Winnipeg, May 2 (CNS Canada) – Five commodity organizations representing most of the crops grown in Manitoba are looking to join forces to better serve the province’s farmers, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on May 2 committing the groups towards working towards a merger.
The involved organizations include Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers Association (MPSG), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Association (MWBGA), according to a joint news release.
“The Board of Directors of the MWBGA and MCGA have taken a lead in showcasing how commodity groups can work together,” said Pam de Rocquigny, the recently hired general manager of both MWBGA and MCGA, in the release.
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“This MOU signals a more formalized relationship between all the involved commodity groups as we work together to explore new and innovate ways in how our organizations can improve efficiencies and deliver maximum value to our memberships,” added de Rocquigny.
The commodity organizations involved are seeking the help of an advisor to help facilitate the process.
There is no predetermined vision of what the common commodity organization will eventually look like, but farmers from each separate group “will have a strong, critical voice in shaping this merger,” according to the release.
“This is the first step in a long process,” said Jason Voth, chair of MPSG’s Board of Directors in the release.
“I am very pleased to hear that these groups are willing to work together. As a farmer, this makes sense. Good farming is about growing more than one crop. I represent one farm that grows multiple crops. This merger makes sense.”
Merger talks began in the spring of 2014, with meetings happening on a monthly basis between the organizations over the past three years.
Currently, all of these commodity groups, with the exception of the Manitoba Flax Growers, operate out of the same building in Carman, Man.
The five grower organizations that have signed the MOU are willing to allow other, like-minded commodity groups to join the merger talks, provided they have the same level of commitment to delivering value and increasing profitability among their farmer members, according to the news release.
Interested organizations will have an opportunity to join this working group in April 2018 after the first phase of this process has been completed.
