CWB barley changes

[just_wondering]

I should be careful of who I accuse of being Burburt though, the CWB has many 400 acre farmers. Some have very valid concerns and are quite articulate.
None of them have the right to decide how I sell my grain.

[charliep]

From yesterday (Grainnews).

http://www.grainews.ca/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=78214&PC=FBC&issue=01022008

Ritz pans CWB barley pricing plan
FBC staff 1/2/2008 7:09:00 PM

Related ItemsMore News by TopicCrops Canada's agriculture minister calls the Canadian Wheat Board's proposed cash pricing option for malting barley a "half measure" he won't support.

In an opinion piece released to newspapers Tuesday, Gerry Ritz writes that the CWB's pricing plan for the 2008 malting barley crop does not go far enough for the liking of "farm groups and industry players."

Ritz added that the CWB's "failure was inevitable because it failed to publicly consult with western Canadian barley growers themselves."

The CWB's proposal was outlined for CWB permit book holders in a Dec. 24 podcast and is to be widely released this month.

In advance of the plan's release, however, Ritz described it in his article as attempting "to mimic the market through including some price signals and an element of direct negotiation between producers and the malting industry."

The move does not provide "clear, accurate and fully transparent price signals back to the farmer" and will still "trap" Prairie barley growers in the CWB's single-desk marketing system, Ritz added.

"Real action for marketing choice is the only option that will receive my full support," he wrote, referring to the Conservative government's phrase for opening up the single desk for Prairie barley.

Canada's four largest malting companies, which recently went public with their support for "marketing choice," also jointly panned the CWB's plan in a Dec. 27 release, saying it "limits the price going back directly to farmers, thereby continuing the inability to send proper price signals to growers."

[charliep]

OK now we have we have the WGEA on side for total barley deregulation, siting the in ability to come to a workable solution with the Canadian Wheat Board. Just what don't they understand (CWB) barley farmers spoke close to a year ago, the Maltsters have spoken , now our grain handlers have spoken. I'm sure there will be those that will say once more that the big bad multinationals are beating up on producers, right Burbert? and Stewart? Yet one has to realize the system is a complete failure any half measures such as the CWB's new malt plan will not work! Call your MP's tell them its time, time to move forward and ensure we have and know now that barley is out of the grasp of the CWB.
Erik

WGEA calls for Barley Deregulation / Dispute Resolution



The Western Grain Elevator Association is calling for the complete deregulation of barley as soon as possible, explaining that reaching resolution with the CWB on contract terms is not achievable.



The members of the WGEA have been trying to negotiate malt barley contracts with the Canadian Wheat Board over previous months, but the terms offered by the CWB are unacceptable. “The CWB’s contract terms do not allow WGEA member companies to provide full price transparency to their farmer customers, nor do the terms provide farmers and end use customers with the right market signals. In addition, the inherent restrictions within the contracts do not allow grain companies to operate in a commercially reasonable manner,” said Wade Sobkowich, Executive Director of the WGEA. “Given that the CWB is offering terms under a ‘half-way’ system that are unacceptable, the WGEA has no choice but to call for legislation to implement market choice for barley farmers as soon as possible and no later than August 1, 2008.”



The WGEA cites the lack of a dispute resolution process as part of the problem in the inability to arrive at acceptable contract terms. “Without the complete deregulation of barley, and without the ability to arbitrate contract terms with the CWB, the industry is placed in an untenable position,” says Sobkowich. “Even with complete deregulation we will still have a need to resolve disputes on many related issues in the transition period.” The WGEA members feel it is important to address these issues in order to move forward in the contracting of malt barley.



“Our objective is to help make the industry more profitable – this includes farmers,” added Sobkowich. “Within a competitive marketplace grain companies will be looking to maximize marketing opportunities, and look forward to working with their farmer customers in this regard.”



The Western Grain Elevator Association is an association of seven farmer-owned, public and private grain businesses operating in Canada, which collectively handle in excess of 90% of western Canada’s bulk grain exports. WGEA members own grain handling facilities throughout the country and at the ports of Prince Rupert, Vancouver, and Thunder Bay.



Contact: Wade Sobkowich

Executive Director

(204) 942-6835

[parsley]

More than enough "ordinary" farmer rumblings indicating they won't grow wheat or barley this year, enough of it that should cause some concern from farmer terminals if they are half-smart.

Poor '07 CWB crop prices = other '08 crops planted

Losers of bread and butter? CWB itself and those that buy CWB grains!

Parsley