The votes have been cast in the barley plebiscite that could shape the future of grain marketing on the Prairies.

Tuesday was the final day for Prairie farmers to mail in their ballots for the plebiscite on the role of the Canadian Wheat Board in exporting barley.

It's a highly controversial topic in farm country. Some farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba support the Winnipeg-based board selling their grain, while others want the option of selling it elsewhere.

Accounting firm KPMG will begin hand-counting the ballots March 24, said KPMG's Jeff Thomas, who has been involved in overseeing the vote.

"Our expectation at this point is that there will be a scrutineer process in place," Thomas said.

The plan is to have a final tally by the end of the month, Thomas said. However, it will be the federal government, not KPMG, releasing the results.

Although 80,000 ballots were sent out, the participation rate isn't known yet, he said.

'Single desk' system

Under what's called the "single desk" system, the Canadian Wheat Board has a monopoly on barley exports and on the domestic sale of barley for human consumption.

The Conservative government wants to give farmers the freedom to choose who sells their grain, starting with barley.

It's offered three options, including the status quo, allowing others to market barley in addition to the board and allowing others to market barley but not the board.

A plebiscite on wheat — on which the board also has a Prairie export monopoly — is expected at a later date, although nothing has been announced.

Some farmers say having the choice of where to sell their grain will give them access to the best spot prices. Other farmers say they already get the best prices through the board and if the board goes, they'll be more vulnerable to the fluctuations of the market.