Proposed merger worries barley growers

After taking baby steps toward amalgamating two of Alberta’s grower groups, the province’s wheat and barley commissions are getting ready to take the leap to fully merge.

The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and Alberta Barley Commission merged much of their respective administrations in 2018 and talks have been ongoing since to do the same with the boards in a move that would fully integrate the two organizations.

During a virtual town hall consultation on Oct. 21, concerns focused on the smaller barley growers being squeezed out by their larger wheat farmer cousins.

While many cereal farmers grow both crops, AWC chair Todd Hames and his counterpart Tara Sawyer from Alberta Barley spent most of the consultation session reassuring producers of barley that their interests wouldn’t be minimized.

If anything, both commission chairs told participants barley stood to gain the most when it comes to use of check-off dollars that would go to research rather than administrative budgets.

“With the difference in revenue between wheat and barley, there’s more than likely more money coming to, that’s available for barley to use on bigger projects,” said Hames.

The AWC chair highlighted similar concerns raised during amalgamation of the differing wheat organizations that ended up benefiting the farmers as a whole.

“We just put all the wheat revenue in one pot and we find the projects that are providing value to farmers,” said Hames of the current system.

The administrative merger saw $350,000 in savings, according to the commissions, and they expect the same amount to be saved by reductions in duplicating annual audits, travel and accommodations.

But questions remain on many of the details, such as how the merger will ensure representation from both wheat and barley interests, transparent accounting to ensure check-off dollars are equitably dispersed and maintaining the voice of each crop in addressing government.

The response from Sawyer and Hames was consistent.

“Together, you have more power,” said the AWC chair, particularly when it comes to advocacy at governmental levels. Hames said too many voices can leave none heard.

“I believe by making us a larger organization, having more to say and getting it all done at once, we can maybe get their attention better and speak as a stronger voice,” he said.

Sawyer said that particular issue has been discussed in detail and there has long been co-ordination between the two organizations when approaching government.

“That voice is not going to change because it has gone down to one because it’s still the same representation in terms of the messaging we are bringing forward on behalf of our producers,” said Sawyer.

For the amalgamation to be complete, several things must happen.

A resolution will need to be developed and agreed to on a regional level before being voted on at each commission’s annual general meetings.

If approved at that level, an interim board made up of six board members from each of the commissions would be appointed by next fall and that board must finalize governance details.

The interim board would be in place until a full board election in 2023.