Winter Cereals MB Joins Amalgamation Discussion

Winter Cereals Manitoba Inc. (WCMI) has joined with four other grower organizations to explore a potential amalgamation.

“As the WCMI board of directors looked to the future of winter cereals in Manitoba, the time was right to join the discussion with fellow commodity groups to explore a potential amalgamation with the understanding that membership will make the decision,” said Doug Martin, chair of WCMI.

WCMI directors Doug Martin and Allan Olinyk will join the steering committee consisting of directors and staff from the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA).

In February 2018, Winter Cereals Manitoba contracted NSAC and MWBGA to lead their day to day operations, research activities, and communications with membership and stakeholders.

“We are excited to have Winter Cereals Manitoba join the steering committee,” shares Eric Fridfinnson, chair of the Manitoba Flax Growers. “The steering committee members were always willing to work with other commodity groups, who shared the goals of delivering value to farmers through an administratively efficient organization that focused on research, market development and service to its farmer members.”

The steering committee continues to incorporate feedback heard at regional meetings held in January and the annual general meetings in February 2018. An amended proposal exploring legal amalgamation into one organization will be released in December 2018.

It will include revised board and governance structures, an organizational chart, budget allocations, timelines, and the legal process to legally amalgamate.

The farmer-led steering committee is also determining the next steps to ensure an adequate consultation period for members to review the proposal, including providing details when and how a membership vote would occur.