The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association welcomes the measures announced by the federal government to ensure funding for variety development and market development in wheat and barley will continue under the open market.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced draft regulations that will allow farmers to continue to make voluntary contributions to support the work of the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF), Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) and the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC).
“The Wheat Growers recognize the importance of research and maintaining close contact with customers,” says Kevin Bender, President of the Wheat Growers. “The measures announced today provide a smooth transition in funding these organizations under an open market.”
Legislation passed last December provides for check-offs for the three organizations to be collected on farmer deliveries of wheat and barley to licensed grain facilities. Previously, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) provided a block funding to CIGI and the CMBTC, with the WGRF check-off collected through deductions on CWB final payments to farmers.
The regulations establish the Alberta Barley Commission as the administrator of the check-off for up to five years. While supporting this approach on a temporary basis, the Wheat Growers would like to see the check-offs administered through provincial commissions or associations. Alberta is expected to have a wheat commission in place by August 1. The Wheat Growers are among those organizations supporting the development of wheat and barley organizations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
“It will be important for farmers to direct the research and market development activities,” says Bender. “Our goal is to ensure these organizations remain focussed on providing good value to farmers.”
