Extending information

[ValueChainFX]

grassfarmer, you are probably as right as rain! Although since we have a much more complex industry today than we had even a year ago, how can one have all the expertise needed to take advantage of the opportunities that exist today! Information is without a doubt one of the keys to success, however, the information needs to be in a form that can be understood by the people that can use it. We have long recognized the value of working with information and implementation of that information into our supply chain. Each link or bridge can make the supply chain stronger and more viable. We don't see the government as the sole keeper of the information keys; in fact the opposite is true. As business people linking information in today’s climate is the only way to compete with the big guys. There have been many people working towards this goal and we see the retail sector pushing for this now as well. That probably means we will see linking information streams with-in the next five years. The government and industry experts will soon share the information treasure chest with a new group that may be independent business people but link together through information that makes the whole supply chain work as a seamless continuum.

[rsomer]

"If the future of agriculture in Canada is to be what it ought to be, it has got to be encouraged." Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture, Duncan McLean 1920.

Government support of extension and information transfer is WTO green and not considered to be a subsidy for purposes of international trade.

Supporting the transfer and utilization of information to primary ag producers will not stifle enterprise but create a lasting competitive advantage that is sustainable. I do see the need to offer the information to producers in a form they trust and will embrace. Given the staff reductions in extension the time may be right to offer producers incentives to seek out private information providers. Doing so would increase the pool of experts available to the producer so the producer could choose an expert or experts they trust with the future of their farm, someone who would be available on an ongoing basis; and secondly it will encourage the development of an entrepreneurial group of people trained and skilled in providing the needed information. Doesn’t sound much like communism to me.

[cakadu]

Rsomer, I think you've hit the nail on the head. There is so much information out there that it is hard to sift through it and get the real picture, story, understanding - whatever you want to call it.

A person needs to be able to first and foremost trust the source(s) of information to be reliable, unbiased, current and representing as many sides/opinions/viewpoints as possible in order to make sound decisions based on the information.

We all have a right to information but along with the right comes the obligation to first seek it out, ask questions and understand it as fully as possible. Every generation has had their share of troubles and needed help making decisions based on the information that was available at the time.

There has probably never been a more opportune time to change how information is exchanged and turned into knowledge that will benefit the producer.