Industry needs to take a flaxative.

[wmoebis]

Where did this NEW cert. seed come from? Did the seed growers see this comming? Or perhaps have a little input?

It still takes a year to grow seed and all of a sudden seed growers have trifid free flax seed. HHHMMMM

[gregpet]

We cannot solve problems using the same thinking that created them.
Albert Einstein

[parsley]

A couple of options:

1. Notifying the Flax Commission by registered mail that you will withold checkoff funds, indefinitely, which you will consider rescinding when the present directors have resigned, and the present administrator, who thought the problem had 'all passed' a long time ago, is er, 'substituted'.
2. Not buying seed from ANY seedgrowers who originally purchased the seed and marketing rights from CDC. It was in their care.

3. Do #1 jointly, with one person you trust managing the information.
4. Compose a standardized form : I hereby instruct you to refund my flax checkoff ...blah blah. This notification is in legal effect until you are notifified at a future date.
5. Compose a emaillist of original Triffid owners to those requesting it.
6.An apology should be the basis for any discusssion.
7. Compose a list of good commercial seed to sell as seed stock you have on hand if you have NOT grown Triffid. Brown baggers not invited to list. And then buy from each other as did commercial bull buyers. They actually didn't like buying dwarf breeding bulls from purebred breeders. Imagine the nerve.
8. Put on your thinking cap for what you want to do with the Federal Government's Flax Council of Canada. I have a few ideas.

Just a few thoughts for now. I kinda like a bit of sweet talk on Valentine's Day. Smooch. Pars

[parsley]

By the way, 'ruthless' is such a respected word in the corporate world, well, I think farmers can learn from tha kind of leadership.

No reason in the world why farmers have to sell flax through regular agents, either.
Thi could get interesting.Poker, and farmes have grain to lay down on the table. The regular players have bullshit. Pars

[parsley]

Not the same kind of thinking, right, gregpet? LOL

[haveapulse]

I believe the industry should demand a Royal Commission or whatever you may wish to call the process. We need a thorough review to acccount for the state of the industry today.

It is only fair to point out, that it was not only farmers who need to be held accountable. Why did it take 5 years after the flax council recommended the variety be pulled for the Government to react? Where did the seed go in the meantime? How was that seed acounted for in the destruction. How do we account for the spread and contamination of non GMO breeder seed?

A chapter dedicated to the impact of GMO canola on the mustard industry would be in order.

The reality today is we have two crops affected due to GMO intolerance: mustard and canola and Monsanto is on a push for GMO wheat. Under current regulation there would be not penatly to Monsanto to introduce GMO wheat into Canada despite potential customer rejection. Correct me if I am wrong!


The outcome of this review would include future recommendations and protocal on how we allow GMO into Canada, given the intent of Monsanto with the Wheat Growers support for GMO wheat development.

We need clear rules, accountability and transparency, and regulations to enforce the above.

We need to be able to control the entrance of GMO seeds into our production, and be ready should the consummer approve of this technology to open the door if and when but not before.

Anyone know where the Ministers of AG Provincial and Federal on this one?

[parsley]

A Royal Commisssion?
1. It will deliver a decision made BY Government FOR government.
2. It will be costly and serve to enunciate taxpayers' view that farmers are whining again.
3. It will drag out for at least two years.

[oneoff]

In addition to the problems farmers have from industry; there are also problems that stem from within the farmer ranks.
We've got more than our share of collaborators and extremely selfish and self centered individuals who would never entertain any thought that didn't have immediate apparent gain to themselves.
In their extremely small worlds; centered on themselves; those individuals must feel no need to cooperate and band together at times to confront problems that are well beyond an individuals ability to do anything.
This story has been repeated so many times it is disheartening. And then one remember how collective actions; particularly in Sask have had profound results in the past. Too bad we've let most of those gains slip away, and now have no heart to tackle todays problems.

[parsley]

well oneoff, I'm not exactly being a mealy-mouth. LOL

I've found farmers ned to "mull" a bit, though.This isn't only about grain, you know. This is about rural communities and it' about rural culture.

And farmers have been pretty darn good at both. pars

[oneoff]

It's fine to "mull"; but the time comes to "Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way"