Gregor Beck was happy to unload frozen lentils last April.
He’s not so happy that he still hasn’t been paid.
Roger Lafontaine, Larry Blenkin, Harvey Malo and Kevin Emmerson are in the same situation.
All of the Saskatchewan farmers sold crop to Boersch Farms Ltd. at Indian Head in 2005, and are still waiting for their money, as are about a dozen more.
Beck, who farms near Rouleau, Sask., is out $34,000 and suggested others are owed even more.
“This is a big thing,” he said.
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In Beck’s case, he delivered to Boersch Farms after the company contacted him and offered a decent price for his poorer quality crop. He said he was “displeased” when the company said it would pay within three weeks rather than the usual two.
The cheque was late and when Beck tried to cash it, it didn’t clear.
He went back and forth with the company and eventually received a fax from a lawyer proposing a payment of 50 percent of the outstanding balance.
No payment has yet been made.
Kenneth Karwandy, the lawyer for Boersch Farms, did not return Western Producer phone calls.
Meanwhile, the California-based Rice Co. has taken over the Indian Head site. A company spokesperson did not return phone calls.
However, Beck said officials he spoke with said Boersch needs to settle the outstanding accounts.
Eric Morin, spokesperson for the Canadian Grain Commission, said it is aware of complaints about Boersch but the company was not and never had been licensed.
The Rice Co. does not have a licence either, although Morin said he was “aware of negotiations.” The company was not on the list of licensees as of May 1.
“Our advice to producers is very simple and it is to deal strictly with licensed companies,” Morin said. “Even when they deal with licensed companies they should be making sure that they are paid promptly and cash their cheques right away.”
Beck said he had dealt with the company before and had no problems.
The stories of the other farmers are similar.
Lafontaine of Montmartre contracted 10,000 bushels of canaryseed and delivered six loads before receiving a cheque for nearly $19,000 that didn’t clear. He obtained a judgment for the outstanding amount but hasn’t received his money.
There are at least 15 farmers who received the same proposal as Beck, according to a letter from Karwandy.
