It Is TIME for The Alberta Wheat Commission

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie;

With the obvious frustration and disgust the average commercial Alberta Farmer feels towards the CWB;


And the undemocratic Director situation that has been created by Minister Goodale for Alberta farmers;


And since Alberta wheat farmers have been locked out of Sask/Mb.. developed new wheat varieties because of Fusarium;

And since we have a statute to create a new market, but no Alberta farmer directed organisation to implement and develop the market and value-added industry;

And value added plus agronomic/production implementation of the 20/10billion by 2010 goal the Alberta government has set for our Ag Industry needs a strong leadership focus, directed by and for farmers to be efficient and effective;

I would strongly suggest the Alberta Government create the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC)... with a specific mandate to elect Commissioners to work with the Alberta Barley Commission, CWB, and Industry... to facilitate the implementation of the 20/10 billion by 2010 goal Alberta has set for our Alberta Agricultural sector.

Then we could see the true ALBERTA democratic election of "single desk" CWB "Monopoly" Commissioners...

if in fact this is TRULY the choice of Alberta Wheat Farmers!

What do you think Charlie?

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie;

THe Soft White Wheat and Winter Wheat Commissions have really struggled because of high administration costs... if we had all wheat in Alberta participate, in just one Commission, the efficiencies and critical mass would really make it an effective force to lead our Alberta Wheat Industry...

We did this in the pulse industry... and the synergies and efficiencies have proven to be very productive for Alberta Bean and Pea growers!

Don't you think our WHEAT industry in Alberta has matured enough to take this step... and move forward?

[charliep]

Not ignoring but rather looking for others thoughts. What would the role of an alberta Wheat Commission be?

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie;

I would see the AWC doing much of the same work the ABC does with barley...

Value added initiatives are important.

Alberta breeding of CWRS, Winter Wheats, Soft White Springs, specialty wheat markets.

Can anyone show how much R and D plus plant breeding work has been done, on Alberta spring wheat, in Alberta over the past year?

We have specific breeding programs for pulses, barley, triticale, canola... but where are we on wheat, especially for the parkland peace parts of AB.?