Does the CGC do a Good Job for FARMERS?

[parsley]

The Canadian Grain Commission states:

"The CGC regulates the grain industry to protect producers' rights and ensure the integrity of grain transactions."

Question: Is it working well for farmers? Pars

[parsley]

"The long-term solution to the limitations of the visual grading system will be to augment and then replace visual methods with non-visual methods of segregating grain into lots of similar quality.

The industry needs fast, highly automated and sensitive tests to identify varieties or measure specific quality components.

In 2000-01, the CGC continued to do research in this area. One result achieved is the implementation of a monitoring program for AC Navigator wheat.

AC Navigator is indistinguishable from other Canadian Western Amber Durum varieties, but has different processing characteristics. IP processes were developed by the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and the Canadian Wheat Board to ensure the two quality types are kept separate.

The CGC's monitoring program randomly tests durum shipments to ensure that the processes are effective."

This is one path they headed down in 2000. Pars

[parsley]

Here, government gave $3.27 million to another government institution.

"In April 2000, the Government of Canada committed up to $3.27 million to research non-visual methods of segregating grain.

Research funded under this program requires industry partners to match these funds.

The CGC spearheaded the establishment of Automated Quality Testing Inc. AQT is a not-for-profit organization that was incorporated in September 2000 to facilitate research funded under this initiative.

Research projects initiated by AQT will be based on needs defined by industry.

AQT operates under the direction of a board of directors and is at arms length from the government. The CGC continues to support this initiative through its representatives on AQT's board of directors and its technical committee."

[parsley]

"The development of DNA-based methods for identifying varieties is an important focus of the initiative.

DNA fingerprinting methods will mean Canada has at its grasp rapid, automated, portable and cost-effective technology to certify shipments-for a certain variety, for the presence of gically modified grain, or for a transgenic trait."

How has it been working?

[parsley]

"The CGC saw a clear need for a rapid and objective test," said Peter Burnett, director of the CGC's Grain Research Laboratory.

"The method that we have developed will help companies make decisions about selected barley in storage and could reduce risk in marketing for producers, marketers, grain companies and malting companies."

Notice they placed producers FIRST.
I like that. It makes me feel, er, wanted. Pars

[parsley]

"The project was funded by the CGC, Automated Quality Testing Inc., and industry partners that included Agricore United, Cargill Limited, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, and the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). Marta Izydorczyk, program manager for barley research in the CGC's Grain Research Laboratory, led the project."

So let me get this straight:
We have the federal government funding the government's institution named the CGC, and on top of that, we have the government legislated CWB kicks in some money.

For barley. But they wwere concerned about farmers:

"Although a visual inspection of barley conducted during the selection processes can identify severely sprouted grain, it cannot detect early stages of germination."


<p></p>
<p><strong>[URL="http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/media-medias/press-presse/2005/2005-05-25-eng.htm"](BTW, how's the malting barley prices these days? Pretty good?)[/URL]</strong></p>

[wmoebis]

Earley stages of germination can be deteceted visualy. It is called chitted.

Every malt company sets thier allowable limits for acceptance acording to the individual sales they have. It is not regulated by the CGC but rather the malt companies and thier selectors. Each malt and grain company can be different.

It is up to us as producers to find out what these specs for each company is and whether our barley meets these specs before we sign a contract with the company.

[parsley]

[parsley]

AUTOMATED QUALITY TESTING INC.
SURRENDER OF CHARTER

Notice is hereby given that Automated Quality Testing Inc. intends to apply to the Minister of Industry for leave to surrender its charter, pursuant to the Canada Corporations Act.

December 13, 2006

RICHARD WANSBUTTER
Chairperson
Board of Directors

[51-1-o]

[parsley]

Questions for you:

1. When CGC adopts gene identification as a requirement for export, how will it effect farmers?

2. Who will pay for the audit trail?

3. Who will pay for any a contaminated shipment?

4. Will access to export be denied if "old genes" are no longer in vogue? For example, you want to export Harrington barley and they say "we don't test it anymore. Next.".

5. Will soley specific gene-identified crops be purchased or handled by Canadian grain companies with skin in that variety? (I don't buy Viterra's new variety. Go and see them if you want to sell it.)

6. Similar to the CWB denying licenses to Prairie farmers, will the CGC adopt gene identification regulatory powers so they have the ability to deny farmers exporting their own say, lentils?

7. Will stacked-gene oats, that the grain-company-patent-owner is no longer marketing because his patent has expired, all of a sudden become a farmer liability if the oats crossses in the field, and is designated as contaminated by the CWB?(think fusarium regulatory powers.)

7. Did the federal tax money given to the CGC benefit producers most or industry most?

I note that Agriculture, with the help of government tax money and CGC/CWB regulatory powers, and both working under the sheets with industry are continuously moving in the same direction but, one wherr the farmer gets less farmgate cash?


Do you see any indication of Farmer Joe getting off the treadmill from hell:

1. Growing GM seed he is only allowed to buy from only a handfu of seed suppliers. Oh Joe.

2.Forced selling to the government's CWB that has added all crops to its' marketing menu. Oh Joe.

3.Paying for negotiated excessive handling charges of the handfull of grain companies that "work" with the Board. Oh Joe.

4.Being able to export ONLY grain the CGC deems gene-tested eligible. Oh Joe.

5.Farmland increasingly looked upon as an "expropriational" government resource? Oh Joe.

6. Checkoffs becoming more and more mandatory? Oh Joe.

I'm not having a bad day either! LOL It's UFC fight night. Pars

[$short]

So many questions to answer but I doubt this technology will be used until they can do a driveway test with it. How far away is that?

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

ONLY in Canada would we WANT this complex crazy system.

Falling number is the primary factor everywhere in the global market for milling quality.

Unit trains of 'feed wheat' are being loaded... based on falling number... right now.

A loaf of bread could care less... especially with the gluten fractions avaliable to upgrade a grist to make quality baked foods.

The CWB is simply trying to hoodwink the world into believing our wheat is somehow different... when quality flour is made from quality wheat with good falling numbers... anywhere it is grown on this little planet.

WE are crazy... in the 'designated area'. Eastern Canada is NOT trying to reinvent wheat and genetically identify every lot of wheat grown.

THis is a CWB plot to justify the 'single desk' remain in the 'designated area'.

Fine. As long as I can sell my wheat to whomever wants to buy it... outside the 'single desk' like Creston or eastern Canadian wheat growers can.

We should have our heads examined for even considering this CGC/CWB plot!

Soon only western 'designated area' wheat growers with the CWB 'single desk' gene identified in their brains... will be allowed to grow wheat!

[ado089]

The CGC is tool that enables the grain companies to run ruff shot over the Canadian farmer. They "enforce" grain quality standards that don't make a lick of difference to the end use functionality of the commodity. What a joke.

[soccer]

Alberta Canola Producers Commission will host a webinar on pulse and canola grading with Norm Woodbeck of the Canadian Grain Commission. The one-hour online webinar, which you view from your home computer, is Wednesday, February 9 at 8:00 MST.

Saw it on the ACPC website www.canola.ab.ca