The National Farmers Union (NFU) is calling a reversal of wheat-grading changes a “tremendous success for farmers,” according to news release, Friday.
On Friday morning, the Canadian Grain Commission repealed upcoming grading changes in response to complaints from producer groups.
In a news release, the CGC simply stated it was repealing the alignment of primary and export tolerances for test weight and total foreign materials for Canada Western Red Spring, Canada Western Hard White Spring, Canada Western Extra Strong, Canada Western Soft White Spring and Canada Northern Hard Red.
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It also repealed the alignment of total foreign material tolerances for Canada Western Amber Durum.
The changes were to take effect on August 1.
On Thursday, traditional sparring partners the Wheat Growers Association (WGA) and National Farmers’ Union (NFU) issued a joint statement decrying the announced changes. They joined Sask Wheat and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), who issued a statement on July 17 calling for a halt to the grading changes, calling them “ill-considered and finalized hastily” as well as alleging it was done without proper producer consultation.
Historically there have been primary and export standards for wheat, and the primary standard was applied at country elevators where farmers deliver their grain.
Under current rules, wheat must weigh a minimum of 60.1 pounds a bushel, or it will be downgraded to no. 2 wheat. Under the proposed changes, which were to come into force August 1, they’d need to weigh at least 63.3 pounds per bushel to avoid downgrading.
This would take money from farmers’ pockets, the groups said.
The CGC announced the changes early June following discussions within the Western Standards Committee. In a June 8 letter to wheat industry stakeholders, CGC Chief Commissioner Doug Chorney said committee members were welcome to present additional information and analysis by Feb. 1, 2024. .
However, in the NFU’s July 28 statement, Glenn Tait, NFU member and CGC Western Standards Committee member alleged that the CGC had “acted against the opposition of virtually all of the farmer members on the Standards Committee—seeming to align with grain companies against farmers.”
The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), which lobbied for standard harmonization according to CGC records, told the Manitoba Co-operator the grading change would mean farmers were fairly compensated for the quality of grain they grew.
–Geralyn Wichers reports for the Glacier Farmmedia network from Steinbach, Man.
