Excretion Flows from Regulatory Checkoff Powers

[parsley]

"If farmer checkoffs are gifts, do you consider public sector investment in
agricultural research and development a welfare payment to farmers by
taxpayers?"

I consider taxpayer money targetted at agriculture as a gift. Always keep in mind that taxation can be reduced by half tommorow. Or ag tax money can be redirected to mining, for example.

An entitlement attitude is not only annoying, but it is harmful in the long run.

Whatever happened to being grateful?

Pars

[parsley]

sumdumguy,

Bailing out Greece is the worst action for THEM as well as EU taxpayers. Greece has to stop throwing tantrums, grow up and make a living for themselves instead of nurturing a sense of entitlement.

Looksee from Wiki:

"Greek agriculture employs 528,000 farmers, 12% of the total labor force. It only produces 3.6% of the national GDP (about $16 billion annually). A large number of the country's immigrants are employed in the agricultural sector of the economy, as well as construction and public works.

Currently, Greek agriculture is heavily subsidized by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with controversial results. Certain deductions of subsidies are planned within the next decade."

Greece produces a wide variety of crops and livestock products. Fisheries are also playing an important role while forestry plays a secondary role

[hobbyfrmr]

Parsley,
I went to a food show in Montreal last month, I found there was quite repsectable representation by food companies from Greece, and Cyprus for what its worth. Maybe they see the writing on the wall.

[parsley]

And what is respectable? No cleavage?

Too many trade show addicts are overpaid government employee bloats who fancy flying first class around the world using taxpayer money, with no reponsibility, no measure of outcome, and less care. Entitlement.

Trade shows, and I get the trade show agenda from the Federal Government, make me wince.

Look at the numbers I posted on Greece. Farmers are obviously not creating wealth or banking it. Agreed?

So, are professional trade show optomists flitting around the world on taxpayer money? Or was that just a "long time ago", (as my kids used to make excuses, lol)?

From what I observe, Greece seems not interested in a head down, ass up approach (working hard).

I'll be interested to read your comments about what you discovered at the Montreal show. Pars

Pars

[rockpile]

IMF agrees to bail out Greece to the tune of $140
billion. It appears the Greecy wheel gets the grease.
Maybe it's time to punt the IMF - they seem to
create issues on every continent. The next basket
case is Britain and that is bad news for our smarter
and better regulated Canadian banks. Good news
for CDN exporters is that Canuck Buck is cooling.
There is a good case for keeping interest rates low
as well - good news if you are borrowing, bad news
if you're trying to sock some away for your 'crippled
years'.
Rockpile

[parsley]

To give credit where credit is due, Rocky, being designated as a grain marketing cripple by the CWB has somewhat prepared me for a possibly unfortunate future as an ambulatory cripple.

[rockpile]

Oh Pars, stop being such a drama Queen!
Rockpile

[parsley]

Singing in a baritone voice:

Who's next, who's next? "Spain. Portugal. Ireland?

Rocky, oh, Rocky, oh Rocky, I thought you would support 'collective bailouts'!"

LOL

[wd9]

Charlie's question is fundamental to this discussion. Who should pay? Well Parsely, who should pay? And how considering we all benefit from the research including WGRF and esp the grains and oilseeds commissions like canola, barley, and peas.

[checking]

Who should pay echos wd9?

I suspect it is a lot like R&D in human medicine. In other words, it's confusing. Drug companies will say that it costs them $1.1 to $1.2 billion/new drug. This means they require their thousands/month from individuals desperate for their condition relief. Opponents will say that the actual cost to deliver a new drug to market is around $100 million, and that the public provides 86% of the funding. This sounds to me to either a gross underestimate of costs, or an excessive padding of expenses.

Is there this same ten fold plus swing in grain R&D? Maybe, some of you think it doesn't matter so long as the end result is successful.

Charliep says, "the amount of money WGRF has would (suspect there was a "not" after would) even start a venture into GE project - $60 to $100 million to develop a trait, and a further $20 to $40 million to get through regulatory approval."

On the other comparative side, gustgd says, "I see more and more farmers asking for the money back simply because the dollars are becoming quite significant."

More confusion when, wd9 says any farmer's contribution is matched 20-30 times. Perhaps wd9 should enlighten us as to who these generous souls are that sweeten the pot to this extent. I would then know who does pay. Who knows, it may be the free loader that you despise.