Commissions get the green light to hold farmer plebiscite on amalgamation
The past winter meeting season was noteworthy for numerous reasons. For many, it brought the first in-person meetings in nearly two years. For the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions it brought promise and a green light to proceed with a farmer plebiscite on amalgamating the two crop commissions.
To recap, the commissions have been exploring the idea of a formal amalgamation for years. The two commissions have shared a management team since 2018 unlocking synergies, increasing collaboration and cost-savings for farmers.
The commissions began consultations on amalgamation with Alberta wheat and barley farmers in July of 2021. The commissions opened consultations with an online survey, followed by a series of online town halls sessions in October, and in-person dialogue during Regional Meetings in November.
During the in-person Regional Meetings around the province, farmer members brought forward resolutions for both commissions to conduct a farmer plebiscite on the topic.
“We were pleased to learn that by the time Regional Meetings rolled around, farmers from around the province were well aware of the topic and discussion on amalgamation,” says Tara Sawyer, Alberta Barley chair. “This was indicative that the consultations that summer and fall successfully garnered awareness and input from farmers on amalgamation.”
Are you curious to know what we heard during the consultations? Visit wheatbarleyconsultation.com to see the survey results and frequently asked questions.
The resolutions later went to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for both Alberta Barley and the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) on December 8, 2021 and January 26, 2022, respectively. The motions passed at both AGMs indicating for the commissions to take the next step in the process and conduct a farmer plebiscite to determine the future of the organizations.
In accordance with Marketing Council, the commissions will be hosting two plebiscites; one for each commissions’ farmer members. The commissions and Marketing Council are currently working on further details and plebiscite logistics for 2022. The commissions have been working extensively with Marketing Council on this file since 2018.
“The exploration work that took place in 2020-21 was very insightful as we uncovered additional synergies and efficiencies that could be realized through a formal amalgamation,” says Greg Sears, AWC chair. “While we have taken prudent steps to get to this point, the future of the two commissions is up to Alberta’s wheat and barley farmers. We strongly encourage to continue to stay engaged and participate in the plebiscite in 2022.”
Farmers can learn more about amalgamation by visiting wheatbarleyconsultation.com where you can learn about the history of the commissions, the proposed model, frequently asked questions, survey results, and more.