Photo by File Photo December 15, 2020 (Saskatoon, SK; Carman, MB; Calgary, AB) – The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), and Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) are concerned that a recent Canadian Press article inaccurately reflects the impact of the price of wheat on rising food costs in Canada. The article reported on the projections in Canada s Food Price Report 2021, which indicated that bakery products are likely to rise 3.5 to 5.5 percent in 2021. A quote within the article says that the cost of wheat rose 50 percent in the past 18 months, with this increase being a significant driver of food cost increases.
No smoking gun when it comes to food-price hikes
The quickest way to get the farmers riled up is to suggest the price of food is going up because grain prices are higher. Say it once, and watch the rosy burn creeping up their cheeks. Say it twice and look out.
Opinion
The quickest way to get the farmers riled up is to suggest the price of food is going up because grain prices are higher. Say it once, and watch the rosy burn creeping up their cheeks. Say it twice and look out.
Within days after the 2021 version of Canada’s Food Price Report forecasted a three- to five-per cent increase, social media channels were lighting up and farm organizations were pumping out press releases to say don’t blame farmers for your grocery bill.
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By Jim Smalley
Dec 15, 2020 2:37 PM
The three prairie wheat commissions are challenging a report on the impact of wheat prices on food costs.
The latest Canada Food Price Report for 2021 sees bakery products rising 3.5 to 5.5 percent.
A quote in an article pointed to the rising cost of wheat.
But the 3 prairie wheat commissions question the data.
Quoting StatsCan, the average farmgate price for wheat was 3.3 percent lower in October 2020 than in April, 2019.
The data also shows a decrease in the value of grains of 2.7 percent from April 2019 to September, 2020.
SaskWheat chair Brett Halstead says the article’s price changes are misleading and do not reflect the on-farm prices wheat producers are receiving for their grain.