What is likely a surprise to no one who has seriously followed the ongoing soap opera of the future of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), the majority of farmers don't appear to want the change the Conservative government is bent on making happen.
The CWB recently released the results of a producers' plebiscite vote it conducted, something the Conservatives refused to undertake, because frankly they knew the results would not be favourable of their position on the issue.
Results from the farmer vote saw 22,764 Western Canadian wheat growers, or 62 per cent of those who voted, preferring to maintain single-desk marketing for wheat, compared to 38 per cent, or 14,059 respondents, who would prefer to sell their own wheat in an open market.
For barley, the vote was closer, with about 51 per cent of respondents, or roughly 6,300 barley growers wanting to sell food and malting barley through the single desk, compared to 49 per cent, or 6,014 respondents, who would prefer to sell into an open market.
Approximately 68,000 ballots were distributed to farmers with a voter turnout of about 56 per cent.
While that may not sound like a huge turnout, it is important to consider the Conservatives are ruling with a majority government based on 61.1 per cent of eligible voters casting votes in the last election, and in 2008 it was 58.8 per cent.
Add in the fact a number of farmers have likely tuned out the debate assuming that change is inevitable regardless of their votes, and the turnout is a significant one.
And, it does appear the vote of farmers is being dismissed by the Conservative government, which has to come as a surprise to no one.
Gerry Ritz, the federal minister of agriculture, was quick to state the plebiscite will not sway the Conservatives who will go ahead with plans to eliminate the board's single-desk marketing structure as of August 2012.
It is anticipated that legislation to eliminate the single-desk selling of the CWB will be introduced this fall.
There is a chance a voluntary CWB could arise from the ashes, where farmers can choose between pooling their grain or selling directly into an open market, although with key markets poached, the idea of pooled marketing would be hard pressed to work.
While it is important at times government lead, there are times they need to pause and consider if their vision serves the majority. In this case it is unlikely the majority share the Conservative viewpoint.
History will ultimately determine which side was right. Some I have talked to see a change as the way to prosperity, and for some it may be. For all though, it is unlikely.
Other farmers see change as handing farmer dollars to big grain companies. We will see.
The bottom line is, either way, the change will be a benchmark of change for Western Canadian wheat and barley growers.
