Canada, MB: Manitoba Wheat & Barley Growers Association officially established

The newly created Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) has cleared the final regulatory hurdle in creating a grower-­driven organization. As of February 1, 2014, the group will begin collecting a refundable checkoff of C$0.52/tonne of wheat and C$0.50/tonne of barley. The checkoff will be collected by all buyers in Manitoba — feed mills and ethanol plants included, Realagriculture.com reported on January 20.

Interim board chair Don Dewar says the check-­off funds will be strategically invested in research and market development projects that will advance the profitability and sustainability of wheat and barley production for Manitoba growers.

“We have already been working with wheat and barley grower organizations in other provinces,” says Dewar. “This approval of our funding mechanism now allows us to be full collaborative partners on multi-­province and national research and market development projects that are crucial to wheat and barley production.”

The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association currently have an administrative support agreement with the Manitoba Corn Growers and a technical support agreement with Agri Skills Inc. to minimize overhead costs through this early phase of organizational development.

22 January, 2014