02/22/05 Merger fails at U.S. Wheat Associates

02/22/05 Merger fails at U.S. Wheat Associates

Farm and Ranch February 22, 2005 National wheat industry organizations have been meeting in Reno, Nevada where the major issue is the merger of U.S. Wheat Associates, the National Association of Wheat Growers and the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee or WETEC. But by the slimmest of margins, the industry will not be consolidating, at least not right now. U.S. Wheat's board of directors actually voted in favor of consolidation, 70 to 40 votes, on a simple majority ballot, but then when they moved to a membership ballot, a two-thirds majority was needed. Kisling: "Percentages are for the vote, 65.4 yes, 34.6 no. Motion fails." That was chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates Keith Kisling, who says he is hopeful the industry can get past this vote and continue to try and work more closely together in the days to come. The National Association of Wheat Growers holds its board of directors meeting today and its president, Mark Gage had this comment on the U.S. Wheat vote. Gage: 'It is a little disappointing that consolidation didn't pass, but all these groups in the future, whether it passes or doesn't, will have to work in the best interests of the grower It may be that proponents of consolidation will be able to raise the issue again at the summer board of directors meeting of U.S. Wheat Associates scheduled for Oklahoma City. They are hoping to scrape together a few more votes. There have been three committees over the past three years working on a wheat industry consolidation plan. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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