China is out of the canola market.

[mcfarms]

Cotton
I think it's the favorite way to play the trade barrier game in the world, Non tariff trade barriers.
I happened way back to have the chance to have a soda with the then head negotiator for Canada on trade and he told those of us in attendence that this was the next thing to be watching for as it's incredibly hard to "negotiate" into a trade aggreement. Country of origin labeling, Salmonella in meal etc all part and parcel of the same game. I tell this story lots but then he was dead right then and it's very apparent now. Pars is right the customer is always right but is the customer always telling us the truth?
Question becomes as a nation and industry very dependant on trade how do our commodity groups and gov't tackle this issue? We need to be asking them.

[furrowtickler]

When our "customers" are leagaly robing us blind are they still right pars?

[parsley]

I can tell you only what I have learned, furrow.

1 You can have CFIA negotiate for you. More rules. Piddly little details. Busy work. And three weeks later, there will be lice on the bags, or cariboo hair on the tags. back to square #I.

2.Government EA's, diplomats can negotiate. They will trade off what is in their interests. Not yours. Look at FTA. Or cattle. Or hogs. Lawsey. They will sell you down the river.

3. There is one group that has credibility. They are the 1 out of the 2 of the essential part of every sale...a buyer/a seller. They have a vested interest.

Your buyer will buy if he wants. You will sell if you want.

Just what I have learned. Pars

[oneoff]

BUT there are also "middlemen"; both on the buying and selling ends; as well as in between. Some of them are elevator companies; the CWB; brokers; governments; speculators etc. etc; and then also those with influence like special interest groups; trouble makers; terrorists; trade negotiators; environmentalists etc etc.
None of them are really open about how they affect business; in fact they most likely all like to keep meddling to maintain their importance.
Sorry; but there are few examples of international trade directly between buyers and sellers without "middlemen" having their say (maybe farmer's markets type of selling excluded).

[parsley]

Your grower association should serve this purpose, making sure they are represented, kept informed, inputting. They will be left out of the loop if they do not make SURE to insist they have a place.

And this grower assocaitoion should flow with information. Should be front and centre in negotiations.

What is the Grain Growers of Canada saying, informing? How about the Canola associations?

That's what they are there for, and that is why it is important to "take control " of your business.

You must be represented by people who YOU know will work in your interest.

How many sit back and let someone else "do it"? Pars

[oneoff]

The term "powerless" comes to mind.

[parsley]

Powerless? Well, I am a little more optomistic than that. Lawsey, if that's the case, why would everyone be rag on me about the effect my blog comments may have.

I keep telling you this:

Canadian farmers are a marvel.You produce, you deliver.

AV'ers will be so tired of me harping:

1. Seek diverse markets. Not just one market and get lazy.

2. Build in a specialty factor. MY product is best because.....

3. Develop a hands on relationship with tbe end user. Friends hate trashing friends.

4. Contracting. Specific. Pars

5. Hire a grower assocaition manager who produces results. Fire the manager who goes on a cruise and forgets about your business.
6. Mind your business. Dedicate ONE hour per week to your grower group. Talk. Correspond. Send ideas. Pars

[oneoff]

No I think "powerless" about sums it up.

Lets be realistic. Show me a lot of examples of happy hog producers; or cow-calf operators; or wheat and barley growers; or optimistic flax, canola or maybe even mustard,lentil or pea farmers. Supply managed dairy, poultry and egg production have the stiffest entry fees and maybe an uncertain future, so where is the optimism there.
Sure you can make a few hard earned dollars at craft sales and farmers markets; but divide those figures into an accepable family yearly wage (and don't forget to subtract the expenses) and you see why it will be diificult making a living.
If its monetary returns people are interested in; then look at the alternative ways to earn good money. Opportunity abounds.

The problems of distance from markets; high transportation costs; lack of meaningful population numbers etc. all combine to ensure that your solution to real farm problems are not viable for but a few people.

The lack of new entries into farming probably proves that my analysis is fairly accurate in real life. And with the exodus of farming neighbors continuing at a rate that few have considered to be alarming; we have not reached near the bottom yet.

[checking]

And I will continue where onoff has left off, only it will be six months from now. In the age of instant gratification, we need to step back awhile from an instant reaction to the crop cascade effect. If it doesn't improve then:

1) Commodity side needs to read beef production side post "the last one to leave the auction turn off the lights.

2) The quicker we hit bottom, the easier will be our decisions whether to continue, or to exit.

3) Few of us care for the "salt mine" experience required to pamper customers. Even my organic friends agree.

4) Most of us are gainfully employable, or have business ideas far more lucrative than a farm income, or lack thereof.

5) Customers may live to regret the exodus, but my select group has enough unafraid of eatable grain calories to last us for centuries.

6) I will idle my land, and have it return to wildlife habitat. I enjoy their presence over that of a lot demanding, indulgent customers. Go ahead customers, pick up the slack!

[parsley]

Although we both attended university, we chose to farm.

Chose.

The farm has provided us with ample income to travel throughout the years, meet unimaginably interesting people, university educated two children,(and they were not satisified with just one degree each either,)who actually grew up to be useful humans (in spite of their mother, checking, LOL,) built a cement swimming pool in our backyard, cats galore, live in a comfortable home filled with books, have '100%wonderful' neighbors, had a dog everyone loved, haven't had a cash advance for a couple of decades, and the best part is, .... lawsey,
...we couldn't eat better if we tried.

Is there more comfort somewhere else than farm life that I'm missing out on? Pars

[oneoff]

Apparently allows these good farm life opportunities are shared by less and less persons each year. How do you explain an increasing average farm owner age and very few young replacements to continue on?
After a certain age is reached; those land owners may still be the managers; but they certainly won't be doing the bulk of the farm work. Who the workers will be deserves to be studied a lot more. Don't automatically assume that those workers will ever have the same university benefits and swimming pool that a few might attain.
Maybe I'm considering a bigger overall picture; and you are looking at farming from a more personal view.

[parsley]

You are right, fewer chose farming. And I think it is because the money end is not attractive. I agree.

But there also is a component not quite so obvious,

Farm kids are good kids. Not a lot of them in jail, in other words. Work ethic. Coincidence?

I think not. Businesses snap them up.

In our own case, son is a PHd aeronotical researcher. Daughter is a musician. It's what they chose.

I believe choice is the most important gift we have.

Farm children have choice. And sometimes, they choose what they love,.. not duty, not desperation.Pars