Poll

[skhadenuf]

One of the neighbors brought up a point about Cais and this situation. There ought to be a follow up on this because if Big Sky declares all this debt owed to the farmers and then collects a big payout from Cais is the bankruptcy going to protect them from using that payout to pay the debt to the farmers? There are rumors floating around that happenned last time with these characters. I don't think they should be allowed in cais to begin with.

[farmerboy]

I am a farmer, not an accountant, but I do have some experience with this type of non-payment! If you delivered grain to a company who has not paid you or will never pay you, and if you have a paper trail such as your scale receipt, do not delay in contacting a representative of the CAIS program for help, as this may be treated as a receivable that you never received. If you are enrolled in CAIS and you are able to prove that you delivered this grain to Big Sky and that you never recieved payment, you may be paid through CAIS.

[skhadenuf]

That's likely some good advice for those that have a decent margin in cais for those that don't likely still SOL. Maybe someone should give a heads up to cais in terms of Big Sky claiming the expense owing of the grain, if they never intend on paying it then I would think it should not counted as an expense if left as is and they get paid then actually cais would be paying twice for the same debt which would be another scam in itself.

If people would just sit back and try to imagine how many scenerios and scams there must be going on with this cais program, I am starting to see why some maybe like it if your big time into scams, off topic but I always wonder why certain suppliers like this cais and it always seems to be the guys who owe the supplier the most money that gets money out of cais, yet no one else in the same area gets a payout. HMM let's see farmer x has a big bill, as a supplier all the farmer needs is a bill from me for more product and wala the old bill is paid by Cais. HMM!

[Hopperbin]

Farmboy I believe if you feel you are not getting paid from sale of grain to big sky I think I would lean to not claim the productions in the first place. Could be much less headache. If there is no paper trail really to start with then why make one. Since the non payments did happen in this crop year and it is not the end of the year yet. If you get paid surprisingly later after the caise application is made it is then easy to make a production adjustment.

[Hopperbin]

Oops not thinking too much here, decision would be different if your in a non claim year then best to claim the production.

[Choice2U]

The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act has a 30 day supplier protection component if memory serves me correct. If you're up on it, keep on top of your deliveries, and take the appropriate measures during this time there is a possibility that one could get some of one's money back based on priority even over first charges such as banks. Check into this....or maybe I will and report back if I get a chance. It'll not help those with Big Sky (been close to 30 days already) but farmers should be aware of this.

[Burbert]

It's always good to hear about other farmers, getting screwed over, it makes the last time that we made a stupid mistake seem okay. Hearing about others losing money, just before Xmas makes it that much better..............

[Hopperbin]

Jim Long's view

http://www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/22539/pork-commentary-big-sky-saga-continues

[classicalliberal]

I vote a big no. Farmers need to start acting like business people and learn to manage their own credit risk like every other company and industry in the whole world. There is credit risk everywhere but the world cannot run without credit. Knowing that the hog industry is at negative margins, we have insisted on financial statements from these guys or no grain. Grain trade does not need to be regulated to protect farmers from being too stupid to manage their own credit. Viterra isn't going to be compensated for what they have delivered to Big Sky and neither should the farmers. On another note, what the hell is the Saskatchewan government doing owning parts of businesses? I guess that is the fallout from the socialist NDP regime that thank goodness you have finally gotten rid of. Now it's time to kick them out of Manitoba.

[wd9]

It was interesting that one of the responders to the star phoenix article said....

Hey protesters, nice trucks.

[parsley]

When the CBC commented on Colin Thatcher's court appearance this week, they didn't quote what he SAID; rather, they described what he wore, including work boots. Maybe the media are afflicted with a foot and truck fetish. Pars

[haveapulse]

As a proponent of short term insurance, as a method of bankable individualized coverage I note that had this system been implemented these folk could have purchased short term insurance to cover their deliveries. They could be applying for insurance now.

The special crop processors lobbied for this change we suggested the risk insurance could include other sectors like the feed sector, a system which leaves the feed handling industry exempt, we were shut down. The Bill died on the order desk. The reasons for its demise in the folk lore of yet another missed opportunity to make AG policy simpler and more efficient,and less bureaucratic.

Pity.

Perhaps it is time to request this very simple solution again, a solution that works quite fine in Ontario, thank you very much... (it is not only the dual market they have, but they have short term risk insurance too!)