Why our wheat production has little relation to prices

[rockpile]

Tom! You're stuck in the past. Get over it! It's a new environment and everyone has to learn to deal with it. How you somehow twisted my post into a debate from the past is beyond me. Read SF3's reply - he got it. One other thing if you read through the data. All the stan's that formed after the breakup of the USSR have had phenomenal production increases in a very short time. So maybe the whole global dynamics will be shifting in the future.

[TOM4CWB]

Sorry you did not like my answer:

"If you do not like wheat prices you can:
1. STOP growing it,
2. Grow organic... Booming markets,
3. Export to the US,
4. Sell to the Cwb,
5. Make your own grainco and get rich!"

I stick by it... all these solutions are being utilized to some extent now... I suppose you were not really looking for an answer.

The old wives tale that 'if you grow it... they will beat a path to your door' works about one year in 10... if we are lucky! 2012 was a year to remember... and the first half of 2013 was almost as good!

just saying... It seemed to me to be too good to be true long term!

Cheers!

[charliep]

rockpile

I would look more at the trade side. Won't dig up the numbers but the shift from five major exporters (Canada, US, Europe, Australia and Argentina) to include the former Soviet Union countries. Canada is about 12 to 15 percent of world trade. North America is under 40 percent.

We can be negative but I think we have to look for our competitive advantage. Quality. Ability to meet just in time buyers logistic requirements. The latter has taken a big hit over the last year - the supply chain needs to have a hard core look at what happened this winter. From the farmer side, the impact of our problems (not world market problems) is the ability to relate our local price with world prices.

Hope you have been on your motorbike this spring. Was out yesterday and even took the road monster on gravel. The bike club I belong to challenge this year is to cross every ferry in Alberta and yesterday, I checked the Klondike ferry off the list north of Barrhead.

[rockpile]

Hi Charlie. I totally agree with every single thing you said. I just didn't want to pull the demand side of the big picture into the discussion and complicate things. I was making one simple observation.

On the fun side, I sold my bike this past winter. With my bad knees and some recent issues with my sense of balance, I just felt that it was time to err on the side of caution and quit trying to manhandle 1000 pounds on two wheels without the full confidence I used to have. I may buy something 250 or 300 lbs lighter just for shorter local riding. I also have a Mustang convertible so I'm still getting a lot of that rush. But you keep riding, my friend, as long as you can. Nothing clears the mind or soothes the soul like the motorcycling experience. Way better than booze or Prozac.

[charliep]

You are right about riding being relaxing. I can relax and just live in the moment. Survival. A person has to pay attention or be an accident looking for a place to happen.

[jdwerker]

Hobbyfrmr, I like what you said about "you have to grow wheat", will start another thread on this....