A week-long introduction to the Canadian grain grading, inspection and sales system was valuable, says one of two women who took the most recent course.
Richard, Sask., farmer Carolyn McDonald spent Feb. 8-12 in Winnipeg attending the Canadian International Grain Institute producer course, along with 22 other participants, who learned about markets, international customers, wheat varieties and identification.
“I’m sure most farm women would benefit from the course. After all, we are part of the team.”
The Canadian Wheat Board wants farmers to grow more of the quality wheat for which Canada is known, says McDonald, but most producers in the course were more interested in making money with other crops.
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The financial bottom line is driving that trend. So is the spread of fusarium, a crop disease that becomes more prevalent each year.
“Right now I can’t afford to put wheat in the ground,” said McDonald. She and her husband grow malting barley, canola, peas, lentils and sometimes mustard and flax on their farm in northwestern Saskatchewan.
Course participants met a Manitoba farmer who had tried hemp, horseradish and “other weird things” in an effort to diversify from wheat.
McDonald said the CIGI course also showed her the wheat board has a future, and its value is shown by its enemies.
“If they weren’t such a good thing, why would the United States be attacking it?”
