Several dozen farmers are owed money by a Manitoba grain company that closed its doors in late November.
Cloutier Agra Seeds Inc., a privately owned Winnipeg-based grain firm, failed to renew its operating licence with the Canadian Grain Commission.
Commission spokesperson Reg Gosselin said in late December the agency was aware of about 30 producers who hadn’t been paid by the company.
The commission has placed advertisements in farm newspapers asking other producers who may be owed money by Cloutier to contact the commission at 800-853-6705.
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“We’ve done an audit, but we want to confirm the audit and make sure there are no other claimants out there we’re not aware of,” said Gosselin.
The commission has a $375,000 letter of credit from the company, which should be enough to cover what is owed to the 30 producers who have come forward so far.
“We’re optimistic that we have enough security, but the response to the ads will confirm that,” said Gosselin.
He said this situation reinforces the commission’s message to farmers to make sure they receive proper documents when they make a sale, insist on prompt payment and cash the cheque right away.
Repeated phone calls to Cloutier’s offices in Winnipeg went unanswered. Efforts to contact company president Denis Cloutier were unsuccessful.
Cloutier Agra Seeds was founded in 1995 and specialized in the export of pedigreed seed, oilseeds and identity preserved grains, including non-genetically modified soybeans and canola. The company was also involved in contracting hemp production and manufacturing hemp-related products.
