Brian Cross

Commodity groups representing prairie barley and oat growers say they will work with Cereals Canada, a national council formed to promote the competitiveness of cereal crops. However, the Alberta Barley Commission, the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission and the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) say they have no intention of becoming members of Cereals Canada or […] Read more

Agriculture Canada will continue to develop new wheat varieties, at least until other organizations become more involved in wheat breeding. “(The department) will continue to produce wheat varieties over the next five years and will continue to provide the majority of testing sites required for plant variety registration,” says Stephen Morgan Jones, a director general […] Read more

Demand for hopper cars to move this year’s record grain crop is unusually high. However, the number of rail cars supplied to country elevators is still well below what has been requested. Executives at Canada’s major railway companies say they are working flat out to move Western Canada’s record crop. Officials at Canadian National Railway […] Read more

Interest levels high | Familiar faces in the running for director spots on two new Saskatchewan farm group boards

Seventeen farmers have thrown their hats in the ring for the Sask-atchewan Wheat Development Commission’s inaugural director elections, which will take place next month. The SWDC announced Oct. 23 that 17 nominations have been received to fill seven seats at the wheat commission’s board table. The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, which will also hold director […] Read more

Farmer equity | The date of privatization is not set but must be complete before August 2017

A CWB plan that offers prairie farmers equity in a privatized grain company will likely remain in effect for the 2014-15 crop year. However, the terms of the equity offering are subject to change after Aug. 1, 2014. Under the privatization plan, farmers will be offered $5 worth of post-privatization CWB equity for each tonne […] Read more

Two new laker-sized vessels being built for CWB by a Chinese shipbuilder will likely be working on the Great Lakes by next year. Construction of the new lakers is underway in China with completion of the first ship slated for late 2013 or early 2014. “There have been slight delays with regards to the shipyards […] Read more

Big harvest to haul | Ag industry watches closely as negotiations continue between CN and its workers

Disruptions at either one of Canada’s major railway companies would have serious consequences for the grain industry, says the head of an organization representing the country’s largest grain handlers. Wade Sobkowich, executive director with the Western Grain Elevators Association, said any disruption to rail service — be it labour related or otherwise — would make […] Read more