Other interested groups can join in April 2018
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
Five Manitoba farm organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work towards a merger.
Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers Association (MPSG), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Association are the groups involved.
Details of the new group’s intricacies are still being discussed.
“Our intention is to develop a future working relationship that is efficient, effective and advantageous to our members,” the MOU said. “Our vision is to work for the next year to develop a plan for merging into a common commodity organization consisting of like-minded grower groups.
“We are entering into this process with no predetermination of what this common commodity organization will eventually look like.”
But farmers should be optimistic about the potential merger, the groups say.
“This is the first step in a long process,” Jason Voth, chair of MPSG’s board of directors, said in a May 2 statement. “I am very pleased to hear that these groups are willing to work together. As a farmer, this makes sense. Good farming is about growing more than one crop (and) I represent one farm that grows multiple crops.”
The five organizations started discussing a merger in spring 2014. By November, a board of directors approved minimal investments into a potential merge.
Phase one of the merger is expected to be completed by April 2018, at which time other interested groups may join.
Farms.com has reached out to the groups involved for more insight into how the merger could impact farmers.