GrowerLink meetings

[Kodiak]

I won't make it to the GrowerLink meeting today in Lethbridge. According to the CWB website it is full. If anyone is there, I'm sure we would all be interested in what they have to tell us. I presume they will be rolling out their 2012 programs.

[gustgd]

Have 2 pooling options
harvest to Jan 31st and harvest to harvest Can only deal with Cargill as of now expect to have all grain co's "soon"
*NO* PRO people will have to trust them, much in the way that you invest in mutual funds with no preconcieved notions.( I know crazy)

Will start a subsciption service for market info. (I don't know why you need market advice when selling 1/12 of a crop a month.

Futures first contracts, basis first contracts, cash buying.

[charliep]

Not meaning to rail against you but with the
exception of the marketing subscription, this is the
information that was provided 6 weeks ago. Can a
farmer sign one of these contracts tomorrow morning
based on a price or the concept of a pre- harvest
contract?

[charliep]

should be pre-harvest pricing pool. These are the
decisions a farmer could make in the short term. Are
they talking product contracts with volumes of grain
commited without necessarily picking one of the price
or pooling alternatives - a commitment to deliver.

[Kodiak]

Was that it? Like Charlie said, this information was around 6 weeks ago. Glad I didn't waste the day......

[charliep]

The broshure is updated somewhat.

[URL="http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/files/newprogramsforanewera.pdf"]CWB[/URL]

If I read correctly, you can sign up for CWB contracts now realizing Cargill is the only
company with a handling agreement. Am I correct?

[bucket]

They have a website that can be updated regularly.

For instance, when Voss and Nielsen resigned it didn't take them a day to call the seats "vacant".

The cwb could be updating this file daily. And should be. Fitzfunny should be all over this as the PR person.

[Kodiak]

The rubber hits the road only when someone can do business. A brochure? A media story about branding or the change of name? Meetings with no new information? Useless. I can't plan or plant an acre on that stuff. Commercial contracts, preferrably a variety of them, ready for signatures please.
This outfit has a half a billion dollars at its disposal to launch and establish its business. And 70 years of history. So what's the problem? Oberg isn't holding them back any longer.

[LWeber]

WTF Kodiak: Its the same bunch of people. You think they have magically changed? It is not about you - it is about them. Get with the program.

After 75 years of inbreeding, the only way Cow Patty et al could develop new traits is with an AI program.

"For 79 million in administration costs, farmers deserve better"

I think I'll have it engraved on my tombstone.

[parsley]

Half of the employees should have been shown
the door. Cargill already pays staff that can work
circles around the entitled oafs who have been
trained to navigate from meeting to meeting
spreading the single desk doctrine, re-enforcing
their loyalty when they submit their expense
accounts. So farmers will continue to pay for
overlapping services. Pars

[Kodiak]

Hey Larry you get right to the crux of the matter
don't you?!?-LOL
I was thinking the same as you but was just trying
to give them the benefit of the doubt. My patience
is running thin.
And while in the back of my mind I'm thinking the
same thoughts as Parsley too, I didn't want to say
it. Again, trying to be patient and give them the
benefit of doubt.
The odd time I've been accused of being too
nice!!-- emphasis on "odd time"!

[Kodiak]

One more thing. A paid subscription to market
analysis!! Talk about an over-crowded field. This
stuff is given away daily. With their record of
market intelligence, could be a liability rather than
an asset!
Unless they're a cut way above the rest, it's not
worth much. Larry, I'm sure you can attest to this.
You're in a crowded place and have to perform
above the norm....

[LWeber]

S'ok...they have made my life miserable for the past two years - I'm happy to return the favour ...

[gustgd]

*only 2 years Larry??

-I've talked with a couple others who were at the meeting no one came away thinking "wow where can I sign up.

-some were real monopoly supporters who want to see CWBII work.

one of the presenters at the front said something that showed he's not willing to change. I get the impression he is waiting for a buy-out. Yet for the life of me, right now I can't remember what it was.