The federal minister of agriculture said Tuesday some barley farmers will be able to vote on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board.

Chuck Strahl said barley farmers will be able to cast ballots in a plebiscite next year.

The move comes after a task force recommended this week that the federal government set up a voluntary wheat board. It proposed that the new board be set up within two years and be completely owned by farmers with no financial support from Ottawa.

Ken Ritter, chair of the Canadian Wheat Board, said that while the decision doesn't include wheat growers, it's a positive step.

"It's a bit piecemeal and certainly if any changes are contemplated for wheat we would hold the minister to holding a plebiscite prior to any changes there as well," said Ritter.

One of 13 farmers arrested after crossing the border with grain in protest in 1996 also lauded the move. 

"We all think the walls are coming down," Ike Lanier said at a rally Tuesday in Lethbridge to mark the 10th anniversary of the protest.

"It will not be long before we have our [grain marketing] freedom," he added.

The wheat board monopoly has long been a divisive issue for Prairie farmers. The federal minister said he has no immediate plans for a wheat plebiscite.

The task force recommended the monopoly on barley be removed first, followed by wheat six months later.

The Alberta Barley Commission has been opposed to the idea of a plebiscite.

"What's probably more important is if we get this Canadian Wheat Board election underway and if we get some marketing choice directors on board we can change the wheat board internally without having to go to all these plebiscites and extra costs," said Mike Lesley, the commission's general manager.

Strahl told a Commons committee in Ottawa a voters' list and questions will be announced after the board's elections this fall, with the plebiscite to be held next year.