Highland Cattle

[JD4ME]

Actually it's a good point Vader, perhaps next time I see a director or an FBR I may ask them to bring it forward for clarification. I do agree with Ianben as absurd as it is if you stop and think about it I'm afraid we may eventually see better value in research into alternative uses for our products than the dollars that we could invest in new food based products.

[PureCountry]

Been busy for a couple days, not surprised at some of the comments. Cowman, I too appreciate your point of view most of the time. However, I said what I felt and that's just plain honesty. I had no intention of insulting you, just telling you what I thought of your comments on Highlands. Doesn't mean I'm gonna throw in the towel or blast you every time we disagree. Most times I agree with your posts and like to read them , since you're about the only one who consistently contributes here lately.

As for you, kpb, don't call me a hobby farmer, ever. You don't know me, my family, or my situation. Yeah, I work off-farm, at an oilfield supply shop. I also own 70 cows, that I chop waterholes for morning and night, and my wife checks them in the daylight. If I could afford to ranch full-time, I would. But b/c of circumstances out of my control, our family's land has more debt than I can tackle. Whatever you may think, I don't really care. I know what I am and don't need your approval.

[ianben]

Looks like you guys do need to sort out this conflict with CWB and show farmers and government are both pulling in the same direction.

These potential investors and customers will be looking for the best place in the world to build their plants not one which is bugged with red tape and silly rules.

Our HGCA which is conpulsary levy funded does at least try to encourage investment and inovate new uses and products both food and non food from our grain.

The multi nationals also will invest and inovate Cargills are about to use 700,000 tonnes of wheat in a starch plant from next year. This a totally new market for my wheat.

Canada has more and cheaper wheat than us.Canada has a better bio-fuels process
but UK has two plants producing the goods.

I cannot understand why your governments/CWB seems to discourage instead of welcoming and making it easy for inovative investment in value added grain products what ever there end use

[cowman]

No problem man. Hope you're hanging in there with this artic weather? Still got your cows out on grass?

[PureCountry]

Yes actually. They've had the 10 acres of swath-grazing they're on cleaned up for two weeks, but the rest of that half section is 180 acres of wheat stubble, 100 acres of bush/coulees, and 30 of native grassy slopes. When we check them they're content to just watch us drive by, no bawling and chasing the truck, yet. They've been on that half since the 3rd of November, but we'll probably move them Saturday morning onto our 55 acre field of swath-grazing. Hopefully that'll take us to the beginning of February.

[PureCountry]

PureCountry, you represent so many farmers that work at an off farm job, work on the farm and have family helping with the operation and in many cases a spouse holding down an off farm job as well. Good luck to you and your family and hopefully the cattle business does turn around for you and all of us. No-one should feel the need to apologize for working off the farm, its a fact of life these days .

[PureCountry]

Thanks emrald1, much appreciated. I don't apologize for what we do, or how we do it. We is what we is, I guess. I hope things turn around too. There are so many ways for farmers and ranchers to make a better living, but that's not what the system wants. I think I'll start a new thread on that.