Crow?

[RShields]

One thing maybe not emphasized enough in t
he explanations was the lack of movement. The railways had no interest in moving grain as the more they moved the more they lost. They never dedicated any capital expansion to it. No money, no service.
Some rail lines never ran a train all winter. Elevator agents went to work for months at a time to watch over full bins that the CWB paid storage on.
The grain gathering system in those days made communism look a way over on the right.

[agstar77]

And if you are wrong, oh I forgot you are never wrong. I will admit I could be wrong and life will be so much better. The point is there is no turning back, just like the crow.

[TOM4CWB]

Agstar77,

The only constant in our lives... is change!

You may as well decide to be Happy!

Certainly being grumpy... and trying to push the rope of life...up the road of time... will be frustrating!

Pull the rope... this is an opportunity!

I know... I can see a noose being tied ... just for me...

[Fransisco]

I can be wrong. But not on this wheat board issue. The evidence is too overwhelming. We will all be much better off in a competitive open market.

[Braveheart]

Mallee, the Crowsnest Past Freight Rate was gone in the early 1980s. It was so out of wack with modern costs of doing business that the railways weren't reinvesting in motive power, cars, railbeds or anything grain related. Forget about all the land and mineral grant bs and perpituity bs, it was sold off and was only ever offered to help build the most expensive transcontinental rr in the world.

In the 1980s the "Crow" became the Western Grain Transportation Act. It was somewhat like an annuity. it was a freight subsidy that began to decline over time. It would run to zero eventually.

The big argument at the time and after in fact to this day was the method of payment. The question was, pay it to farmers or pay it to the railways? Some farmers, those conned by the three prairie wheat pools, and anyone with a twisted socialist leaning, wanted it paid to the railways. Yes, some farmers wanted it paid to railways!

The livestock industry and free enterprise farmers wanted the payment to go to farmers. Agriculture would have looked much different if it had.

Even the Prime Minister at the time, Liberal Pierre Trudeau conceded shortly afterwards that it was mistake to pay the railways.

Just an example of how insane it was is here. eg.: A train of malt barley bound for a US destination, marshalled in Winnipeg, would proceed all the way to Thunder Bay. It would then turn around and come back to Winnipeg before heading south to destination. According to the act the grain had to touch water (export) before the subsidy would apply. What a waste. Thanks idiots (SWP, Man and Alberta Pool, NFU et al).

[agstar77]

So you have proof that Viterra and ADM will sell your grain for more than Australian grain. I am looking forward to your proof.

[Fransisco]

I have proof that the wheat board has been selling it for less. I and many others have been showing you that proof for years already on this forum.

[Braveheart]

Agstar, the thing is in a competitive marketplace Fransisco doesn't need proof. If Franny doesn't like what Viterra or ADM offer he can simply deal with someone else. There will be transparency. Everyone's cash price will be on the table. Basis levels will be known. Competition is what keeps everyone honest.

That's what's missing from the CWB. Agstar, you might accept the "trust us" we're here for you from the board, but I need the discipline of the open market so I choose who I trust or not.

[Braveheart]

Agstar, the thing is in a competitive marketplace Fransisco doesn't need proof. If Franny doesn't like what Viterra or ADM offer he can simply deal with someone else. There will be transparency. Everyone's cash price will be on the table. Basis levels will be known. Competition is what keeps everyone honest.

That's what's missing from the CWB. Agstar, you might accept the "trust us" we're here for you from the board, but I need the discipline of the open market so I choose who I trust or not.

[BTOfarmallll]

I have proof my wheat gon be heading South 8/1/12. Might make it miserable as hell to cross the border with it, But they ain't stop the flow South, that I kin guarantee, NAFTA. Shut the border off to Wheat, simple, oil now flows to China, & we blow up all the pipelines heading South once & fer all, F*ck em', let em' rot down there. The Railways never have, never will make money moving yer grain, thats why yous the bottom of the barrel allthetime. Funny how these Sob's everywhere crying Global Warming, Global Warming, YET they are ripping out Railway Tracks at an unprecedented rate everywhere around the World, it makes yer frickin head spin.........

[dave4441]

THis is F--king painfall.

[TOM4CWB]

Dave,

You mean like Iggy/Liberano and Bloc painful?

Change is the only constant... on this little blue planet... 3rd from the sun!

Mallee,

I think you missed my post on the CWB and Crow... and how they connect:

It is a fact that the 2 railways were given $billions of land a mineral resourses... in return for hauling our produce.
THe word 'perpetuity' was used by Minister Goodale... until he decided to give it away.

"per·pe·tu·i·ty/ˌpərpiˈt(y)o͞oitç/Noun


1. A thing that lasts forever or for an indefinite period, in particular.

2. A bond or other security with no fixed maturity date"


The CWB monopoly... on the other hand... was put in place in 1943 to expropriate our farm produce... and the crow to a large extent held the whole package together because the freight was so low no other alternative market could arbitage western Canadian prices at the farm gate.

SO... from 1943 to 1947... the CWB monopoly was binding...(War measures act) then from 1947 to 1993... growers were exempt (the CWB Monopoly) on the export side... if they sold using US or pedigreed seed grading. When Goodale took back over from Charlie Mayer in 1993... then he persecuted grain growers who dared to pass by the Prairie pools... and (dared) sell fusarium infected sample wheat for more than the CWB/prairie pools were offering for high grade milling wheat.

Goodale had to put a stop to this problem... hence the present CWB monopoly was officially put in place May 17 1996 by Goodale 15 minutes after the Manitoba Court said David Sawatsky not guilty (of selling his own grain).

"Grain export victory. (a Manitoba court found farmer David Sawatzky innocent of exporting wheat and barley to the U.S. without a permit from the Canadian Wheat Board)(Brief Article)
Article from: Maclean's | May 27, 1996"

THen Goodale hand cuffed (and Jailed)western grain growers... leading to:

"Canadian Wheat Farmers Are Jailed
AP Online; November 1, 2002; 310 words ...staff. The farmers were charged in 1996 under the Canada Customs Act of illegally transporting grain across the U.S. border...wheat south of the border, instead of $2.20 from the Canadian Wheat Board. The farmers jailed Thursday had been ordered to pay..."


So today... after 3 tries to free barley... and grain growers in prision for selling their own produce... Manitoba demands the CWB remain.

You are right to say Dave... THIS IS PAINFUL!!!