In the wake of fundamental changes in the cereal industry, there emerged a need for producer-led cereal associations to provide leadership in wheat and barley research and market development. Manitoba along with other provinces were each required to petition provincial certification agencies to seek a recommendation to receive regulatory authority to establish and operate a check-off on behalf of growers.
In the early stages of development the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association was fortunate to have the administrative support and leadership of the Keystone Agricultural Producers.
In consultation with farm leaders an interim board was appointed to fulfill the requirements to achieve regulatory authority and to launch the organization. Based on feedback from farm leaders the Manitoba organization chose to combine wheat and barley within the same board to capture efficiencies and leverage effectiveness for the growers of either or both crops.
As of January 1, 2014 the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association joins other equivalent organizations established in Alberta (2012) and in Saskatchewan (2013) to strategically invest in research and market development initiatives that advance the profitability and sustainability of wheat and/or barley production for growers.
Currently, the check-off for wheat is $0.52 per tonne and the check-off for barley is $0.50 per tonne.
Effective August 1, 2017, the MWBGA deduction will be $1.00 per tonne for spring wheat, and $1.06 per tonne for barley. The designation amendments to make this change were submitted to the province after membership approved a resolution at the 2016 Annual General Meeting to authorize the Board of Directors to proceed with the regulatory changes that would be required to complete the transition of the funding obligations currently undertaken by the Western Canadian Deduction (WCD) to the responsibility of the MWBGA. The WCD on spring wheat and barley is ending July 31, 2017. To learn more about the transition from the WCD to single check-offs for spring wheat and barley, read more here.