The Canadian Wheat Board

The Canadian Wheat Board
Author: Andrew Schmitz
Publisher: University of Regina Press
Total Pages: 348
Release: 2000
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780889771345

The Canadian Wheat Board is a monopoly seller of western Canadian wheat, durum, and barley for human consumption, and feed wheat for export. In this study, the authors first examine Canada's position in the world wheat & barley markets and the Board's role relative to multinational grain companies (MGCs). Chapter 3 presents the regulatory framework governing the Canadian grain industry. The single- desk selling concept of the Board is examined from a theoretical perspective in chapter 4. This chapter also describes the structure of the world wheat & barley trade in which MGCs play key roles. Recent changes in government policies in the US, the European Union, and Canada are discussed in chapter 5. Chapter 6 discusses state trading in grain, the World Trade Organization (WTO) attempts to discipline state trading enterprises, and the Board's impact on trade in the WTO context. Chapter 7 covers the numerous confrontations concerning Canada-US grain trade. Chapter 8 focuses on the debate over creation of a dual market for feed barley. Chapter 9 examines the Charter of Rights case brought against the Board by barley producers & organizations. The focus of chapter 10 is grain transportation, its regulatory framework, and the Board's roles in the grain transportation system. Chapter 11 examines the Board's economic performance. Chapter 12 discusses the marketing of flax and canola in order to better understand how the Board can achieve price premiums and eliminate inefficiencies when marketing grains. The Board's ability to introduce additional price & marketing flexibility is discussed in chapter 13, including the implications of providing the option for using futures markets. Chapter 14 explores the debate over dual marketing and its viability for western Canadian grain producers. The final chapter draws overall conclusions.

Local Food Systems; Concepts, Impacts, and Issues

Local Food Systems; Concepts, Impacts, and Issues
Author: Steve Martinez
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 87
Release: 2010-11
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1437933629

This comprehensive overview of local food systems explores alternative definitions of local food, estimates market size and reach, describes the characteristics of local consumers and producers, and examines early indications of the economic and health impacts of local food systems. Defining ¿local¿ based on marketing arrangements, such as farmers selling directly to consumers at regional farmers¿ markets or to schools, is well recognized. Statistics suggest that local food markets account for a small, but growing, share of U.S. agricultural production. For smaller farms, direct marketing to consumers accounts for a higher percentage of their sales than for larger farms. Charts and tables.