1880s and 1890s:
Farmer’s Union and Patrons of Industry pass out of existence because of financial losses and use of the organizations for political purposes.
1887
Winnipeg Grain Exchange formed.
680 acre experimental farm established at Indian Head, SK.
1897
Crow's Nest Pass Agreement establishes fixed rates for movement of grain on the prairies.
1900
Manitoba Grain Act passed.
North-West Grain Dealers’ Association formed.
1901 / 1902
Territorial Grain Growers’ Association (TGGA) formed.
Farmers win landmark case at Sintaluta.
1903
Winnipeg Grain Exchange begins trading on the futures market.
1905
Formation of the Province of Saskatchewan.
TGGA renamed Saskatchewan Grain Growers’ Association (SGGA).
1906
Grain Growers’ Grain Company formed; shortly thereafter is kicked out of Winnipeg Grain Exchange for paying dividends to members.
1908
SGGA incorporated by Act of Saskatchewan Legislature.
1910
Saskatchewan government appoints Grain Commission Inquiry.
1911
Under statute and financial assistance of the Saskatchewan government, the Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator Company (SCECo) is founded.
First SK Association of Homemakers' Club formed in Regina.
1912
The Canadian Grain Act passed by federal government, establishing the Board of Grain Commissioners for Canada to arbitrate disputes in the grain industry.
University of Saskatchewan establishes its College of Agriculture.
1913
Alberta Farmer’s Co-operative Elevator Company founded.
Women’s Section of SGGA formed.
1914
Trading Department of the SGGA formed.
1916
First grain terminal established in Vancouver.
Women receive the right to vote in Saskatchewan.
1917
Grain Growers’ Grain Company and Alberta Farmer’s Co-operative Elevator Company merge to form United Grain Growers’ Ltd.
Saskatchewan Co-operative Creameries Ltd. and Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Insurance both formed this year.
1919
Dominion Government established Wheat Board to handle Canadian wheat as a war measure.
1920
Abolition of Wheat Board.
1921
Farmers’ Union of Canada established.
1923
Contract drive in Saskatchewan comes up short of 50% acreage mark.
Alberta forms Pool with 35% acreage.
1924
45,725 Saskatchewan farmers signed delivery contracts,
committing 6,333,000 acres to Pool. "Saskatchewan Co-operative Wheat Producers Ltd." is formed.
Manitoba also forms Pool.
The three prairie pools organize and control a single marketing agency: "Canadian Co-operative Wheat Producers Ltd." This body is quickly known as the Central Selling Agency.
1926
Saskatchewan Livestock Co-operative Marketing Association Ltd. organized.
Pool purchases SCECo, acquiring 451 country elevators and 3 terminals.
Pool acquires Regina head office.
1927
Farmers’ Union of Canada and SGGA merge, becoming United Farmers of Canada—Saskatchewan Section (UFC-SS).
1928
Assets and liabilities of UFC-SS Trading Department transferred to Saskatchewan Wholesale Society Ltd.
1929
Overpayment, Stock Market Collapse. Canadian government subsequently bails out the Pools and takes over marketing of unsold wheat inventories.
Saskatchewan Livestock Co-operative Marketing Association Ltd. changes name to Saskatchewan Co-operative Livestock Producers Ltd.
1930
Pool opens the shelves of its library to users.
Large carryover of 1929 crop.
1931
AJ McPhail dies.
Pool acquires Modern Press and takes over publication of the Western Producer, which it had sponsored since 1924.
1935
Establishment of Government Marketing Board.
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act passed.
1937
LC Brouillette dies.
JH Wesson becomes Pool President.
1939—1945
World War II.
1942
March-on-Ottawa
1943
Ottawa orders an end to wheat trading on the Winnipeg Grain Exchange, granting the Canadian Wheat Board a monopoly.
1944
Pool merges with financially troubled Saskatchewan Livestock Producers Ltd., name change to Saskatchewan Co-operative Producers Ltd.
Saskatchewan Federated Co-operatives Ltd. formed by the amalgamation of Consumers' Co-operative Refinery Ltd. and the Saskatchewan Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd.
1946
Farmer’s Strike.
1947
Pool enters into Vegetable Oil Processing.
1949
Pool enters into flour milling business.
UFC-SS restructured and renamed Saskatchewan Farmer’s Union (SFU).
Pool pays back 1929 overpayment loan, with interest.
1953
Pool's formal corporate title becomes "Saskatchewan Wheat Pool."
1957
Saskatchewan's 4-H Clubs established.
1963
Pool enters into Farm Services to supply feed, chemical, seed, etc.
Pool joins Alberta Pool and Federated Co-operatives Ltd. in creating Western Co-operative Fertilizer Ltd.
1969
Saskatchewan farmers build Vancouver Terminal.
Pool shuts down its library program.
1984
Canadian Co-operative Wheat Producers change their name
to Prairie Pools Inc.
Centre for the Study of Co-operatives opens at University of Saskatchewan (jointly
sponsored by the University and Province of Saskatchewan, Federated Co-operatives
Ltd., Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Credit Union Central of Saskatchewan).
1991
Gross Revenue Insurance Plan (GRIP) and Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) programs introduced jointly by federal and provincial governments.
1993
Pool diversifies, investing in several joint projects, upgrades and new ventures.
1995
Millions spent on facility upgrades.
Pool line of credit expanded to $300 million.
Pool announces plan to close 100 elevators over 3 years.
1996
Pool becomes publicly traded on Toronto Stock Exchange.
Abolition of the Crow’s Nest Pass Agreement
1997
Pool expands with joint ventures in Poland and Mexico.
$195 million spent on 16 high throughput grain handling and marketing centres, plus $40 million for 6 grain condo/terminals.
1998
Pool announces 170 additional elevator closures.
1999
CEO Loewen fired.
2000
Pool debt reaches record high at $1 billion.
Mayo Schmidt becomes CEO.
Pool sells interest in Polish Terminal and Robin’s Foods.
75 managers and 200 employees eliminated.
63 more elevators close.
2001
Pool sells all interests in XCAN Grain, Premium Brands and Heartland Livestock.
2002
Pool sells Western Producer, livestock operations, CSP Foods, feed mills and CanAmera Foods.
Pool cuts 200 positions, 40% at head office.
Merger of United Grain Growers’ and Agricore produces Agricore United, making SWP Canada’s second largest elevator system.
2003
CEO Schmidt announces that Pool is facing bankruptcy; after bondholders reject first proposal, banks and medium-term bondholders approve last minute debt-restructuring plan in early February.
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