Grain Growers of Canada Demand Open Dialogue on Barley Marketing
Friday, January 18, 2008 (Ottawa) Ross Ravelli, President of the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) today dismissed the Canadian Wheat Board’s (CWB) assertion that producer groups widely support the CWB’s proposed malt barley marketing program, and called on the CWB to put forward a solution that would address the concerns of producers, malting companies and grain handlers.
“The reality is there are no new ideas in their CashPlus program and producers will still be forced to market through the Wheat Board,” said Ravelli. “Within our broad based farm organization membership, there is not one group that approves of CWB’s idea for malt barley marketing.”
“Barley growers across Western Canada clearly voted for choice, but the CWB continues to refuse to listen to the very farmers it purports to represent. Therefore, while we are encouraged that the CWB is coming to Ottawa on January 29th, we demand that it comes prepared to roll up its sleeves and work cooperatively with producer groups, maltsters, grain handlers and the Minister to come up with a workable solution to the current crisis.”
The Canadian Wheat Board recently announced a new program called CashPlus that unfortunately has only succeeded in, for the first time, uniting the entire malt barley value chain in opposition.
“Farmers want choice, but is the answer a domestic market? A continental market? A world wide market? I don’t know the exact answer, but we are out of time to play games and need to reach a real solution or any further investments in malting capacity will be made in other countries, leaving us as residual suppliers of raw product,” said Ravelli.
“What is important is that people come to the malt industry meeting on January 29th with a clean slate and the best interests of both farmers and our industry in mind.”
The Grain Growers of Canada represent approximately 70,000 Canadian farmers through its Member organizations. www.ggc-pgc.ca
For more information please contact:
Ross Ravelli Richard Phillips
President Executive Director
250-784-5410 613-875-1795
Friday, January 18, 2008 (Ottawa) Ross Ravelli, President of the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) today dismissed the Canadian Wheat Board’s (CWB) assertion that producer groups widely support the CWB’s proposed malt barley marketing program, and called on the CWB to put forward a solution that would address the concerns of producers, malting companies and grain handlers.
“The reality is there are no new ideas in their CashPlus program and producers will still be forced to market through the Wheat Board,” said Ravelli. “Within our broad based farm organization membership, there is not one group that approves of CWB’s idea for malt barley marketing.”
“Barley growers across Western Canada clearly voted for choice, but the CWB continues to refuse to listen to the very farmers it purports to represent. Therefore, while we are encouraged that the CWB is coming to Ottawa on January 29th, we demand that it comes prepared to roll up its sleeves and work cooperatively with producer groups, maltsters, grain handlers and the Minister to come up with a workable solution to the current crisis.”
The Canadian Wheat Board recently announced a new program called CashPlus that unfortunately has only succeeded in, for the first time, uniting the entire malt barley value chain in opposition.
“Farmers want choice, but is the answer a domestic market? A continental market? A world wide market? I don’t know the exact answer, but we are out of time to play games and need to reach a real solution or any further investments in malting capacity will be made in other countries, leaving us as residual suppliers of raw product,” said Ravelli.
“What is important is that people come to the malt industry meeting on January 29th with a clean slate and the best interests of both farmers and our industry in mind.”
The Grain Growers of Canada represent approximately 70,000 Canadian farmers through its Member organizations. www.ggc-pgc.ca
For more information please contact:
Ross Ravelli Richard Phillips
President Executive Director
250-784-5410 613-875-1795
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