Canada, Winnipeg: The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) plans to export over 16.0 million metric tonnes of western Canadian wheat, durum and barley during the 2003-04 crop year, which began August 1, 2003 and ends July 31, 2004. By the end of May, it's expected that 85% of this export target will have been met, the CWB said on May 11.

At the end of December, the CWB had shipped 40% of its export target. "There is every indication the 85% target will be met," Louise Waldman, a spokeswoman with the CWB said.

Out of the 16 million tonnes export program, 11 million tonnes was expected to consist of wheat, 3 million of durum and 2 million of feed and malting barley. Demand from the Eastern Seaboard this season has remained strong, Waldman said. She acknowledged that there was an early start for the winter rail program, which ships product directly to the terminals on the St. Lawrence River from the western prairies.

"Unfortunately, we don't have a final tally on exactly how much grain was moved via the winter rail program," she said. High ocean freight costs resulted in the West Coast sales program getting off to a slower than usual start.

The CWB announced on May 13 that 2003-04 initial payments for wheat, durum, feed and designated barley will increase effective May 19, 2004. For feed barley, the increase in initial payments will be $22 per tonne, while the increase for designated barley will be $15 per tonne.