Top Crop Manager

Features Agronomy Cereals
Future of the Wheat Board

Jan. 6, 2012, Regina, SK - A Liberal M-P wants an independent body to track the
impact of Ottawa ending the Canadian Wheat Board's marketing
monopoly.

Ralph Goodale says it's not yet known how the move will affect farmers and their bottom line.

Ottawa passed legislation last month to allow western wheat and barley growers to sell their grain on the open market instead of having to go through the board.

The new law becomes effective on August 1st.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz seems to dismiss Goodale's call for independent monitoring, saying the government trusts farmers to do their own analysis.

But Goodale says ending the wheat board's monopoly is the biggest change in western Canadian agriculture in several generations.

He says it's important to have someone report publicly on the consequences -- good or bad.

Goodale, who represents a Regina riding, suggests an impartial institution like the University of Saskatchewan do the tracking.

January 6, 2012  By The Canadian Press


Advertisement

Stories continue below