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Forms / Terms and conditions

Handling agents

Applying for a CWB agency agreement

Applying for a CWB service agent agreement

Agent criteria

Applying for a CWB agency agreement

Companies interested in becoming a CWB agent to buy and handle CWB grain and/or issue cash advances must apply for a CWB Agency Agreement (i.e. handling agreement). Depending on the nature of the Company business, applicants shouldapply for either:a Primary Elevator, a Process Elevator (Maltster), a Process Elevator (Miller) or a Company without Elevator Facilities agreement to handle CWB grain.

Companies who want to issue advances on behalf of the CWB may also request an additional Advance Handling Agreement . All Agreements are renewed annually.

Criteria statements

These statements outline the requirements for companies with existing or planned elevator facilities and for companies with no elevator facilities to become a CWB agent.

If you decide to pursue this business venture with the CWB, you must provide the CWB with the following documentation:

Agency application

This application covers basic information about applicants such as their registered or incorporated name, company officials, elevators owned or operated and financial banking information. It is important to provide complete and accurate information on this application.

Detailed company business plan

In order for us to determine if a company will be accepted as a CWB agent, companies must provide a detailed business plan that includes but is not limited to:

  • The types of grain your company will handle (i.e. wheat, durum, barley, canola, etc.).
  • The projected volume of CWB grains you anticipate handling for the first year of operation.
  • The type of business your company plans to conduct with the CWB and what the main destinations are for the grain (i.e. terminals, U.S. markets, processing plants, etc.).
  • The method of transportation you will use to ship CWB grains (i.e. direct loading of grain into railcars at facility, producer car shipment, and trucked shipments).
  • The types of services you will provide to farmers.
Financial and company information

In addition to a business plan, applicants must provide the following (where available):

  • A copy of the most recent audited (or unaudited) annual company financial statements.
  • Opening balance sheets.
  • A copy of the company Articles of incorporation or Letters Patent Incorporating including Articles of Amalgamation or Amendment.
Security

We may request that a company post security, as established by the CWB, in the form of an irrevocable Letter of Credit. This security covers any risk to us that may affect pool accounts, advance deductions, freight adjustment factors or deferred deposit monies from producer cash tickets. It also covers any value due the CWB from delivery and sales invoices.

Security is tendered after we establish the amount of security required. DO NOT TENDER SECURITY UNTIL WE NOTIFY YOU OF THE REQUIRED AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COVERAGE.

Letters of Credit must be tendered in Canadian funds and issued by a chartered bank, caisse populaire, credit union, the provincial government or provincial government agency.

Licensing

Companies and elevators must be licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). If you have not already done so, contact the CGC Licensing Department at (204) 983-3309 about licensing your company, and any elevators and/or processing plants you have.

Cash purchase ticket

CWB Regulations and agency agreements require that as CWB agents, companies must issue farmers a cash purchase ticket when settling for delivery of CWB grain. Companies must provide the CWB with a copy of their cash purchase ticket in order to determine that the information contained on it conforms to required reporting information.

Submitting forms

Send the necessary application and documentation to:

The Canadian Wheat Board
L. Vallance
Farmer Operations
423 Main Street
P.O. Box 816, Station Main
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 2P5
Tel. (204) 983-6290
Fax. (204) 983-8031

General information

As a CWB agent, your company will work with a number of departments within the CWB on a regular basis. Farmer Operations handles delivery permits, contracts, producer certificates, advances and payments as well as being the main telephone contact through the Farm Business Team, which is under Farmer Service. Logistics look after delivery calls, railcar allocation, tendering and car awards, and unloads of CWB grains at port. Sales and Market Development handles sales contracts and product development. Our Country Accounting handles company liabilities, carrying charges and other accounting/ financially related issues with companies.

Companies may also apply to participate in the Country Inventory Prepayment of Inventory (PIP) program. Under this program, the CWB will advance funds to companies to cover payment to farmers for grain delivered in the country.

We welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss in detail the operating procedures of all the departments as well as have you meet the people you would be dealing with on a regular basis. If you choose to participate in our PIP program, a mandatory meeting (at least one day duration) with our inventory group is required to review the operating details of this program.

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Applying for a CWB service agent agreement

Service providers interested in becoming a CWB service agent to help farmers renew or complete delivery permit applications, sign up delivery contracts or complete cash advance applications must apply for a CWB Service Agent Agreement.

Agency application

This application contains the CWB requirements to become a CWB service agent. The application form covers basic information about applicants such as their registered or incorporated name, company officials and services provided. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information on this application.

Service agent criteria

Service agent application (PDF format)

CWB e-Services

Through our Web site, we provide e-Services for farmers, handling agents and service agents. Through our secure online system, farmers and CWB agents can renew or sign up delivery permit applications and delivery contracts. In addition, they can access their cash advance transactions and balances.

Service agents must sign a Third Party User Contract with us in order to use e-Services.

Cash advances

Service agents who want to help farmers complete advance applications under the Advance Payments Program (APP) must enter into a separate advance handling agreement with the CWB due to liability risks associated with advance applications. Contact the Manager, Cash Advance Services at (204) 983-3374 or your local CWB Farm Business Representative.

Submitting forms

Send the application to:
The Canadian Wheat Board
L. Vallance
Farmer Operations
423 Main Street
P.O. Box 816, Station Main
Winnipeg, MB  R3C 2P5
Tel. (204) 983-6290
Fax. (204) 983-8031

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Agent criteria

With the shrinking elevator system, more and more farmers must travel greater distances to their elevators to conduct CWB business if they do not use e-Services, as well as to complete cash advance applications. We are prepared to enter into an agreement with service providers ("Company") who want to help farmers with these processes.

We have established the following criteria.

  1. The Company must be legally entitled to do business in Canada.
  2. The Company must apply to the CWB either in writing, by fax or by e-mail. Applications must be in the Company name and must provide at minimum, the following information.
    1. The Company name, address, telephone (and fax) number, and e-mail address. Individuals are not eligible for CWB service agent status.
    2. The names of all the principals involved with the Company.
    3. A description of the Company's operations and any other services offered to farmers within the vicinity of the Company's location.

We evaluate the Company's suitability as a CWB representative in the area where the Company operates.

Note: Use the application form in the above link to submit this information.

In authorizing the Company to become a CWB service agent, we may take any or all of the following actions:

  1. Have our Farm Business Representative assess the company's reputation in the farming community.
  2. Determine whether or not the Company is licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission according to the Canada Grain Act.

Once we are prepared to authorize the company to become a service agent, we will send the Company a "CWB service agent Agreement". By signing and returning the Agreement to us, the Company agrees to abide by the terms and conditions in the Agreement.

e-Services

Companies with access to e-Services can help farmers complete or renew delivery permits, sign up or change delivery contracts and access their cash advance transactions and balances.

Companies can also help farmers complete pre- and after-harvest cash advance applications. Due to certain liability risks associated with the advance programs, interested companies must sign a separate Modified Advance Handling Agreement.

Companies can apply for e-Services access and/or for an advance handling agreement by checking the applicable box on the application form.

This policy is reviewed annually.

Farmer Operations
December 2009

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