SASKATOON – The Canadian Wheat Board is worried eastern prairie farmers aren’t aware they can get part of a $45 million government compensation package for grain pooling changes.
The catch is they can only get the money if they sell their wheat and barley through the board, said Harvey Brooks, head of corporate policy.
“If you delivered feed barley to the Canadian Wheat Board (at Yorkton, Sask.) you will get the $7 a tonne additional, compared to if you didn’t sell barley to the board,” said Brooks.
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The money, announced earlier in the year, is to compensate grain farmers in Manitoba and eastern Saskat-chewan for pooling changes.
“They planted without knowing if the pooling changes were going through,” said Brooks.
After this year they will not be subsidized by other prairie farmers for getting their grain to market.
“It’s an additional payment of compensation from the federal government,” he said.
Sintaluta, Sask., about 100 kilometres east of Regina, is considered the dividing line for grain pooling. Farmers east of the line ship grain to the East Coast, while those on the other side ship grain west.
Compensation paid
Farmers in Yorkton, Sask., about 50 kilometres east of the line and about 100 km north of Sintaluta, would receive about $7.67 per tonne compensation for wheat and $6.99 per tonne for feed barley.
The figures are based on freight costs before and after the loss of pooling and less any benefits they may receive from the pool accounts.
Farmers won’t receive the payments until Aug. 1, 1996. The number of farmers who sell to the board determines the final payout.
