Use ‘common sense’ in buying Canadian grain

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Published: August 24, 1995

MINOT, N.D. (Staff) – Buzz Varty, manager of one of the largest volume grain elevators in North Dakota, figures he innocently played a role a few years ago in stirring up local farmer anger against imports of Canadian wheat.

Now, he thinks he has a solution that might avert another showdown after Sept. 11 when the one-year import volume cap on Canadian grain is lifted.

“I just think the elevator agents should be left to handle this,” he said last week. “Keep politics to hell out of it. If it is a good deal for the elevator, they should buy Canadian wheat. If it isn’t, they shouldn’t and won’t. Simple as that.”

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For some of Varty’s customers sweltering in 38 C heat as they waited to deliver grain to the Minot Farmers Union Elevator last Thursday, it isn’t quite that simple.

They are no more willing to see Canadian grain trucks at their elevators now than they were in 1993 and 1994 when they protested, threatened to close the border and forced their government to battle Ottawa.

The result was the one-year export cap and establishment of a commission to study the hated Canadian Wheat Board, among other issues.

“Look, the Canadian government subsidizes its farmers to send grain down to take advantage of our programs but we can’t do the same back,” complained Norwich farmer Harold Wald, 62. “It’s not fair. We shouldn’t allow it.”

Back inside the elevator, Varty remembers playing a role in the uproar.

In 1993, in need of supplies, he found the wheat board offering a good price. He bought close to 400,000 bushels, more than 11,000 tonnes.

Farmers who own the co-op elevator found themselves competing for elevator and yard space with Canadian trucks. They hit the roof.

At the next members’ meeting a motion was put to prohibit the elevator from handling any Canadian grain.

In the end, the majority voted down the idea, siding with Varty that the interests of elevator business mean he should look for the grain that will return the greatest profit.

The fight then moved to a higher political plane.

Varty says his approach would be a more common sense way to handle cross-border trade.

“Keep politics out of it but also use some common sense,” he said. “If I took Canadian grain and shut my own American members out, then I wouldn’t be manager here for very long. But I should be able to get the best deal I can for my members without my hands being tied by politics.”

He hasn’t bought a bushel of Canadian wheat since. The price has not been right.

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