Farmers now have a more flexible option for buying out a Canadian Wheat Board delivery contract.

"Previously, farmers only had an opportunity to get out of their contract at the end of the crop year and they would be charged liquidated damages," explains David Gallant, CWB manager of farmer programs. "Now what we've given them is the opportunity to buy out the contract or transfer it to another producer during the crop year."

The farmer must reimburse the CWB at a rate that is set daily, plus a $25 administration fee. The rate is based on the cost to the pool from loss of the contracted grain.

The new program is an option for growers who know they will be short on their contracts, or those who may have harvested a lower-quality crop than expected.