The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has launched a new consumer-focused marketing strategy, titled “Life’s Simple Ingredients.” The main goal of this project is to help consumers understand where their food comes from, and to shed a positive light on wheat so they can feel good about what they are eating. Victoria Russell, interim communications manager for… Read more »
Tag: Alberta Wheat Commission
New rail bill yet to be introduced
Update, May 12: A bill entitled “An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other Acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts” was added to the House of Commons notice paper on Friday, May 12, meaning it could be introduced as early as Tuesday, May 16. A spring… Read more »
Alberta Crop Commissions Meeting With Minister & AFSC on Unharvested Acres
Another late snowfall is making a tough situation worse, especially in central and northern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Much of Western Canada has received a fresh layer of snow in the last day or two, just as fields in some areas were starting to dry up after snow and rain during the Easter weekend…. Read more »
Poll: Do You Use Deferred Cash Tickets To Manage Taxes?
The federal government is proposing the elimination of deferred cash purchase tickets for grain sales — a tool used by farmers to manage cash flow for tax purposes from one year to the next. When delivering a listed grain (such as wheat, oats, barley, rye, flaxseed, or canola), producers have long had the option of asking… Read more »
Alberta Wheat Commission Announces Board Additions
The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) welcomes new faces to its board of directors and regional representatives following a call for nominations in Regions 1 and 5 and three regional representatives. Joining the AWC board of directors in Region 1 is Jason Saunders, from Taber. Gary Stanford, from Magrath, will return to the AWC Board. In Region… Read more »
Growing Markets for CPS, Soft White Wheat — an Alberta Wheat Commission Update
The Alberta Wheat Commission was formally created on August 1st, 2012, the same day the Canadian Wheat Board was stripped of its single desk selling authority for wheat and barley in Western Canada. Since then, AWC has become heavily involved in funding wheat research and market development, as well as serving as a voice for… Read more »
Transportation Act Recommendations Seen as a Mix of Positives, Red Flags and Vague Wording
Back in the winter of 2013-14 when Western Canada’s grain industry was bogged down in a massive rail backlog, the upcoming review of the Canada Transportation Act was viewed as an opportunity to improve the way the rail system moves grain. The review process began in May of 2014 and the final report written by… Read more »
Alberta Crop Commissions Call for More Consultation on Bill 6, Urge Farmers to Engage
Alberta’s crop commissions have joined forces in urging the provincial government to delay the implementation of its new farm safety and labour legislation to further consult with farmers. “The current government process is causing fear and uncertainty to grasp the industry. Farmers can provide good input and are the subject matter experts on what will… Read more »
Almost $1 Million Committed to 13 Wheat Research Projects
Alberta wheat growers are contributing nearly $1 million to 13 wheat-related research projects across Western Canada over the next five years. A total of $970,000 in research funding was announced by the Alberta Wheat Commission in Calgary yesterday. “Investing in research is one of our key priorities as it ensures farmers have consistent access to… Read more »
Grain Pricing Transparency is Sadly Long Overdue
This past week the PDQ (price and data quotes) website was launched for farmers across Western Canada. As noted by Tom Steve of the Alberta Wheat Commission, “This level of cooperation is encouraging and we look forward to improving the level of price transparency available for farmers and other industry stakeholders via PDQ.” In truth,… Read more »
Grain Price Transparency Project Now Posting Daily Regional Bids for Western Canada
The Alberta Wheat Commission has launched the first phase of its crop price reporting website aimed at helping farmers make more-informed marketing decisions. As of September 8th, the website — known as PDQ, short for “Price and Data Quotes” — is providing daily regional spot and forward bid prices for red spring wheat, prairie spring… Read more »
Canterra, AAFC and Alberta Wheat Commission Form $3.4 Million Wheat Breeding Partnership
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Alberta Wheat Commission and Canterra Seeds have announced a partnership to fund the development of new Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat varieties at the AAFC Lethbridge Research Centre. A total of $3.4 million, with $1.2 million from the federal government, will be committed over five years to Dr. Harpinder… Read more »
New Western Canadian Grain Price Transparency Project Launched
The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has teamed up with FARMCo, a grain marketing consulting firm, to head up a large-scale project designed to “improve farmers’ ability to make well-informed marketing decisions and maximize the value of their crops.” The Crop Data and Price Reporting project will lead to the development of a web-based tool that… Read more »
Wheat School: What Goes in to Basis (But Why That’s the Wrong Question to Ask)
It’s freight. It’s margin. It’s a tally of any number of other costs and variables but when it’s all said and done, basis is really nothing more than an incentive to either sell your grain or a reason to sit on it a while longer. While farmers would love to pick apart and object to… Read more »
Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act Receives Royal Assent
Bill C-30, the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, received Royal Assent yesterday, May 29, 2014. The bill was introduced into the House of Commons on March 27 as a means to address level of service issues in Canada’s rail transportation system. The Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act includes amendments to the Canada Transportation… Read more »