August 2012

[newguy]

Just curious if the CWB knows what % of grain they will still handle. If 35% of the farmers want to market their own grain will that represent 65% of the grain? I am sure the CWB does not want to figure this out but think they better get at it so they know how much to down size their operation. This years survey asked acres in farm but nothing said about bushels sold through CWB.

[charliep]

Are you sure this was a CWB survey? Demographics including size, age, volume of CWB sales relative to open market crops have always been questions in the past.

[Hopperbin]

Where do you get the number 35 from?

[newguy]

It came up on the phone as Probit. Sure had loaded questions in favour of the CWB. May not have been a oficial CWB survey but not hard to figure out who was behind the questions.

[newguy]

Just used the 35% as an example. Do not think anyone really knows the figures just saying the CWB better get the numbers so they know what they will market in a cost effective way. Bet they try and keep the farmers with a fancy new program. LOL...

[bucket]

If the cwb had the supporters it think it had, would they have had to wait a month and a half to fill a durum boat?

Ask yourself that question.

If there was support and the production from those supporters the cwb would not had to pay a million dollar demurrage bill on one boat alone. Not to mention how many others.

[agstar77]

Why do any of you bright people think there will be a CWB in 2012? Better make nice with your closest Merchant of grain.

[BTOfarmallll]

No need to make nice Folks. WE gon be the ones calling the shots 08/01/12. ANYBODY remember last fall??? Winter Wheat was what a $1.95 here & out East in Ontario was over $6.50 per bushel same date & time!!!!! We will now have that same opportunity here. That Simple........

[Hopperbin]

The cwb better be dust, they have set their fate with threats, no turning back.

[charliep]

Just curious on everyones vision for the CWB in an open market.

To provide the basis for discussion, I thought I might highlight the fact the Federal government task force (can't find the document on line) and the CWB board of directors did put out ideas as to what a renewed CWB might look like.

[URL="http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/hot/choice/harvesting/pdf/harvesting_opp_0806.pdf"]harvesting opportunity[/URL]

[charliep]

Will note the CWB board of directors has likely recognized the need for changes in the current act that governs it. Areas like setting initial payments, management of and dollars allowed in the PPO contingency fund, ability to invest in other alternatives, etc, are opportunities that could be updated in the new CWB Act.

Perhaps the challenge even for single desk supporters is to understand the current CWB act and know what you would like in the new one. All the documents above are for 2006 - I guess crisis and not forward planning is the driver of change.

[charliep]

[URL="http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/choice13151/$FILE/MC_Task_Force_final_Report.pdf"]CWB Marketing Choice Task Force[/URL]

[charliep]

In response to Charliep...My vision of a post Aug 2012 CWB is an empty building in Winnipeg with the windows and doors left open and random papers blowing down the hallways-papers which once were important now irrelevant.The scene will remind us of the day the world found out about Enron.I know it sounds dramatic but it's time we put this great experiment behind us and move on.