It’s been almost 12 months since the Canadian Wheat Board lost its powers as a single-desk seller of western Canadian wheat.
For better or for worse, single-desk marketing is a thing of the past in the West.
Here’s what some producers are saying about the changes after one year in an open marketing environment.
“It’s tough to compare (the old system and the new) because we really aren’t comparing apples to apples at any point in time. I wasn’t disgusted with the old system and nor am I ecstatic about the new one. I guess I’m satisfied.”
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Director, Keystone Agricultural Producers
“Because there is nobody out there to extract protein premiums for us … there’s no point in growing the low-yielding, high quality wheat that we are famous for. We will be moving into the higher yielding, lower protein wheat to compete with every other farmer on the planet.”
Glenn Tait, Meota, Sask.
Director, National Farmers Union
“I know of at least one hiccup that occurred personally when I was marketing grain through the CWB. In this new open marketing system that we have, there’s a little bit more co-ordination or communication that has to take place between the (CWB), the grain companies and with producers themselves.”
Chuck Fossay, Starbuck, Man.
“In the past, canola and peas were the two crops that I used to sell straight off the combine, and the wheat was something that I would haul whenever they would come out with a 25 percent call. Now, I can manage my entire grain inventory and my storage more efficiently. I would say I was very happy, especially with grain movement this year. It seemed like elevators and the rail companies really are able to move grain very efficiently.”
Kent Erickson, Irma Alta.
Director, Alberta Wheat Commission
“I think in terms of the changeover, it’s gone about as smoothly as I could have expected. On our farm, we’ve increased wheat acreage to reflect the new marketing environment…. The prices for wheat have been very good in the past year … but I think what’s happened with wheat is that its not so much about price as it is about the ability to make wheat a cash crop. Allowing wheat to become a cash crop … gives you more flexibility in terms of your whole farm package.”
President, Western Canadian Wheat Growers
“There have been some positive, but I don’t know if we’ve had adequate time to actually analyze the whole exercise of losing the single desk yet. I think what mitigated some of the problems that might (have shown up) was high grain prices. If you were going to pick it, you couldn’t have picked a better year to end the single desk.”
Lynn Jacobsen, Enchant, Alta.
President, Wild Rose Agricultural Producers
Check the Western Producer’s Aug. 1 edition for more views on how the western Canadian wheat industry has adjusted in the new environment.
