Growing Together
Welcome to Alberta Grains, the soon-to-be amalgamated commission formed by the joining of Alberta Barley and Alberta Wheat Commission this August. Our goal is to provide a stronger voice for the grain industry in Alberta, by combining the strengths and expertise of both organizations to better serve the needs of our stakeholders.
Alberta Grains is committed to advancing and promoting the interests of 18,000 wheat and barley farmers in the province. We will continue to foster innovation, research and development, and sustainability in the agriculture sector. By bringing together the best of both commissions, our aim is to leverage the combined resources, knowledge and experience to deliver unparalleled value to farmers.
We understand that the grain industry is rapidly evolving, and we want to assure our stakeholders that we remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of governance. We will continue to engage with farmers to ensure their voices are heard and that their needs are being met.
With the amalgamation of Alberta Barley and Alberta Wheat Commission, we are excited to embark on this new chapter of our journey. We believe that the formation of Alberta Grains will position us for even greater success in the years to come, and we thank our farmers for their continued support.
For more information about Alberta Grains and how we can help you as a grain producer, please contact us today.
General and producer enquiries:
Mark Olson
P. 403-519-5830 | Email
Communications and media enquiries:
Harley Groeneveld
P. 403-219-7906 | Email
New Name. New Look. Same Commission.
To aid in the communication and marketing efforts for this newly amalgamated commission, a new logo has been developed for Alberta Grains. This logo pays tribute to the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions’ brands and symbolizes their growing together as one entity. As we work to fully transition the commission over the next couple of months, we request that you begin using the new Alberta Grains logo. The guidelines and logo files can be accessed through the link below.
Click here to download the Alberta Grains logo guidelines and files
For questions about using our branding or any other questions related to our guidelines just email us.
Background
The commissions have invested over five years in this process. Starting with implementing a shared management structure, consulting with a farmer sub-committee and engaging the province’s wheat and barley farmers in a dialogue via formal consultations. On November 2, 2022, Alberta wheat and barley farmers the positive results from the two plebiscites were announced in favour of amalgamating the commissions.
Over the years, this unified management structure has resulted in significant cost savings upwards of $350,000 annually.
These savings have allowed the commissions to advance key areas such as agronomic extension, research and communication initiatives.
Interim Board
An interim board has been selected to guide the amalgamated commissions through the initial months leading into elections during November’s regional meetings. This board has been selected by Marketing Council to represent both commodities through the transition into one commission.
Tara Sawyer
Chair
Acme
Jason Lenz
Vice-Chair
Bentley
Scott Jespersen
Second Vice-Chair
Spruce Grove
Dave Bishop
Barons
Devin Hartzler
Didsbury
Dean Hubbard
Claresholm
Clint Jacula
Derwent
Shawn Jacula
Vermilion
Connie Matson
Wetaskiwin
Roy Newman
Blackie
Greg Sears
Sexsmith
Sean Stanford
Magrath
This interim board was carefully selected to ensure equal representation across Alberta. Working together, they have helped usher in a new era of collaboration between commodities, working towards benefiting farmers in our province.
Governance
In November, the membership will vote-in the first permanent board of the amalgamated crop commissions. The new board structure of the commission will consist of two directors from six different regions within Alberta. The 12 directors will be elected during regional meetings held in November. Only eligible producers who carry on the production of barley, wheat, or both commodities within the region are eligible to vote in the election of directors.
Our Past
Prior to 2018, the two commissions operated independently with separate teams but shared finance, human resources, administration staff as well as office space.
In September 2017, the commissions’ boards decided to enter into a pilot project to explore the idea of a single team to manage both commissions. The two boards recognized areas of overlap such as policy, market development, research, extension, events and communications, and agreed to test the concept of operating as a joint management team.
Upon amalgamating the staff, the commissions quickly realized additional synergies such as the ability to collaboratively fund an agronomy extension programs, share event spaces, heighten their kids' education efforts and partner on enhanced communication initiatives.
The catalyst
In November of 2018 at the Alberta Wheat Commission's Region 2 meeting in Strathmore, a resolution was passed by farmers that read:
Whereas: the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Barley are currently operating with a shared management team and have successfully demonstrated the potential efficiencies and synergies an integrated organization can provide to producers and ensure that producers’ levies are used to greatest benefit.
Be it resolved: that Alberta Barley complete a comprehensive review of the potential to formally merge the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Barley and if appropriate, conduct a producer plebiscite to obtain member approval for a merger.
The resolution was passed by both commissions at their respective annual general meeting events which allowed the process of amalgamation to move forward.
Consultations
As directed by the boards of the two commissions, farmers were requested to give their opinions on the potential merger of the two commissions into one formal entity. Held during the fall of 2021, the consultations were an opportunity for Alberta wheat and barley farmers to contribute their input on the topic.
The commissions held farmer consultations through an online survey, two online sessions in October and Regional Meetings in November.
Plebiscite
Alberta Barley and the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) announced in August of 2022 that two plebiscites would be held during the month of October for farmers to determine the future of the organizations. Alberta barley and wheat farmers were asked to vote on whether they support or do not support Alberta Barley and AWC formally amalgamating to form a single crop commission.
In collaboration with Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council (Marketing Council) and the third-party election advisor, MNP, two plebiscites were held: one for barley growers, and one for wheat growers. Since the two commissions are established with separate Plan Regulations under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act and are separate legal entities, two plebiscites were required.
On November 2, 2022, the commissions published a press release with the outcome of the plebiscites. With overwhelming support from both wheat and barley farmers, the commissions began walking the critical path forward to amalgamation.
Click here to view the November 2, 2022 press release.