Speaking at the joint convention of the Western Barley Growers Association and the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association Minister Strahl said: "Voting packages for the plebiscite on marketing choice for barley have now been mailed out to eligible producers and I am encouraging all who are eligible to take the time to fill out the declaration form and ballot and to make your voices heard on this question."

To be eligible, you must have produced grain in 2006 and must have produced barley in at least one of the years between 2002 and 2006.

"I want to be clear that this plebiscite is open to all barley producers in the Canadian Wheat Board designated area including those who did not sell their barley to the CWB, but who may have grown barley for use on their own farm as feed or seed, or sold it to a feed lot," said Minister Strahl.

Producers who believe they are eligible to vote and have not yet received a voter package, are encouraged to contact the election co-ordinator before March 2 at 1-888-3BARLEY (1-888-322-7539) or at http://www.2007barleyvote.ca to make arrangements to have a package mailed to them.

Ballots, as well as a completed declaration form, must be returned to the election co-ordinator postmarked no later than March 13.

Canada's New Government is committed to moving forward with providing marketing choice to western barley farmers, allowing them to maximize their returns, while at the same time, preserving a strong, voluntary Canadian Wheat Board.

For more information on marketing choice, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/cwb.

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