Recognizing ten years of the Alberta Wheat Commission

Harley Groeneveld, Marketing Communications Specialist | Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions

Coinciding with the end of the Canadian Wheat Board, the Alberta Soft Wheat Producers and Alberta Winter Wheat Producers commissions merged in 2012 to form a single, unified organization representing Alberta wheat growers. The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) was formed on August 1, 2012, and has since grown to be a leader in Canadian agriculture persistently advancing farmers’ interests in the areas of research and innovation, policy and government relations, market development, agronomic solutions and farm business management.

For over 70 years, the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk-controlled farmers’ marketing options on their wheat and barley production. Alberta wheat and barley farmers were leaders in advocating for change and a better future for western Canadian farmers with more choice and competition.

AWC: The value-driven organization celebrates ten-years through many achievements including:

  • A research portfolio of $5 million annually to deliver improved wheat varieties and agronomic advancements for Alberta farmers.
  • A growing agronomy extension program to provide objective information to Alberta farmers.
  • A leader in expanding wheat markets as a founding member of Cereals Canada.
  • Leading the publishing of the Alberta Blue Book crop protection guide.
  • Advocating on behalf of Alberta farmers on provincial and national policy issues.
  • Launching and growing the FarmCash Advance Payments Program to better serve western Canadian producers on over 50 agriculture commodities.

 

“Ten years ago, we celebrated a day many questioned whether we would ever experience, my dad being one of them. For years I remembered him longing for the day he could sell his wheat and barley as he did other crops he grew. On August 1, 2012, that day finally came. It came as a result of years of work by farm organizations, individual farmers who went the extra mile to achieve change and a government that recognized the benefit an open market would bring not only to prairie farmers but to the whole nation.”

- Kevin Bender, former AWC chair

“When the AWC was formed it became the largest wheat organization in Canada. We began working right away with the Canada Grain Commission on the new classes of wheat and with Cigi on wheat quality for overseas Markets. AWC met many times with the Federal Ag Minister on the future of wheat. Many times, AWC was called on for advice, and I was told we were the Power House of the new wheat industry. It has been an honour to work with all companies involved in the wheat industry.”

- Gary Stanford, former AWC chair

“Whether promoting wheat products at the Calgary Stampede, advocating for reliable rail transportation in Ottawa or making the most of levy-funded research spending in collaborative partnerships, AWC has excelled at representing the interests of Alberta wheat producers. In a short ten years, AWC has become a respected and impactful leader in the agricultural landscape. The future looks bright for Alberta wheat.”

- Greg Sears, current AWC chair

“Looking back on the past 10 years, the AWC’s research portfolio and what they’ve been able to accomplish through partnerships with government or private industry, supporting researchers and breeders in Alberta or marketing and development in conjunction with other organizations has truly maximized the value on return for farmers in Alberta. I’m very proud of how our organization has developed into a mature and leading organization in Western Canada.”

- Kent Erickson, AWC founding chair

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