The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) announced on August 01 the 2003-04 initial payments for the various grades of barley. The payments are effective immediately for deliveries into the 2003-04 pool accounts, said CWB.
The initial payments, in dollars per tonne, for base grades in each pool account are listed below:

	Initial Payment
Grade	2003-04	2002-03
Feed Barley
No. 1 Canada Western	$ 80.00	$ 105.00
Designated Barley
Special Select Canada Western Two-Row	$ 142.00	$ 147.00
Special Select Canada Western Six-Row	$ 128.00	$ 132.00

Initial payments represent the first portion of the returns farmers can expect from the sale of their grain over the entire pool year. The Government of Canada guarantees initial payments. Initial payments are set in relation to world prices and, as such, they will vary from year to year according to changing market conditions. During the crop year, the CWB reviews the initial payments on a regular basis and recommends adjustment payments as soon as market conditions and sales progress warrant.

05 August, 2003