Moose Jaw, SK, December 16, 2011- Farmers from Western Canada now have the freedom to market their own wheat or barley to the buyer of their choice following Royal Assent of the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act yesterday.

This means farmers will be able to make decisions in the best interest of the unique circumstances of their business, plus manage their cash flows and supply chain management better. Furthermore, an open market provides the excellent potential to attract new jobs and investment to the sector across Western Canada.

Passage of the law means farmers can begin to enter forward contracts with flour mills or grain companies as long as the delivery date is after August 1, 2012.

Working with the CWB, farmers, the grain value chain and provincial partners, the Government of Canada is implementing an orderly transition to market freedom which includes a viable, voluntary CWB, as part of an open and competitive Canadian grain market. The Act ensures that the CWB is assisted as it transitions into a private enterprise.

The CWB will be able to market all crops defined as grain under the Canada Grain Act, as of August 1, 2012. Before then, it can forward contract wheat, durum, barley, oats, rye, flaxseed, rapeseed and canola.