Wheat Growers

Labour disputes, including the ongoing strike of workers from grain terminals in Metro Vancouver, are creating challenging times for grain companies. More than six hundred employees walked off the job Tuesday morning as both parties – Grain Workers Union Local 333 and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators Association – remain apart over wages, pension, and scheduling. […]

Three organizations representing rural municipalities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are calling on Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to use binding arbitration “if the railways and union are unable to reach an agreement prior to Thursday, when labour disruptions would begin.” That’s despite MacKinnon already rejecting CN Rail’s request for binding arbitration and has said […]

A tale of opposites when it comes to growing conditions from one side of the province to the other. The provincial crop report indicated the heatwave is rapidly advancing crop development but its also causing heat stress and lowering yield potential, forcing some producers in the south to harvest crops for feed. Daryl Fransoo with […]

It’s been a positive experience so far for a woman who was one of the first people selected in the Wheat Growers Farmer Mentorship Program. Carlie Bowditch says part of the reason she applied for the program is looking up to a member of the organization – Kaitlyn Kitzan – as well as a desire […]

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association wants to hear thoughts from members about the proposed merger between Viterra and Bunge. The merger, announced earlier this year, is currently under review from the federal government as well as the Competition Bureau. President of the Wheat Growers Gunter Jochum says the survey – sent to members by email […]

StatsCan says realized net income for Canadian farmers rose 84 percent in 2020. Strong growth in sales outpaced slightly higher expenses. The increase follows a 10.5 percent gain in 2019 and a 33 percent decline in 2018. Excluding cannabis, realized net farm income was up 72 percent at 9.5 billion dollars. StatsCan says rising crop […]

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers submission on Novel Food regulations focuses on plant breeding. Health Canada is holding consultations on gene-editing and the need to better understand the technology needed for production and environmental challenges in the future. A 2017 report identified Canada’s agri-food sector as having great potential to expand economic growth in Canada. […]

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is raising the alarm about a federal proposal to roll back the use of fertilizer by 30 percent. President Gunter Jochum says Ottawa made the heavy-handed environmental proposal without consulting farmers or Fertilizer Canada. He says it is unworkable and not based on any practical science. Jochum says the […]

The chair of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers is hoping for a profitable year for farmers in 2021. Daryl Fransoo says the pandemic created some challenges for farmers but had limited effect. He says grain exports are booming and prices are on the rise. Fransoo is hoping for a profitable year in 2021, but he […]

The Western Wheat Growers Association is upset with the federal minister of Agriculture. Last week, Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau turned down a request for a carbon tax rebate on grain drying, calling the amount insignificant. Western Canadian Wheat Growers President Gunter Jochum disagrees, and wants her replaced. He says the department of agriculture averaged […]