Second class citizens?

[kato]

Properly designed and bankable. Now that's the million dollar question. Cattle producers have no access to such a program.

But grain growers do. They have crop insurance, which is as close to predictable as it is possible to get.

Yet in this case, grain growers get help, and cattle producers don't, even though they are all standing in the same water, losing money, and watching their pastures and hayfields drown.

[ProFarmer]

You should have come to realize that grain farmers only work 2 months of the year and whine for the rest either in canada or in their winter getaway down south. Cattle farmers are to busy trying to produce our product for nothing for an uncaring consumer who is willing to go offshore in a heartbeat if they can't get their food from Safeway..

[burnt]

"mcfarms Reply posted Jul 14, 2010:13 Kato
Ever hear of a fellow named Darwin, you either evolve or you die off it's been going on for more than a couple years. And it applies to business as well as it applies to nature."

mcfarms - it will be interesting to see how long a person can maintain that cavalier attitude (based on a highly doubtful theory, by the way) when it's their neck on the chopping block.

[mcfarms]

Burnt
Don't know I'll let you know when it happens? But based on the fact we've been here for over 100 years and we've never been stronger or more financially secure than we are right now you might have to wait a while.

Read my posting on the commodity side about why these ad hoc programs are going to hurt us all in the long run and then tell me how I should think.
I am adamantly against ad hoc farm support programs of any type as it allows what are supposed to be the properly designed programs to escape scrutiny and improvement.

[grassfarmer]

I kind of understand your logic mcfarms but it appears to be skewed. You talk of Darwinism - evolution with survival of the fittest - but with Government help. You still support programs but like to pick and choose which you like which you don't.
The starting point of this thread was Kato posting a Siemans essay based on what the Saskatchewan Cattle organisation was asking for. That is the part that annoys me. These commodity organisations boast like you that they are all about free enterprise and don't want the Government involved yet are happy to be involved in negotiating "acceptable programs" as part of their mandate. Unfortunately organisations like ABP are so stupid they fought tooth and nail to raise the Agristability cap per business from $500,000 to $4 million and are then surprised when there are not enough funds to go around so then go to Government on bended knee asking for Ad Hoc programs to help producers get through.
Why don't they, or you, instead go after fixing the real problems - the captive supply, the retail and packer concentration, the ineffective competition bureau? If you did that you wouldn't need programs period. Then you could truly claim to be free market, non subsidised producers. That is what I support not rhetoric about free market solutions that are anything but.

[kato]

Could you please enlighten the rest of us as to how you've managed to achieve a financial position that is stronger than it's ever been?

I'd really like to know.

[T.N.T.]

Sorry i didn't respond yesterday,i took the boys fishing to get there minds off of things.Now in response to grassfarmer i hate doing paperwork and i don't believe in ad hoc programs,agristability or any of that other crap,so i couldn't be bothered doing them.Also everytime you fill out one of those programs they want to know exactly what you have,well that is up to me and my family to know,none of there damn business!!The only insurance i carry on my farm is crop insurance and hail insurance,and that i pay for so i know i have some coverage.As for you Kato i did sign off on that class action settlement.I think that is one of the biggest jokes yet,but everyone needs something to believe in to keep them moving forward.So i hope if there is a payment for that suit,you get mine.

[T.N.T.]

I couldn't agree with you more ProFarmer,cows might not be paying a lot of bills right now.But i would rather have my cows around and be able to classify myself as a cattleman,then to classify myself as strictly a grain farmer.How embarrassing wouldn't that be!!

[kato]

OK, so you guys make your living from your grain farms, and are embarrassed to call yourselves grain farmers, so you keep cows on the side, at a loss, so you can call yourselves cattle producers. And in the meantime, advocate for the removal of ad hoc programs to assist cattle producers.

mmm....

Sit and think about just what that sounds like to full time 100% cattle producers who depend on cattle and only cattle for their livings.

There are lots of us out there.

[T.N.T.]

I didn't say that,i would call myself a grain farmer,if most of them weren't a bunch of whinning cry babys and always wanting the goverment to come to there rescue.I have always preferred my cows over my land.I have always had more respect for any cattleman then any grain farmer.