Alberta farmers have two new grain commissions beginning Aug. 1.
The Alberta Wheat Commission will replace the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission and Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission. The new all-wheat commission will assess a refundable 70 cent per tonne checkoff on wheat sold in Alberta. The checkoff is expected to raise $3.5 million annually for wheat research, market development and other wheat related activities.
The Alberta Oat Growers Commission’s 50 cents per tonne refundable checkoff is expected to raise $140,000 per year to be used for oats research, market development and advocacy.
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Kent Erickson, co-chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission Steering Committee, said with the ending of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly on wheat and barley sales, Alberta producers need an organization that will look after their interests and ensure competitiveness in the wheat industry.
“I think grassroots organizations are going to be key to bring ideas to the bigger stage,” he said.
Erickson said the two old wheat commissions represented about five percent of the wheat grown in the province. The new commission will represent all classes of wheat.
Gordon Pope, director of the Alberta Oat Growers Commission Steering Commission said their refundable checkoff will focus on research and development, especially searching for new varieties.
“Some of the millers are not totally happy with the results of some of the current oat varieties.”
