Clipboard Grain Company Goes Bellyup

[parsley]

Brainwave from the Past:

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/CommitteeBusiness/StudyActivityHome.aspx?Cmte=AGRI&Language=E&Mode=1 &Parl=40&Ses=3&Stac=3074064

Past:

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2842956&Language=E&Mode=1&P arl=39&Ses=1#Int-2010422

[JDGreen]

Agstar it is what they want, but they need be careful what they wish for. Food security is best left in the hands of FARMERS. We need to transition to farmers of the future and forget about the dead horses of the past. If we don't the corporates win and we all lose.

[agstar77]

Most of the future farmers will be employees rather than independent business. The trend is obvious and the consumers will get what they are asking for because they are in the majority.

[vvalk]

agstar whats your argument? "the market wants cheap food so lets keep the single desk so new/young farmers can't get started" what the hell are you talking about? Trying to deflect again? CWB counter argument 101. PATHETIC

[parsley]

This is a recommendation from the Report/Young People:

"Recommendation 3.6

The Committee recommends that, with the view that monopolies have been detrimental to Canadian farmers, the government look into other 33 models, including the U.S. model, that deal with competition and that allow the government to exert more power to break up, or otherwise manage, monopolies in the agricultural industry." Pars

[riders2010]

Yes the monopoly is not for young people, hell it is not for old either, but to say it is the only reason there are virtually no young farmers starting without mega backing is just as much a stretch political ploy as well. Look at he flooded out areas the drought area, there was a discussion as to the cheap land coming up for sale in east central sask, well come on it was the weather problems and no effective programs that have failed those areas more than anything ten fold. Now the guys with good recent weather struttin around looking to take advantage of the farm families in those areas through no fault of their own in trouble, using the lottery of weather ag program agrivation to back the take overs that are going to occur. To those farmers in those areas don't sit there and take it, mla and mp offices in those areas are being flooded with letters calls etc. either those in trouble get help or cancel the agrivation slush fund for those that don't. Businesses and tax payers of those hard hit areas get involved as well.

The cattlemen now recieve 30 bucks for pasture reseeding great, but the reality for those cattlemen is wait a minute 30 bucks is f all, well yeah, no kiddin, you don't have to tell the grain boys that. Get together instead of playing yourself off against one another.

Either reset the margins across the board or scrap the crap program, quit bullshitting that there is a disaster program because there isn't one only a slush fund and it is pushing the take over of farmers by others and that looks great for the lottery winners, makes you look like such a smart witty farmer, until you are the one caught in the poor end of the weather lottery.

Look at the Foam lake area discussed previously, there is nothing wrong with that land, or those farmers, just that they have experienced recent crap weather with no viable programs to create some level of stability for not only the farms but the communities there. No big oil industry there for you to get off the combine and run your fluid hauling business right from home there.

And for those of you so vigilant for free rights etc. why aren't you so vigilant for us to have the same type of programs as Quebec?? The sask party while in opposition stated that many times, but what has changed now? Got enough oil backing you don't need farm families?

[parsley]

riders2010

You may want to read the Youth report..... And participants. Pars

[vvalk]

rider. half your rotation produces basically no cash flow and you think that this isn't a huge barrier for a young farmer? Lets take a minute to think about that.
As for comparing ourselves to Quebec well forget it. Who do you think pays for those programs? We pay for those program there.

[vvalk]

The CWB still discriminates.

A YOUNG FARMER IS FORCED TO SELL HIS CROP THOUGH THE SINGLE DESK EVEN THOUGH CAN CAN NOT AFFORD TO.

[riders2010]

1. whether you are a young farmer or old, no acres seeded or acres seeded and flooded or drought etc. with no crop, are you saying that wheat board or not is more important than the fact your bins are empty and no effective support program? Think about that one!

2. Farmers with good weather years in a row and one little glitch get payout, young farmers and old recent weather disaster no pay out? Think about that one!

3. You guys that haven't had a disaster weather period haven't got a clue what is going on! Sincerely good for you we were like that several years ago and didn't care much about the programs either! Thank you for working on the CWB issue so when we can seed or seed and have a good weather spell that the CWB will at least be voluntary! BUT we have to survive in the mean time, or it means nothing to us!

