat across the Prairies is fully known. “It’s still wait-and-see,” said analyst Bruce Burnett of Winnipeg grain firm CWB. The crop won’t start re-growing until the overnight temperatures […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

CWB building sold: reports

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — The former Canadian Wheat Board’s downtown Winnipeg office building has been sold, according to media reports. The eight-story building on Main Street was bought by Calgary-based Hopewell Development, reportedly for $9.7 million. The former wheat board, now called CWB, will continue to lease two floors of the building. The sale was initially […] Read more

(Michael Thompson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Mild weather poses risks for Prairie winter wheat

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Milder-than-normal temperatures across Western Canada over the past week could raise some issues for its winter wheat crops, though snow cover and conditions through the rest of the winter will also be important. “It’s not ideal conditions for winter wheat, and I’d anticipate that we’d see some damage,” said CWB analyst Bruce […] Read more


Australia’s four grain export terminals are operated by farmers through their
CBH co-op.

Australia’s approach to grain co-ops

Owned by 4,200 farmers, the giant CBH Group adds a whole new dimension to phrases like value-adding and diversification

Reading Time: 6 minutes Given the demise of the prairie pools and the recent sales of a number of Canada’s new-generation co-operative grain terminals, it would be understandable if many Canadian farmers, grain traders, farm advisers and policy makers believe co-operative grain marketing ventures are simply not viable in today’s world. Just don’t try and tell that to Western […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

CWB seeks partner with grain handling expertise, money

Reading Time: 2 minutes The grain firm formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board wants it known the company’s looking for an industry partner, not a new owner — and not just any partner. Aiming to scotch what it calls “speculation and inaccuracies” in recent reports about its future and its plans for full commercialization, CWB laid out its […] Read more


The CWB Marquis is expected to be in Canadian waters by the end of next month. (CWB photo)

First of CWB’s laker vessels en route to Canada

Reading Time: 2 minutes The grain company formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board expects to have its first of two laker vessels in Canadian waters by the end of the year. CWB announced Monday it took delivery of the first vessel, an Equinox-class boat dubbed the Marquis, effective Oct. 31, and expects it to sail through the Panama […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

CWB takes pass on FNA’s proposal

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ag input buying group Farmers of North America (FNA) says its proposal to buy the grain firm formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board has been rebuffed. Saskatoon-based FNA said Monday its proposal — which called for CWB’s assets to become part of an farmer-owned grain handling and fertilizer manufacturing and marketing organization dubbed Genesis […] Read more

AgraCity CFO Derek Penner (centre, with Laurentian Bank Securities vice-president Ty Wirvin (l) and director of investment banking Kevin Hooke) is gauging farmers’ appetite for investment in a new grain handling and fertilizer partnership, ideally by taking control of CWB. (Dave Bedard photo)

Clock ticking on FNA-led group’s proposed play for CWB

Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers of North America (FNA) executives are pleading for more time from the federal government to help farmers hammer out a deal to buy the former Canadian Wheat Board. FNA has created a new organization, Genesis Grain and Fertilizer LP, to build a farmer-owned grain handling and fertilizer sales and distribution company. As of Tuesday, […] Read more