News

Commodity Groups Renew Commitment to Explore Working Together

Carman, MB – May 1 Five grower organizations have signed a second Memorandum of Understanding, with a renewed and focused commitment to delivering more value to Manitoba farmers through working together.

Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers (MPSG), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) signed the MOU Tuesday.

“We heard from some farmers, but we want to hear from more of you,” said NSAC President Mark McDonald, referring to the feedback heard during the regional meetings that took place late 2017 and the comments made during each group’s Annual General Meeting in February. “There were some concerns – which was to be expected – some praise and a lot of questions. We’ve got more work to do, but one thing is clear. We think it’s important to continue this process, developing a powerful and specific mandate for delivering more value to Manitoba’s farmers.”

The steering committee comprised of farmer-director representatives from each group as well as the executive directors or general managers of each association, will use the feedback it has received from farmers to amend the proposal released in 2017 with the aim of once again hosting regional feedback meeting along the way.

It is the mandate of the steering committee to identify and explore opportunities that will benefit the various memberships, such as how working together could increase research and agronomy services for farmers, as well as enhance capacity to leverage grower investment dollars. The group is similarly committed to entertaining other collaborative options, including models that don’t include legal amalgamation.

“We share a common goal to represent the best interests of our members,” reads the new MOU. “Our intention is to develop a future working relationship that is efficient, effective and advantageous to the farmers we represent. Our vision for the duration of this MOU is to further develop a plan for increased collaboration among like-minded grower groups.”

The original MOU was signed in May of 2017, the culmination of three years of informal talks surrounding the idea of working together to increase efficiencies.

Four of the five involved groups currently share office space in Carman, Manitoba. While MFGA does not have a physical space in the Carman facility, the association is being administered by MPSG.

Manitoba farmers who grow the crops represented in this MOU are encouraged to get involved and have their voices heard by reaching out to one of the participating commodity groups or by contacting process facilitator Rob Hannam: rob@mbcrops.ca. For additional information, visit mbcrops.ca.

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 For more information, please contact:

Toban Dyck
Director of Communications
Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers
204.227.8875
toban@manitobapulse.ca

Pam de Rocquigny
General Manager
Manitoba Corn Growers and Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers
204.745.6661
pam@mbwheatandbarley.ca