There were some pointed questions, but most farmers at an information meeting about the Agricore and United Grain Growers merger seemed resigned to the union of the two companies. “It’s pretty inevitable, but I can’t say that I’m happy this is the way it’s turning out,” said Rick Pederson of Bawlf, Alta. “If we have […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Union decision up to federal regulator
The federal labour relations board will decide the future of a union’s role if the merger proceeds between a non-unionized grain company and a partially unionized one. The Grain Services Union represents 900 of Agricore’s 2,100 full time and 500 seasonal and casual employees. None of the United Grain Growers 1,500 full time and 400 […] Read more
Nursery source of Alberta trees
EDMONTON – The thousands of kilometres of shelterbelt trees around Alberta farms and fields likely had their start just outside Edmonton. Since 1951, the Provincial Tree Nursery has provided shelterbelt trees to farms across the province. “There were millions of trees. Every shelterbelt along the fence line was generated here,” said Stan Blade, director of […] Read more
CGC in catch-22: former chief
Canadian Grain Commission staff get grief if they enforce the Canada Grain Act and they get grief if they don’t enforce the act, said a former chief commissioner “It’s a very awkward position to be in, believe me,” said Milt Wakefield, who was chief of the grain commission from 1989 to 1998. “The rules are […] Read more
Farmers must beware of unlicensed buyers
BLUFFTON, Alta. – A group of farmers that lost money when an unlicensed grain dealer went bankrupt, worry other farmers will also lose money if the Canadian Grain Commission staff won’t enforce its licensing regulations. “They should be interested that this doesn’t happen again,” said Mundare, Alta., farmer Gary Broenner who wants the Canadian Grain […] Read more
Farmers’ trust won, then lost
BENTLEY, Alta. – Last fall, Darcy Anderson hauled barley from his uncle’s field to the grain elevator in Bentley, as he had for years. It was easier to haul grain the five kilometres from field to elevator than back to his own farm. He had done this when the elevator was owned by UGG and […] Read more
Grain dealer leaves farmers seeking redress through CGC
MUNDARE, ALTA. – Gary Broenner is one of about 40 farmers owed money from the bankruptcy of All Grain (Alberta) Ltd. And while Broenner was hauling grain to the company’s facility in Bentley, Alta, the Canadian Grain Commission was trying to determine whether All Grain required a licence to operate. “It upsets me that they […] Read more
Choose licensed companies, says CGC
There won’t be changes any time soon to the Canada Grain Act to protect farmers from unlicensed grain dealers, says the head of the Canadian Grain Commission. It will be at least six months to one year before the industry will know how the grain commission will help protect farmers. “We’re in the process of […] Read more
Unravelling time
This list is compiled from information received from the Canadian Grain Commission through a request under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act and from staff research. The request asked for correspondence and discussions between All Grain (Alberta) Ltd., its owner P. Thomas Erling-Tyrell, and the Canadian Grain Commission. In February, All Grain declared bankruptcy […] Read more
Hailstorm decimates central Alberta fields
ENDIANG, Alta. – A freak Friday the 13 hailstorm wiped out crops in central Alberta and created a mini ice fields one and a half metres deep by this town’s waste disposal site. Jack Grams, of Endiang, was making the last round in his tractor cutting hay when the hailstorm hit. The storm started in […] Read more
