CWB News Release
May 24, 2006

Survey shows farmers want to decide CWB future

Winnipeg – Seventy-five per cent of farmers say a plebiscite or referendum among farmers is the most appropriate way to make fundamental changes to the CWB, according to a new survey conducted by Innovative Research Group.

The survey, conducted between March 15 and April 2, 2006, also shows almost nine of 10 farmers questioned say that any decision to end the CWB single desk should be made by farmers and not by the federal government.

"There is a huge amount of intensity behind this belief, with more than two-thirds strongly agreeing with this statement," said Greg Lyle, director of Innovative Research. "This is a belief that unites farmers across the West."

At a news conference today, Lyle revealed the results of the telephone survey of 1,303 farmers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba who market their grain through the CWB. The survey is considered accurate to within 2.7 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Lyle said the survey also shows farmers are increasingly pessimistic about their future, with more than half stating that they will not be able to continue farming unless their income improves over the next couple of years. In this climate, two-thirds say they oppose anything that would weaken the CWB, while an equal number feel that multinational grain companies do not have their best interests at heart.

"Farmers want to drive accountability and efficiency at the CWB, but they don't oppose it and they don't want to risk its future," said Lyle "The CWB enjoys a strong reputation and is seen as being on farmers' side, particularly when contrasted against private grain traders."

A total of 76 per cent of farmers indicated support for the CWB when asked, "All things considered, do you support or oppose the Canadian Wheat Board?" With regards to the so-called "dual market", 47 per cent of respondents said they would prefer a system where private companies and individual farmers could compete with the CWB for wheat sales. This compared to 45 per cent who preferred the CWB single-desk system.

"It makes sense that farmers are looking for solutions to the tough times they are facing," said Ken Ritter, chair of the CWB's farmer-controlled board of directors. "But a 'dual market' is really an open market. You either have a monopoly seller or you don't. The single desk and the ‘dual market' are mutually exclusive concepts – like a square circle."

When asked to choose between the CWB single desk or a totally open market for wheat, 63 per cent said they'd prefer wheat marketing remain the sole responsibility of the CWB.

Ritter said it's good to know that western Canadian producers view the CWB as part of the solution. "There's a lot of support out there. Farmers see the CWB as an organization that closely represents their own views. We need to build on that."

The report from the 2006 CWB Producer Survey can be found on the CWB Web site. (PDF file format) Adobe® Acrobat® reader is required to view this PDF file.

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

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2006 CWB Producer Survey
Summary of key points

Farmers want the final say on marketing choices

  • 75 per cent said that if a fundamental change to the CWB was to be made, the most appropriate way would be through a farmer plebiscite or referendum. Thirteen per cent would prefer the decision to be made through CWB director elections, while eight per cent would prefer that the federal government decide.
  • 88 per cent said that any decision to end the CWB single desk should be made by farmers and not by the federal government.

Farmers see a bad situation getting worse

  • 52 per cent said they will be out of farming in the next couple of years if income stays the same, while six per cent said they will not make it past this year. These are the highest negative responses since the CWB began asking this question in 1998.
  • 70 per cent said they will lose money on their farm operation this year.
  • 84 per cent said they feel things are off on the wrong track in agriculture.
  • 80 per cent said they are more pessimistic than they were last year.
  • 85 per cent indicated that the cost of farm inputs were a big problem, compared to 67 per cent who identified the price of wheat as a big problem and 39 per cent who mentioned lack of markets.


The CWB has strong farmer support

  • 76 per cent said they support the CWB, with 46 per cent indicating strong support. The increase in strong support is notably higher than the past two years.
  • 39 per cent said their impression of the CWB is more favourable compared to two years ago, while 44 per cent said it hadn't changed.
  • 71 per cent said the CWB's views were very or somewhat close to their own, the highest alignment out of a dozen groups listed – except in Manitoba, where 83 per cent identified with Keystone Agricultural Producers.
  • 72 per cent said they had more confidence in the CWB to protect their interests than a U.S. company.
  • 73 per cent disagreed that private grain companies have their best interests at heart.
  • 64 per cent agreed that they are against anything that would weaken the CWB.

Farmers are divided about marketing systems

  • Given the choice for wheat marketing between only the CWB single desk and an open market, 63 per cent said they would prefer retaining the CWB single desk.
  • Given three choices, 47 per cent said they would prefer a "dual market" for wheat, while 45 per cent would choose the CWB single desk. Only seven per cent would prefer an open market.
  • Support for "dual marketing" is driven by a desire for control over delivery opportunities and a belief that competition will increase the value of wheat.
  • More than six of 10 farmers are worried about marketing their own wheat without the CWB.


Broad support exists for an activist CWB

  • 85 per cent said it was important for the CWB to work with producers to create more value-added processing, 73 per cent said it was important for the CWB to brand western Canadian wheat as a unique, high-value product, 70 per cent said it was important for the CWB to advocate strongly for more government assistance for wheat and barley producers.
  • 79 per cent supported the CWB investing in joint ventures with producers to process Canadian wheat, 74 supported the CWB taking responsibility for marketing additional grains, 69 per cent supported the CWB completely breaking from the federal government.

*Note: Totals will not equal 100 because responses indicating "don't know" or refusals are not shown.