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Canadian Sunflower Assn. Strikes Arrangement With Winter Cereals Manitoba

Monday, March 26, 2018
filed under: Marketing/Risk Management

Winter Cereals Manitoba Inc. (WCMI) has contracted with the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) and the National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) to lead those groups’ day-to-day operations, research activities and communications with membership and stakeholders.
       “The MWBGA’s core functions of research and market development, with support functions including administration and communications, are closely aligned with many of the key functions of WCMI,”?noted Doug Martin, WCMI chair.
       The management team is comprised of Darcelle Graham (NSAC), acting as executive director, with support from Pam de Rocquigny (MWBGA), Lori-Ann Kaminski (MWBGA) for research activity support, and Tammy Cote, administration support.
       The three associations have recognized future demands will require Manitoba commodity organizations working more collaboratively together to provide maximum value back to farmer members. “There are many natural synergies that exist currently between Winter Cereals Manitoba and MWBGA. We look forward to exploring how we can work more collaboratively together to benefit both spring and winter wheat producers in Manitoba,” said Fred Greig, MWBGA chair.
       “NSAC has been involved in exploring how commodity groups can increase collaboration for a number of years. This is a great example of how we are working together with fellow organizations to benefit Manitoba farmers,” stated the president of NSAC, Mark McDonald.
       Winter Cereals Manitoba will be based out of Carman, Manitoba, within the same building in which NSAC and MWBGA currently operate.
       Winter Cereals Manitoba, which represents about 1,150 winter cereal farmers, will continue to have its own board of directors and will maintain its strong relationship with the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission. WCMI uses checkoff dollars to grow the potential of winter cereals as profitable and sustainable crop choices for Manitoba through investments in research and market development.
         The National Sunflower Association of Canada, formed in 1996, has about 350 members from?Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario. Members include sunflower producers, oil- and confection-type buyers, exporters and processors, pesticide manufacturers and dealers, and seed industry representatives.