A freighter is loaded with grain from a terminal at Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet. (Maxvis/iStock/Getty Images)

Handlers focus on keeping grain moving despite COVID-19

Grain companies, Canadian Grain Commission working but unsure of future

Canada’s grain companies are committed to keeping grain moving to domestic and export customers, but how the spread of COVID-19 might affect business is still an unknown, says Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association. “We are are going to do everything in our power to keep grain moving at this time,” […] Read more

The Canadian Grain Commission building on Main Street in Winnipeg. (File photo)

NFU sees red flags in CUSMA bill for grain growers

Bibeau urged to 'correct mistakes' in NAFTA 2.0-enabling legislation

The National Farmers Union is warning of sweeping changes to Canadian grain regulation it sees tucked into federal legislation meant to put through the successor deal to NAFTA. Bill C-4, the implementing legislation for the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), passed second reading Feb. 6 and came back without amendment Feb. 27 from the Commons standing committee […] Read more


The Canadian Grain Commission building on Main Street in Winnipeg. (File photo)

Grain Commission’s chief announces retirement

AAFC's review of Grain Act, and of CGC's future, continues

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is seeking a new chief commissioner. Patti Miller, who has held the position for three years, announced Tuesday to CGC staff that she will retire June 26. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) “will be launching an open, transparent and merit-based process to find a new commissioner as soon as possible,” […] Read more



Visual grading of wheat will become less important in the future, says the general manager of Alberta Wheat.

Falling number fallout creating new pricing regime for wheat

It’s not an official grading factor, but falling number is increasingly determining what you get paid

Reading Time: 5 minutes Falling number tests are becoming a key factor in the price you get for your wheat. But farmers are on their own when it comes to negotiating with grain companies, says the general manager of Alberta Wheat. “The grain companies say, ‘No, this is an anomaly, we won’t have wet years like this every year,’ […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Flax prices likely to remain flat

MarketsFarm — Although autumn snowfall limited the quality of a lot of Prairie flax, its price has remained flat, according to Brian Johnson of Johnson Seeds at Arborg, Man. While Johnson has seen some instances of No. 1 flax, he said most of what he’s seen has graded Nos. 2 and 3. “The premiums are […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

CGC revises domestic canola usage downward

MarketsFarm — Domestic canola demand remained well ahead of exports in the latest Canadian Grain Commission report for the week ended Sunday — but revisions to data now show the crush pace is not quite as active as reported earlier in the month. The original data for the week ended Jan. 5 showed domestic disappearance […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan)

Canary seed one step closer to ‘official’ status

MarketsFarm — Canary seed may still be a relatively minor special crop in Western Canada, but the grain is one step closer to gaining official status. Producers at the Canary Seed Development Commission of Saskatchewan annual general meeting on Monday in Saskatoon voted in favour of formally requesting canary seed’s inclusion under the Canada Grains […] Read more

Farmers to be paid for ILTA Grain deliveries

Reading Time: < 1 minute Eligible producers who were not paid for grain delivered to ILTA Grain Inc. will be fully compensated through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program. The Saskatchewan-based pulse and canary seed buyer and exporter was put under creditor protection in July, defaulting on amounts owed to grain farmers for unpaid deliveries. The grain […] Read more