Hats off to Kevin Hursh

[skhadenuf]

Hats off to Kevin Hursh, todays newsletter he listed that there will be another in a series of many reviews of the safety net programs, also exclaimed that not much is likely to come about this meeting just as in the past. Finally I think the media is getting this situation livestock and grain producers hit by multi year disasters the programs just aren't working generally for the industries, and our government is not interested in changing it either. I had been critical of some of Mr. Hursh's posts in the past but got a give credit where it is due.
Have a good one MR. HURSH!

[bucket]

The thing that pisses me off about the general public is that they think nothing about bailing out the banks and the auto sector but complain when farmers get some help.

The auto sector got over 10 billion in a matter of days with no five year income averaging or looking at there margins, meanwhile, all ag sectors have to base their help on 5years worth of income.

The auto sector also got their money while the feds were knowingly going to run deficits. When the feds were running surplusses, we were told the cupboard was bare.

BTW, GM and Ford will make money this year. One bad year and they got billions. Five bad years in ag and the feds averaged the payouts for farmers down to nothing.

And the farmer's voice at APAS were silent.

[charliep]

Here is the article being referred to.

[URL="http://www.hursh.ca/"]hursh[/URL]

[bucket]

Just curious - are they still studying the subsidies to the auto sector? Not likely.

The long and the short of it is the conservatives take western farmers for granted.No different than the way the cwb treats us.

Like *****s to be exploited.

And until someone with some charisma that can rally the troops comes along we are hooped. Even buzz hargrove could get attention just by speaking because he focused on one message and wouldn't get sidetracked.

Apas, the nfu, cca, keystone, etc. all get sidetracked. They need one man with focus and the balls to get farmers to stay focused on a real issue to fix it. And since the election will be coming someone should do it soon.

Hey, Larry Weber are you busy?

[stubblejumper]

The auto industry spoke with one voice. If you ask ten farmers a question you will get eleven answers

[Fransisco]

One voice? Toyota, Ford, Honda and I believe bunch of others said "no".

[TOM4CWB]

Bucket,

Have you forgotten that the billions the Auto industry got... WERE LOANS?

GM saying that they will repay all loans by mid 2010.

Watch what you say...

[cottonpicken]

I think the government should give everybody a million dollars-think about it we would all be rich

[bucket]

T4

Just curious - if they needed short term loans why didn't they just go to a bank?

Pretty obvious something is up when all of a sudden they can start paying loans back but couldn't see their way through just a few months ago.

Better yet why not make low/no interest loans to farmers available? And don't say advances because you can't get the right amount and the terms are too short.

[Choice2U]

The grains sector just came off 2 years of great yields and higher than average prices. There are spot problems but overall western Canada has done just fine. Now, what are we supposed to be demanding as a unified group? Our industry is famous for complaining.

[parsley]

Better yet why not make low/no interest loans to septic tank cleaners available?

[wd9]

Best is to get rid of all the programs. The more money that is falsely injected, the more simply passes thru the hands of the farmer and increases his risk should something go wrong. All we are doing in government handouts, and that is what they are, is raising our cost of production and risk. It simply must stop.

Everyone knows this, but the farm orgs are unwilling to say it. The MP's know it, the bean counters know it, and even the farmers know it. There is no government handout amount large enough that can compensate for an industry that is so far from financial reality and balance.

[burnt]

Well cottenpicken, you must not be very efficient if you need a million dollars.

I could get by with half a million.


Hahaha. It's just a joke. One that most farmers should understand. ;-)

[burnt]

Can/t spell . . .that should read cottonpicken . . .