Farmers sticking with the Canadian Wheat Board welcomed some good news on Tuesday as the group reached handling agreements with all western Canadian grain companies.

The move is expected to allow farmers and producers the ability to deliver wheat, durum and barley through 10 companies in the West.

"The future is bright for CWB and the farmers we serve," White said in a statement. "We now have the necessary business arrangements in place to operate in the new grain-marketing environment."

Today's announcement includes agreements with Parrish & Heimbecker, Paterson Grain, Weyburn Inland Terminal, Prairie West Terminal, Providence Grain Group, Great Sandhills Terminal, North West Terminal, Lethbridge Inland Terminal, Westlock Terminal and Great Northern Grain.

An agreement has also been reached for CWB to access port terminal handling at the Alliance Grain Terminal in Vancouver. The move allows these companies to join the ranks of Viterra, which is in Portage la Prairie, Cargill, Richardson Pioneer, among others.

"Farmers themselves are the most important part of our confidence and future success. Their support is crucial, and we have every indication that they see a strong role for CWB in their business plans," said White.

The decision is of relative importance because the harvest is in full swing. According to the CWB, meetings, surveys and discussion have resulted in most farmers planning to contract a majority of their crop through CWB pools.

"The pools are an excellent risk-management tool for ensuring solid returns in a high-priced but volatile commodity market," White said.

More information on CWB contracts and grain-handling options can be found at www.cwb.ca/newera

jordan.maxwell@sunmedia.ca