News & Events

New Grain Marketing Environment: Issues Facing Farmers, Agribusiness and Government

On December 11–13, the Department of Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics, the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan hosted a conference on issues arising from passage of Bill C-18, the Bill to end the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly.

The purpose of the conference was to help identify potential opportunities and challenges that farmers, agribusiness firms and government will face in the grain marketing, handling and transportation system that will emerge after the passage of Bill C-18. The conference was divided into eight sessions – four each day. In each session a lead speaker, followed by industry discussants and a general forum for input, discussion and debate, addressed one of the key questions outlined below.

How will a voluntary Canadian Wheat Board operate? By Murray Fulton, University of Saskatchewan

What is the most effective design for futures markets in wheat, durum and barley? What are the fundamentals of an efficient futures market? By Colin Carter and Joe Janzen, University of California, Davis

What will happen to rail freight rates and level of service? By Richard Gray, University of Saskatchewan and Bill Wilson, University of North Dakota

How will grain related trade disputes be addressed? By James Rude, University of Alberta

How will wheat quality be affected and managed? By Bill Wilson, North Dakota State University

How do we effectively use the ports of Churchill and Prince Rupert? By Barry Prentice, University of Manitoba

How will producer cars and short line railways be used? By James Nolan, University of Saskatchewan

How will grain logistics and crisis management be handled? By Mark Hemmes, Quorum Corporation

Luncheon Topic 1 - By Paul Martin, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Summary and Conclusion - By Michele Veeman, University of Alberta

Other Sponsors included:

University of Alberta - Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology

University of Manitoba - Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics

University of Lethbridge - Department of Economics

University of Laval - Structure of Agriculture and Agri-products industry (SPAA) Research Network