Second class citizens?

[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.

[kato]

Good to hear.

[rkaiser]

Interesting that you think the class action is a big joke TNT. You did not have to sign on as every cattle producer is included,but you surely have the right to sign off. Have you?

Why do you feel it is a joke TNT?

[T.N.T.]

Yes i have signed off Randy.Why do i think it is a big joke,because the goverment doesn't care about us cattleman,they never have and they never will!!The goverment allowed the big corporations to keep buying out all the little slaughter plants until we only have 2 left and no other competition and they are in full control now.I hope you guys do win your lawsuit and are rewarded well for your long fight,but when it comes to our goverment they will just find a way to get out of it.And if they do admit you are right,you will each get maybe a couple of thousand and get sent on your merry way.We lost control of our cattle industry a long time ago,and i doubt we will ever get it back!!I sure hope you can prove me wrong though,before the boys take over the farm completly,and this will be just another one of those grain farms.

[smcgrath76]

I am not a fan of Ad Hoc programs, but I
still like getting cheques in the mail
(CAPRI anyone?). I think that there are
very few effective risk management
programs for cattle producers, however
there is also somewhat less risk in many
ways. It is not often that a hail storm
will take out my entire calf crop for
example.
One program that I think works well is
the Alberta moisture insurance program.
It is reasonably bankable, affordable
and insures hay, pasture and greenfeed
crops. Payments are also reasonably
timely.
I think control of the industry as a
whole has gone to 2 and most likely is
headed towards a single player. I think
that a lot of producer organizations,
based on their funding base cannot speak
out for the sector on the ground, but
also that the folks on the ground are
seldom cooperative with those up the
chain so to speak or with each other.
This serves to put a lot of producers
who I highly respect, that volunteer or
are paid for their time in a no win
position, and prevents others from
speaking out, further disabling
effective producer organizations.
I think government needs to be involved
in some areas and needs to get out of
the way in others, but I think the whole
industry needs to be ground driven.
Further, as a ranching only business, we
are doing OK, but I do envy the
grainfarmer who can always have lower
overheads and cheaper feed on his cattle
enterprise than I...

[rookie]

Darwins theory of evolution never took into account the boys getting the farm...

That hardly guarentees survival of the fittest.

The basic problem of not being able to wring more money out of the product we all sell will remain by the looks of things.

And how interesting that there will be a big population of survivors carrying on with equity from the past . How long will they last? Is the problem still there?

There is , and always will be that evolution, but as far as I am concerned, too great a population that wasn't the the actual fittest.

Having said that, life was never fair, but it sure is amusing reading some of the posts here ( but more so on the commodity pages......)

[burnt]

Well said, rookie. Very, very well said.

[mcfarms]

We actually have a number of friends and neigbours that are the girls that wanted too farm in one case an only child who has 2 big operations spread out over a large area and is someone I have great respect for both as a producer and a person. Your remarks are not only out of touch but demeaning towards women.
Two of the largest best run farming companies around these parts have women as either president or CFO and they really call the shots.
If I told you that my parents had 100 dollars in their bank account and my father went through some pretty hard times when he was a boy you still wouldn't get it. But if you fail to adapt and run your operation and see changes as they come at you then you will failas a business person and then maybe you will get it. Though you will still likely blame everyone else but yourself.

[burnt]

Well gee, mcfarms, who'da ever thought that it would be convenient for a country boy to hide behind feminist lingo!

I thought most of us were past that.

[mcfarms]

Guess your not huh? And I wasn't the one running down women as producers.

[mcfarms]

easy to snipe huh burnt lets hear your take on the ad hoc programs and whether or not they are good for the industry?