pork production

[Hopperbin]

to grass smoker as farmers that earn our living by exporting would we not want to keep our export markets and or increase them?

[grassfarmer]

What's wrong Charlie am I not allowed to ask the man a question without you having to spout your AB Government ideology?

[charliep]

Fair enough. Both of us are off the orignal topic which
was about the impact changes on the western
Canadian livestock industry.

[silverback]

Why don't you tell us what happened to your relatives in Scotland when they lost the regulation in their dairy industry. (You are probably the only one in North America keeping track of such things)

btw Can you tell us what happened in New Zealand when they eliminated the supply management sector in that country?

[grassfarmer]

You make my point well silverback - showing a lack of knowledge or interest in anything that happens outside your own postal code. Why is it that people can't take a look at what has, and hasn't worked elsewhere - might save a lot of expensive learning?

btw New Zealand never had a supply managed dairy system - how could they as they export nearly everything? They had a subsidy system - which was abolished by a "left wing" labor Government in favor of "free market" solutions. That'll challenge a few paradigms for you.

[hedgehog]

grassfarmer-- a very valid point.
i am not in favour of all deregulation, but as an outsider, the cwb seems to have grown into a monster.
dairy farmers in scotland have suffered terribly since deregulation.
they were sold out by a handful of judas,s who broke their unity.
but milk is a bit different, you cant store it, and you cant stop it coming from the cow.
the MMb should have continued on a voluntary basis, but political dogma of dereg wouldnt have allowed it.
the same dereg that brought us financial meltdown by the way.

[TOM4CWB]

Grassy,

I think you just fell over the knoll head first for that one!!!

"BTW New Zealand never had a supply managed dairy system - how could they as they export nearly everything? They had a subsidy system - which was abolished by a "left wing" labor Government in favor of "free market" solutions. That'll challenge a few paradigms for you."

Grassy... just Think for a second...

Silver that was really Really clever!!!

DO you think Grassy will see the Irony and connection???

[charliep]

Hedgehog

To answer your question, the situation for the hog
farmer in western Canada will not change all that
much - they already buy feed grain in a deregulated
open market. What will change is price signals from
export sales opportunities and potential to sell
bigger volumes off shore. The end result will be
the need to plan feed purchases (supply and price)
more carefully. Hopefully there is more profitability
in feed grains and grain producers increase
production. Also a shift to more mid quality wheats
based versus growing our high quality milling wheat
(this has yet to be seen). Treat these comments
with caution as grassfarmer has told you these
statements are made on ideology and not analysis
of likely impacts. My words can stand for
themselves.

[charliep]

For what it is worth, wheat prices in Alberta are about $200/tonne, pretty much spot on the CWB total payment forecast for 1/2 CWRS (top end wheat) 11.5 % protein.

For interest, the feed wheat price in Manitoba is $234/tonne, almost equal to our highest quality 1CWRS 13.5 protein wheat (PRO and fixed price).

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

In a demand driven market... exporters will suck up grain much further in advance... plus in season if an opportunity comes along that takes half a million tonnes.... that then means the domestic livestock feeder must step up and buy in supply... or run out of grain.

Kind of opposite to the effect of the CWB 'single desk' had to grain growers... if logistics can handle the movement... the grain will move.

I recall in February 2008 how the good prices for wheat ($20/bu plus)... were offered well into June if we would sign up the tonnes and commit to them.