The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) today announced that 2004-05 initial payments for wheat, durum and designated barley will increase effective May 18, 2005.

The increase in initial payments for wheat and feed wheat will be $15.00 per tonne. In the case of durum, the increase will be $30.00 per tonne, except for No. 5 Canada Western Amber Durum, which will see an increase of $10.00 per tonne. For designated barley, the increase will be $13.00 per tonne on two-row and $15.00 on six-row.

The adjustment payments, in dollars per tonne, for representative grades in each pool account are listed below. The total initial payment to date is based on the value of grain in store at Vancouver or St. Lawrence.

A complete listing of payments for all grades in dollars per tonne and dollars per bushel is posted on the CWB's Web site.

The CWB forwarded its recommendations for adjustment payments on wheat, durum and malting barley to the Government of Canada on April 15, 2005.

"Given the importance of getting farmers' money into their hands as quickly as possible during this seeding period, we made approving these adjustment payments a priority," said Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the CWB.

Farmers who delivered wheat, durum and designated barley to the CWB between August 1, 2004 and May 17, 2005 will receive an adjustment payment. The payments will be mailed on May 27, 2005 or received by direct deposit on May 25, 2005. Farmers who wish to defer payments have until May 19, 2005 to notify the CWB by calling 1-800-275-4292.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less the costs of marketing, to Prairie farmers.