The debate over the future of single desk selling of wheat and barley has spawned another new grassroots farm group.
The Market Choice Alliance is urging farmers to vote in the barley plebiscite for the option that would enable farmers to sell their barley either through the board or directly to any domestic or foreign buyer.
It’s the third new group to spring up since the federal government announced its intentions last summer to end the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk status and implement an open market for wheat and barley. The other two support keeping the single desk.
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Brian Otto of Warner, Alta., one of the alliance’s organizers, said the plebiscite is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for farmers who want to end the board’s monopoly.
A News release
news announcing the formation of the alliance states it is committed to “preserving and strengthening” the CWB, while at the same time giving barley growers the opportunity to choose what’s best for their farm.
Alliance member Curtis Sims of MacGregor, Man., said removing the wheat board’s monopoly powers would strengthen the agency by forcing it to work harder in a competitive environment to attract farmers’ business. Having a monopoly can make an organization lazy and inefficient, he said, although he added he didn’t want to suggest the board doesn’t work hard marketing barley.
“They put a lot of effort into it, but a little competition focuses the mind and can help them do more.”
Single desk supporters say a voluntary CWB without significant assets or any grain handling infrastructure would be unable to survive in an open market dominated by multinationals.
Alliance members dismiss those arguments as “scare tactics,” saying there are many examples of successful voluntary co-operative marketing organizations.
They say voting for marketing choice will provide benefits to farmers: additional risk management tools; more marketing and payments options; more local processing; more research and a strong malting industry on the Prairies.
The alliance was formed by about 20 prairie farmers who have a long history of campaigning for an open market. Many have a history with groups such as Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and Western Barley Growers Association.
Members say they are a group of like-minded people who decided to organize themselves and launch a public campaign to insure that farmers hear the arguments in favour of marketing choice and vote accordingly.
“We’ve got to get our message out there,” Otto said.
“We know the other side will be organized and putting its side out.”
He said that while they’re not taking the outcome for granted, they are confident the open market option will prevail. The group is receiving resource support from the Alberta Barley Commission and the WBGA.
The alliance will exist only for the duration of the barley plebiscite, which will run until March 6.
