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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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