Agriculture committee  It's mandatory with the option of requesting a refund if the producer does not see value in what the organization is doing, or for whatever reason.

Agriculture committee  The check-off is 70¢ a tonne on every tonne of wheat sold. That is estimated to generate between $3 million and $4 million per year for the organization.

Agriculture committee  We have a strategic business plan which calls for about 60% of that revenue to be invested in research and market development initiatives.

Agriculture committee  The short answer is yes. We're in the process of having discussions with Ag for Life, an organization in Alberta that's trying to promote agriculture at multiple educational or grade levels.

Agriculture committee  You should have all of your stakeholders and players around the table, and if they can remain focused on the issue they're working on, I think we can achieve some positive things. What tends to happen is that we get numerous groups operating in isolation, and we don't really have the value chain partners having that debate and mapping out the direction they want to take.

Agriculture committee  Since August 1, from what we're hearing from the field, obviously there has been a big change in how wheat and barley have been marketed here in western Canada. Obviously it's a time of transition. Certain producers are having some difficulty, some angst, with it, but I would say the majority of producers are looking at it positively.

Agriculture committee  We're appreciative of the changes that have been made in the Canada Grain Act with respect to the operation of the Canadian Grain Commission, although we would like to see further changes implemented. Our organization intends to respond to the proposed fee increases, which we feel are excessive.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Actually, this is Rick Istead with the Alberta Wheat Commission. It isn't Brian Otto.

Agriculture committee  It's not a problem. Good morning, and thank you for allowing me this opportunity to introduce you to Canada's first all-wheat provincial producer commission and how we intend to participate in and help shape the wheat supply chain here in Canada. My name is Rick Istead and I'm the general manager of the Alberta Wheat Commission.