By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday April 13, 2022

Apr 13, 2022 | 9:48 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench has certified a class action lawsuit with respect to the privatization of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB).

Manitoba farmer Andrew Dennis filed the lawsuit against the federal government and G3 Canada Ltd.

Dennis is acting as the representative plaintiff for farmers who sold wheat to the CWB’s pool accounts in the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 crop years.

“We will, at long last, have an opportunity to ask the court to rule on whether the Government of Canada or Minister Ritz unlawfully manipulated CWB accounts, depriving farmers of money rightfully owing to them,” Dennis said in a news release.

The lawsuit alleges former Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz committed misfeasance in public office by unlawfully sheltering $145 million into an account that could be transferred to the CWB’s purchasers in connection with the Wheat Board’s 2012 privatization.

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Stewart Wells, Chair of the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board said they have argued this point for over a decade.

“The government and CWB took money that belonged to farmers and sold it as part of the asset base taken over by the Crown and then provided to G3 Canada the nominal legal successor to the CWB and owned by the multinational Bunge and the Government of Saudi Arabia,” Wells said.

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Alberta’s Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) has named its newly appointed board and one reappointed member.

The newest board members include Andre Harpe of Valhalla, Michael Howden of Foothills and Ross Bricker of Didsbury. Their terms expire in 2025.

Continuing board members are Kelly Smith-Fraser of Pine Lake, Rodney Bradshaw of Red Deer County and Chioma Ufodike of Calgary.

Renata Colic of Calgary has been reappointed for a two-year term, which will expire in 2024.

AFSC provides loans, crop insurance and farm income disaster assistance programs to farmers, agribusinesses, and other small businesses.

The board helps ensure the agency’s programs and services are delivered effectively and meet the unique needs of agricultural producers and rural businesses.

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Keep it Clean has released its product advisory for the 2022 growing season.

The purpose of the advisory is to inform Canadian growers of potential market risks associated with certain crop protection products when used on some crops.

Cereals Canada Director of Crop Protection and Production Krista Zuzak said it’s important for farmers to understand the implications on their crops.

“Keep it Clean encourages growers to review the 2022 Product Advisory,” Zuzak said. “We also recommend growers always consult with their grain buyers before applying any products on the advisory to keep their crops market-ready throughout the growing season.”

Keep it Clean is hosting a webinar on April 19 to review the crop protection products that may create market risk and to answer questions from growers and crop advisers.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW