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After the wheat board, what’s next for farmers?

Jan. 3, 2012 - With the Canadian Wheat Board set to end its reign mid-2012, farmers are faced with making business decisions far sooner than usual.

According to The Calgary Herald, farmers are facing signing forward-price barley and wheat contracts in order to be able to sell their crops later this year.

With the Wheat Board's demise moving slowly forward, legal moves by the former board are being considered in order to try and slow it down. But all the uncertainty is playing havoc on farmers.

Farmers usually start sketching out seeding plans early in the new year, but with so much confusion about the wheat board, some might avoid planting wheat or barley this spring, said grower Norm Hall, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.

Farmers might also be hesitant to sign forward con-tracts with grain handlers or hedge their price risk on new grain futures contracts being launched Jan. 23 by ICE Futures Canada, Hall said.

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January 3, 2012  By Calgary Herald