United States Wheat Associates

[Hopalong]

Latest newsletter supports discussions with Canada to facilitate wheat trade.
Makes the point that our class and variety registration regulations hinder wheat trade in the same way that their COOL legislation hurt our livestock exports.
Had hoped that changes to our regulations would overcome this wheat trade irritant but that does not seem to be the case.
Their politicians are only too eager to jump in support of protectionist measures that they think will get support from voters.
Canadian Grain Commission, Cereals Canada, Canada Grains Council and CIGI, to name a few, can take another look at policies and regulations that are trade irritants.

[farmaholic]

You mean our standards are too high for their wheat? So let's dummy down our specs so their wheat meets them?

We are reclassifying wheat already because of "substandard" specs. Lets get in the race where the finish line is the lowest common denominator, not the best rising to the top but everything settling to the bottom.

Do Faller, Prosper and ND Elgin meet our grade standards or is this why we are facing reclassification?

[ajl]

Canada's wheat quality system add unnecessary expense and complication to a commodity that is sold on price. We could easily IP some high spec wheat and just have the rest trade in a couple of classes. That way we would not have to build so much on farm storage.

[sumdumguy]

What we need is a few more organizations and a few more levies (spelled l-e-a-c-h-s).

[malleefarmer]

ajl has it in a nutshell.
Canada and Australia I think were quality sellers now it is price only.
Black sea put a end to quality wheat when they became a force on the world market 15 years ago.
A flour miller in se asia has said they buy on price only and use Australian to blend the quality up.
Wereas years ago the opposite used to buy mostly aussie wheat and use poorer wheat from else were to lower the specs for there milling needs

[farmaholic]

Well then.... just what the world needs, more low quality generic low value wheat. Produce to your heart's content!

[FarmRanger]

Did you guys ever consider that the varieties that fit into these classes fall within certain specs like gluten strength that are not easily measured at the delivery points? If we destroy the classes we have now for the easily measured specs that everyone else sells their wheat by, we'll have nothing that differentiates our wheat from others. I'm not sure we can compete that well strictly on price.

[TOM4CWB]

Reciprocal Trade,

Canadian wheat growers need to be able to sell to US Wheat marketers state side[often we do and do well with direct farmer sales]; what is unreasonable for US Wheat growers to be allowed to direct market into Canada... obviously the US quality is there... as the price of US grown wheat is often higher than CDN!

[wmoebis]

What about seed Tom?
Should the trucks that are heading south be able to pull a back haul of seed for delivery to producers?

Deck, hopper and van trucks hauling out of Edmonton into USA would likely gladly load up with bulk or bagged seed, on a back haul and drop it off for you.

Does anyone know the rules in US for buying seed from your neighbor?

[TOM4CWB]

wm,

As US seed is under the same rules with PBR and Upov 91, the rules for seed are the same. Marketing agreements usually are in place that require the seed marketers permission for the export/import trade to occur.

Back hauls are usually going south, because veggies and fruit are very often the freight that pays well... and they are headed north to Canadian Grocery stores.

Further, US Wheat varieties are often longer maturing and tend not to be well suited for especially northern micro climates with low heat units and 'early' frost risks. Yet some US Varieties do well... and are registered in our Canadian system, the seeds are brought up north... especially when being multiplied when first released in Canada... before local seed supplies are grown and available. Since trucking is usually the method of seed transport (for under 500 miles usually) the added transport costs... fusarium issue for Alberta [Alberta seed must be cleared while US seed can have fusarium] the movement tends to be seed moving south under licence, at least in Alberta.

[farmaholic]

If the goal is to assimilate and not differentiate, maybe Black Sea wheat should be the target.

If our wheat is better and can extract a premium in the US or anywhere...good. If other wheat coming into Canada doesn't meet the grade. ..how does that become our problem?

Appease the bully or pay the price.

Do we really need each other's wheat? Last time I checked we are competing exporters. If they need what we have--buy it, even if it requires a premium.

[wmoebis]

Not sure how to interpret your reply Tom.
Are you in favor of Canadian producers being able to purchase and import all USA varieties from USA seed growers and sell production as Canadian wheat?

[TOM4CWB]

Wm,
"Are you in favor of Canadian producers being able to purchase and import all USA varieties from USA seed growers and sell production as Canadian wheat?"

This already happens... is legal... well suited US wheat Varieties [ND State University Varieties for instance] are quickly registered in western Canada and marketed as Canadian grown wheat... which it is.

The higher gluten strength is an adjustment in our CDN CWRS grades to meet US DNS quality. What is wanted in global trade for blending HRS wheat.

[wmoebis]

How many farmers go to the USA to buy seed. What is the cost of it compared to what Canadian seed growers are charging?

I am just asking never thought of it before. If it can grow in MT, ND and SD I'm pretty sure it can grow in parts of Canada.

[wmoebis]

Tom what I understand you to be asking for is Non Canadian Reg varieties, that are well suited to USA growing conditions, but may not be suited to our conditions, and are not be of equal quality to be able to be sold into our Canadian system and be blended with our wheat for export and sold as Canadian wheat.

Sorry but I don't see the value in the interest of Canadian producers.