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Ten years of farmers leading the CWB
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January 1, 2009 marked 10 years of farmers leading the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). A producer-controlled board of directors first assumed its duties on Jan. 1, 1999.
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Ten years of farmers leading the CWB
"This has been a decade of tremendous change for the CWB," said Larry Hill, a farmer from the Swift Current area who has been on the board of directors since its inception in 1999 and today serves as its chair. "As producers, we wanted more flexibility and choices. We wanted major improvements in CWB accountability to farmers. The results have been dramatic." Read Larry Hill's 'Message from the chair'.
Change began immediately. By 2000, for the first time in the history of the CWB, farmers were able to choose their own prices for wheat, outside of the pool. As another of its first acts, the board invited federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser to review the CWB’s finances, operations and governance, then began developing accountable performance measures.
Today, farmers like Dan and Trina MacDonald, can choose from a range of payment, pricing and delivery options, as well as pooling. A major change for malting barley provides farmers with an upfront cash price for the first time. Corporate performance benchmarks are in place, linked to employee remuneration. Value-added incentives provide more leeway for niche-market or farmer-owned processing.
