Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz has marked the first anniversary of marketing freedom for Western Canadian grain farmers.
Ritz, also MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster, marked the anniversary in Pense, along with Marilyn Braun-Pollon, vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
The move towards marketing freedom, marking the end of the Canadian Wheat Board single desk monopoly, was not without controversy, opposition and even court challenges.
However, Ritz and Braun-Pollon pointed to findings from a recent CFIB survey touting results showing what was described as "overwhelmingly positive impact" of the change towards the independent marketing of wheat and barley.
The CFIB study noted 81 per cent of agribusinesses were positively impacted, and that more than three-quarters said they had greater control of the decision-making for their products. Two-thirds also said marketing freedom resulted in better market signals, better access to competitive prices and increased cash flow.
"One producer told me he now has better cash flow, improved logistics control and the sky didn't fall, which seems to reflect the predominant sentiment among Western grain growers," said Braun-Pollon, in a statement.
Ritz also touted the positive numbers since the marketing changes took effect in his statement Aug. 1.
"One year ago today our government delivered on our longstanding promise to give western Canadian grain farmers the marketing freedom they wanted and deserved," said Ritz.
"Western Canadian grain farmers have made marketing freedom work for our industry and our economy. Today, we have more solid evidence that marketing freedom has strengthened our farm businesses in the first year."
Meanwhile, the chair of the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance was painting a different picture in his remarks on the anniversary.
"A year after the end of the single desk Canadian Wheat Board it is clear western farmers are no longer receiving the full value for their grain," said Bill Gehl.
"It is also clear most of the missing value is being taken by the private grain trade."
Gehl said it was clear that "western farmers are no longer receiving the full value for their grain."
He added "farmers who think this year's apparently higher grain prices are the result of ending the Wheat Board are living in a fool's paradise." Gehl went on to say prices for grain are higher "because the United States has suffered the worst drought and production failure since the 1930s. When production reverts to normal, western farmers will find themselves facing a new and harsh reality."
For Ritz, the anniversary of the CWB changes towards marketing freedom followed a busy week of announcements.
Ritz was in Winnipeg July 31 alongside Manitoba agriculture minister Ron Kostyshyn to promote the Growing Forward 2 Growing Assurance - Ecological Goods and Services program.
According to the government's news release, the program provides financial assistance to local conservation districts, working with producers in implementing beneficial management practices on farmsthat reduce risks to the environment.
Approved projects "focus on water quality and demonstrate an ability to conserve and enhance valuable natural resources and promote environmental sustainability of the agricultural landscape," according to the agriculture ministry's release.
Also, a new beef import levy was unveiled July 30 by Ritz and by Canada Beef chair Chuck MacLean.
That takes effect through an amendment to the Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Levies Order. It will result in the current levy of $1 per head of cattle for beef marketed in Canada being applied to importers.
In a statement, Ritz said the new levy "will provide a stable funding source for research, market development and promotion activities on domestic and imported beef and beef products."
