Canada: CWB Pool Return Outlook for feed and malting barley

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) released on May 27 its Pool Return Outlook (PRO) for the 2004-05 crop year. For feed barley, Pool B is up C$1 per tonne, with the recent weakness in the Canadian dollar bolstering export returns slightly. Pool returns for designated barley are unchanged, as dwindling supplies of malting barley in Canada and Australia have been offset somewhat by old crop supplies and approaching new crop production from the EU-25.

The CWB released on May 27 as well its monthly Pool Return Outlook (PRO) for the 2005-06 crop year. The Pool A feed barley PRO is up C$1 per tonne as a result of the weaker projected Canadian dollar. Pool returns for designated barley have increased by $1 per tonne as firm global malting barley demand is expected in 2005-06. Ongoing dryness concerns in parts of Australia continue to provide support to global fundamentals.

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is a farmer-controlled organization that markets wheat and barley grown by western Canadian producers. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the CWB is the largest single seller of wheat and barley in the world, holding more than 20 per cent of the international market.

The CWB is one of Canada's largest exporters, with annual sales revenue of between C$4 billion and C$6 billion on more than 20 million tonnes of grain sold to over 70 countries worldwide. All sales revenue, less the costs of marketing, is returned to western Canadian farmers. The CWB is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors, with 10 directors elected by western Canadian grain growers and five appointed by the Government of Canada.