Canadian Wheat Board - The Bulletin
Excerpts relevant for seed professionals

• Preliminary results from 5,000 CWB Variety Survey responses received to date can be viewed on the CWB Web site at www.cwb.ca/public/en/growing/variety_survey/index.jsp. Results and analysis of the complete variety survey will be available later this fall. On average, the CWB receives 11,000 to 13,000 submissions to the annual survey. Farmers who return their completed surveys by Sept. 29 are eligible for prizes of seed vouchers worth up to $2,000.
   
• The wheat and barley harvest across the Prairies is more than 10-per-cent complete, according to CWB weather and crop surveillance experts. Scattered rain during the past week slowed progress in many areas. Harvest activity remains concentrated in the southern half of the Prairies but is expected to expand rapidly to northern areas over the next two weeks. The winter wheat harvest is more than 90-per-cent complete.
   
• Rates for fall cash advance programs (ESCAP After Harvest and AMPA) have been approved by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The programs start Sept. 1, 2006. The rates per tonne are as follows: wheat - $80; durum - $75; feed barley - $35; selected barley - $60.
   
• The CWB has announced its malting barley quality payments program for 2006-07. A complete list of participating companies, payment schedule and other details will be available at www.cwb.ca/public/en/contracts/farmer_payments/malt_barley_protein.jsp. Three new companies have joined the program this year—Agricore United, Prairie West Terminal Ltd. and South West Terminal Ltd. The program provides premiums of up to $5 per tonne to farmers delivering two-row malting barley to participating elevators and maltsters.
   
• Entry forms and sample envelopes for the CWB Master Grower awards program are available from CWB farm business representatives or by calling 1-800-275-4292. For the 2006-07 crop year, CWB Master Growers will be named for malting barley, red winter wheat (CWRW Select), hard white spring wheat and durum.
   
• Farmers seeding winter wheat this fall are invited to take a fresh look at the CWB’s Identity Preserved Contract Program (IPCP). Yield and performance of the eight select varieties are comparable to other winter wheat varieties. The program also features $10-per-tonne premiums, protein payments, storage payments and guaranteed delivery. Fall sign-up does not lock farmers into the 2007-08 program, allowing them to keep their options open.