The Canadian Wheat Board has made changes to some of its grain delivery programs to make them more farmer-friendly in 2010-11.
The programs affected include GrainFlo, storage payments, guaranteed delivery contracts and the Churchill storage program.
“Farmers are telling us they wanted greater access and flexibility in their delivery contract options,” CWB chief executive officer Ian White said in announcing the changes.
“We’ve been listening. These enhancements are designed to respond to the needs of farmers.”
The changes that will likely garner the most attention from farmers are:
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• Raising the GrainFlo tonnage cap to three million tonnes from 700,000 for Canada Western red spring wheat and to 600,000 from 200,000 tonnes for CW amber durum. The number of GrainFlo delivery periods will be halved to two to make the program simpler for farmers to use and the CWB to administer.
• Storage will be paid on all series contracts for CWRS, CWAD, CW hard white spring, CW red winter, CW soft white spring and Canada Prairie Spring (red).
Storage starts Jan. 1 and payments are 3.3 cents per tonne per day, or about $1 per tonne per month.
Other changes include:
• Exclusive guaranteed delivery contracts for CW extra strong and CPS (white);
• Only Series A contracts for CWRW, CWSWS and CPSR followed by guaranteed delivery contracts for the rest of the crop year;
• Upfront payments for participants in the Churchill Storage Program and Wheat Storage Program.
All changes will take effect Aug. 1 for the 2010-11 crop year.
CWB spokesperson John Lyons described them as significant changes that will ensure fair and flexible delivery opportunities for farmers and efficient grain movement
He noted that last year there was overwhelming demand for Grain-Flo, while the new storage payments will benefit producers who store grain on farm to deliver throughout the year.
