Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
July 15, 2003

The deadline for farmers who wish to opt out of the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds administered by Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) is August 31, 2003, for the 2002-2003 crop year.

Those producers who choose to opt out will not be eligible for the federal government's Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit.

The Wheat and Barley Check-off Fund is funded directly by farmers and has become a major force in wheat and barley breeding, says Lorence Peterson, Foundation Executive Director. "The Funds are deducted from the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) final payment to producers at $0.20/tonne for wheat and $0.40/tonne for barley, and generate nearly $5 million annually to western Canadian wheat and barley breeding programs. The exception is barley in Alberta, which is covered by a separate provincial check-off."

For farmers who choose to opt out, the process is simple but specific. To opt out, producers must be CWB certificate holders (have delivered grain to CWB in the crop year) and notify the WGRF office of their intent to opt out, in writing, either by letter or by fax. The address is Western Grains Research Foundation 210 - 111 Research Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 3R2. The fax number is (306) 975-0316.

The notice must include: producer CWB ID number, crop year, name as it appears on the CWB permit book and full mailing address. Correspondence must be postmarked no later than August 31 of the calendar year following the start of the crop year (August 31-July 31). Producers who provide this full notification will receive a confirmation letter from the Foundation within 30 days after notification is received.

The more than 90 percent of producers who support the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds are eligible to obtain tax benefits on check-off amounts used to support research and development.  For the 2002 tax year, 94 percent of wheat check-off and 92 percent of barley check-off is eligible to earn a tax credit. These are earned at a rate of 20 percent for individuals and 35 percent for corporate producers that are Canadian controlled private corporations.

For more information on the tax credit, the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds or Western Grains Research Foundation in general, visit the Foundation Web site at www.westerngrains.com or contact the Foundation office by phone at (306) 975-0060.