Select Winter Wheat Added to PROs

[melvill]

Just noticed that a PRO for Select Red Winter Wheat 11.5% has been added to the PROs. The Board's argument for adding the Select PRO value is:

"This Select grade will also be used as the base grade for winter wheat producers considering 2007-08 Producer Payment Options. This move has been made to give farmers a better basis for comparing prices between Canadian and American hard winter wheat. Select winter wheat is grown through CWB identity-preserved contracts and attracts a $10 to $15 per tonne premium over conventional winter wheat."

I'd be interested in knowing how many producers are growing winter wheat, especially the Select varieties.

[Soewild]

Most varieties in Alberta are Select (almost 90%), Sask is almost 50/50 and the majority of acres in Manitoba (~82%) are non-Select.

Prairie acreage is a little over 50% Non-select.

The CWB preliminary variety survey results are at: http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/growing/variety_survey/pdf/report_aug82006.pdf

All indications are that across the prairies we should see an increase in total acres seeded this fall.

[craig]

It's great that the board wants a better mechanizm to compare U.S. and comparable Canadian Winter Wheat. At present Montana producers are receiving over $4.50 Canadian for there winter wheat. Canadian producers whether through FPC DPC or the PRO's will receive prices from $3.40 to $3.90.Glad the board continues to extract Premiums from the market place.