New version of grain contract guide available

New version of grain contract guide available

Reading Time: < 1 minute The fourth edition of the Canadian Canola Growers Association guide to understanding grain contracts is now available. The 28-page Practical Guide to Navigate Grain Contracts covers topics such as the grading process, delivery terms and declarations, delivery penalties, access to land (such as for picking up grain or for sampling purposes), defaults, contract cancellation, acts […] Read more

The Canadian Canola Growers Association has a 19-page booklet on grain contracts.

WHEN THINGS GO SOUTH: What to know about grain contracts

When you can’t fulfil a contract, there are key things to be aware of, say legal experts

Reading Time: 4 minutes Get those verbal agreements down in writing, know what terms like “liquidated damages” mean, and take action fast if you can’t fulfil a grain contract and prices are rising. Those are key takeaways from a recent webinar on grain contracts put on by the Canadian Canola Growers Association and Winnipeg law firm D’Arcy & Deacon. […] Read more


Farmers learned tough lessons last year due to aggressive selling too early in the season, says Jason Saunders, who uses the futures markets to capture high prices.

Grain contracts a dilemma for farmers this year

Bad memories are front of mind for farmers as they consider how much grain to contract

Reading Time: 3 minutes Seize the day — or sleep soundly at night? That’s a dilemma faced by many producers as they ponder the always tricky question of signing a delivery contract for crops that are a long way from being harvested. “Don’t bite off more than you can chew and be patient,” said Jay Schultz, who operates a […] Read more

Webinar aims to get to the bottom of grain contracts

Webinar aims to get to the bottom of grain contracts

Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’re looking for information on grain contracts or have questions for legal experts on contract law, mark July 5 in your calendar. The Canadian Canola Growers Association is hosting a webinar on that date featuring experts from Winnipeg law firm D’Arcy and Deacon LLP. “During this practical session, the legal experts will discuss the […] Read more


Did you have grain contract issues in 2021?

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley are asking producers to let them know how they were impacted by grain contracts. “We have heard that the drought of 2021 is having significant impacts on farmers’ ability to deliver on contracted grain commitments which is developing into financial concerns,” the two organizations said in a release. “This survey […] Read more

(GFM file photo)

Cargill, ADM sell GrainBridge to ag software firm Bushel

'Network effect' expected in grains sector

An online service farmers use to manage grain sales with ADM’s elevators and processing plants across Canada — along with Cargill and ADM elevators in the U.S. — is under new ownership. ADM and Cargill, the two major U.S.-based agribusinesses that set up GrainBridge in 2019, announced Tuesday they’ve sold it to Bushel, a Fargo, […] Read more


Although this harvest will be meagre, Jason Saunders expects to fulfil his grain contracts this year. But countless farmers across the Prairies won’t be able to — and many face substantial penalties when they can least afford it.

Drought-battered producers facing another crisis — contract penalties

Deadly combo of crop failures and sky-high prices leave some facing huge penalties on unfulfilled contracts

Reading Time: 5 minutes The drought is squeezing producers from all sides, with many facing another calamity — not having enough crop to fulfil their grain contracts. “There are issues because the drought is so widespread,” said Jason Saunders, vice-chair of Alberta Wheat and a dryland farmer from near Taber. “There was aggressive forward contracting on canola and old-crop […] Read more



Before the hauling comes the contract with the grain company — and most never get read.

Three things to watch for when reading your grain contract

Two-part contracts, delivery terms, and extended delivery periods can cause problems down the road if you don’t read your grain contract carefully


Reading Time: 3 minutes Do you read your grain contracts from front to back? If so, you’re one of the few who do. A University of Manitoba study found only 17 per cent of Canadian farmers read their whole grain contracts — and that’s a mistake, says a grain industry expert. “For every grain buyer out there, the terms […] Read more

Three things to read in your grain contract

Do you read your grain contracts from front to back? If so, you’re one of the few who do. A University of Manitoba study found only 17 per cent of Canadian farmers read their whole grain contracts — and that’s a mistake, says a grain industry expert. “For every grain buyer out there, the terms […] Read more