4. suppose the cwb is gone, voluntary etc. do you not think with grain rising prices the fake demand and shortages of fertilizer, fuel, chemical well all of a sudden occur wiping out any gains made across the sector? Are we any where near inflation numbers for what the value of grains, cattle etc. were in 1950 and what they should be now given our costs and level of risk?

5. Should there not be a concerted effort to entice young farmers to begin and keep those going that are or is it better to keep looking at foreign control, huge corporate control? Who pays the bills at our major political parties is it farmers and rural people in general? no corporate buddies! who do you think is controlling the agenda?

6. All other developed countries support their farmers with real dollars real programs including the country of Quebec, are we not good enough or just to stupid to sit and take that bullshit?

7. As far as the youth report if it is like most other of the government reports to make the best use of it, I'll carry a copy of it around in my back pocket and some day while on the road and needing to relieve myself instead of using a clump of grass and the odd thistle to wipe I'll be glad I found a use for it. Never read it yet but even if it is good will your government actually do something about the report? Would you like some reports to read that might respond to our problems pretty sure I could find some for you!


8. GO RIDERS GO! Kinda like the oil industry Alberta is getting to be the too old boys in the oil business and sask is the new rich kid on the oil block, same parrallel in football we gave you old Burris and look what happenned! LOL!!!
Too bad Edmonton is so cheap not build a dome stadium for the cup, you guys must be so broke in your province cannot afford to help the poor football fans. Not like rich Saskatchewan we have so much money we need a new stadium, because that is a priority over the biggest weather disaster to hit the province!!!!

[parsley]

vvalk,
I note your focus is on creating wealth.

rider, I note your arguments revert to equality. Pars

[fjlip]

Great read Parsley, thanks for link. On page 14 is the situation in this area, perhaps everywhere, a HUGE cause of young farmers unable to start, even with parents help.
"Furthermore, the presence of older operations with a large amount of capital and their ability to overpay for assets and land can create a barrier to the entrance of
young farmers into the agricultural sector."

[parsley]

We get lots of neighbors who know we are going to retire and sell. They come and talk with us about what they would like to buy...or how a piece of land will fit into their operation...
or how the entire farm will. City people do as well.

People approach us so easily.

You should approach older farmers in your area. Tell them what you need and what you want. They are different! LOL

Don't look upon older farmers as enemies. We're not! We want our neighbors to do well. We want the Klause's of ag to do well. We want young farmers to do well.

(I'm personally inclined to look UNkindly upon "immigrating victims" who use the system and enter Canada with no skills or work ethic.)

Be open. You may want to rent for awhile. You may want to crop share.

Over the years, we'd had cattle out on shares on many farms. We've rented land, and rented out land.

Approach it with the idea that it is a good proposition if both have the opportunity to do well and to gain.

And above all, rememeber people kill for land. It is valuable. It is history. It is loved. It is a place for your kin to belong to. it is community. It is a way of life. It is economic opportunity. It can feed your family.

It is alive.

Know what it is and represents, and you will better understand the people you want to buy from. Pars

[charliep]

Strange to move from bankruptcy of a grain buyer to issues with new entrants. On the latter, a presentation last week on investors/venture capital moving into agriculture.

Observations.

1) Regardless of what people say, land will always be sold to the highest bidder. Don't suspect anyway would sell land 50 cents on the dollar just to help a neighbor kid out.

2) People who use land as an investment have a different set of priorities and time line than someone who purchasing that same land for its productive value. Target return over a 20 year period for an investor is likely 5 % return on money with a willing to live with some volatility. Their return is rent and capital gains. They compare the risk and return from land to other investments.

3) Larger investors are providing a source of rental land for individuals who are actually in the business of growing crops. Lots of ways these two groups work together.

[Burbert]

Sooooooo now, the CWB is the reason that young farmers can't farm in Comedia. What a steaming pile of baloney that is. Most don't want to farm, because its such a whinning, sniveling career. Most have heard the parents explain over and over and over agin, that its a crappy career and nobody should ever farm in Comedia. Losers farm, simpletons that can't do anyting else..........