Sask Pulse Growers is looking for input

[gustgd]

Optional: Grower participation in survey for graduate student thesis

October 15 2014
Dear Registered Pulse Grower,

Delaney Seiferling, a McMaster University graduate student and former Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) employee, has asked us to inform registered pulse growers in Saskatchewan about a study she is doing on increasing the reputation of Saskatchewan’s pulse industry (see letter attached for more complete details on the study). This research is part of her thesis project for her Master of Communication Management and Public Relations degree at McMaster University.


http://saskpulse.com/news-events/news/optional-grower-participation-in-survey-for-graduate-student-thesis/

[Rareearth]

Maybe a futures contract for lentils, every one wants and needs a way to manage risk, buy out of contracts etc

Have govt of Canada buy lentils for food aid, it worked for the CWB

Lower our cost of production so we can sell at a lower cost

Just kidding

[gustgd]

I like the suggestions and putting it on here will help create discussion.
Although if you don't do the survey it doesn't count.

One of my mentors in Ag is famous for saying

"Ag policy is made by those who show up"

[freewheat]

"Increasing the reputation". What does that even mean? Does it imply we have a "bad reputation?"

I do not really get the question.

[ColevilleH2S]

I'm with freewheat, other than railway shipping issues what is wrong with our reputation? Please fill us in, we need to know.

[ColevilleH2S]

We need to build on our strengths, like our efficiency, and resulting low cost of production. I remember a presentation a few years ago that showed Kazakhstan would be a perfect place to grow pulses. The problem is their cost of production is astronomical. The only thing keeping them from competing with western Canada is that gap in COP. Lets work on keeping that gap.

[ColevilleH2S]

And just to be annoying...
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m441/npksetal/Bucket/Gap_zps8bd10f82.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Gap_zps8bd10f82.jpg"/></a>

[sumdumguy]

We've been heavily involved in producing, processing and marketing pulses since 1980. Saskatchewan pulses have an exemplary reputation. The industry is actively working on quality exports continuously.

[Rareearth]

Explain what exemplary is.
- timely delivery against contracts? This is the biggest knock against Canada, every excuse in the book, on the cry sheet:
snow storm
derailment
Avalanche
Need a exchange to hedge risk, volatility to high
port strike
rail strike
cars didn't show up
lack of containers
50 ships waiting to be loaded
-25 in saskatchewan
Growers won't sell
Need a exchange
95% sold out
Not till after Christmas holidays
Canadian dollar, currency to high
Freight to expensive
Doesn't matter what price or quality Canada has, China, Russia, Argentina , Africa ,USA have similar product they can ship today at a lower price
It's raining in Vancouver
Poor quality, frost disease, bleached, Copper
Maximum residue levels - roundup etc
GMO ??

That's the quick list,

[jdwerker]

Awesome to see a grower organization reaching out to farmers on here, doesn't happen in Alberta for sure!

[freewheat]

Reaching out with an unanswerable question though! I would be more than happy to have input, but I have no idea what the question means, and it appears I am not alone.

[sumdumguy]

Apparently it is "increasing the reputation", what is that?

[freewheat]

What is it indeed!

[farmaholic]

Wasn't there some internal Board strife that spilled over into an election issue with resignations?

I could see them wanting to increase the reputation of pulses and promote consumption.

Do you feel your getting value for your checkoff dollars? Better varieties, building a bigger customer base, speaking up for pulse producers re shipping?

[jdwerker]

Better then decreasing the reputation.