The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is pleased to announce that it has put forward its transition plan for the implementation of marketing choice for wheat and barley.
“Our goal is to ensure the transition to an open market occurs as smoothly as possible,” says Kevin Bender, President of the Wheat Growers. “We have put forward this proposal to kick-start that discussion and to encourage others to offer constructive ideas on how best to move forward.”
Among the proposed transition measures is a plan to issue ownership shares to all farmers who have delivered grain to the Canadian Wheat Board over the past six years.
“Turning ownership of the CWB over to farmers will be key to its success,” says Wheat Grower director Mike Bast. “Once farmers have a direct stake in the wheat board, they will have a vested interest in making sure it provides value to farmers.”
Bast presented the Wheat Grower proposal yesterday to a committee that has been struck by the federal government to address implementation issues.
The Wheat Growers are also recommending the existing CWB board of directors be dismissed and be replaced by a provisional board of directors no later than January 31, 2012. The Wheat Growers maintain that replacing the current board offers the best chance of ensuring the new CWB will continue to provide value to those farmers who wish to use it.
“According to CWB surveys, a large percentage of farmers want to see the Wheat Board continue as a voluntary marketing option,” says Bender. “Creating a viable and competitive option will require directors and management who are determined to make it work.”
The Wheat Grower proposal also commented on measures necessary to ensure that funding remains in place for the Western Grains Research Foundation, the Canadian International Grains Institute and the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre.
A copy of the Wheat Grower proposal can be obtained by contacting Blair Rutter, Executive Director at brutter@wheatgrowers.ca or by calling (204) 256-2353.
