wcwga - need some info

[tstep]

NFU is a nation wide lobby group that does a lot of work for agriculture in Ottawa. WCWGA is just the 3 prairie provinces.

[mustardman]

So Tom Are you saying "if you want Corporate Control,join the WCWGA" ?

Cause that is what happens when the wheatgrowers whisper in the gov't ear

At least you can vote Out a gov't but handing all Ag Power over to Corporations is similar to feudalism.Its why our ancestors left the old country

[bucket]

Tomlifer

What's the membership numbers?

[mustardman]

I was a member in the early 80's, before I was aware that they were basically corporate lobbyists masquerading as a FARM group

[grassfarmer]

"If you think gov control is the answer... join the NFU"

Isn't that ironic? The one farm organization that most often opposes Government policy.
Meanwhile wcwga and many of these other commodity groups are just "dummy" organizations set up and sponsored by the Government and corporate interests to be their mouthpiece. Wouldn't they be the ones "Government controlled"?

How timely now that Bill C-18 has passed third reading and looks like its going to become law. I'm proud to be an NFU member, the only organization that fought for farmers rights to retain seed.
During the debate on Bill C-18, Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz said that "there is only one small splinter farm group" that is against moving ahead on Bill C-18."
He also said he was "not interested in hearing from people in downtown Vancouver or downtown Montreal."
So there you have it. Farmers screwed over once again by big corporate Ag while Tom and his ilk in the dummy farm organizations are happy to be their pimps.

[CptnObvious]

The NFU has many times the number of members as the WCWGA, but as was said this is not really about numbers. Still good advertising though.
What matters to prospective members is philosophy.
The WG has a very corporate/industrial philosophy, a belief that anything new is by definition good and that if farmers are free to operate without any rules they will thrive because...well, just because. They do well on motherhood issues but on big things they tend to leave farmers in a weaker bargaining position. They rely on emotional appeal.
The NFU is more strategic and of course has a very strong ethical compass. It often has noted ag economists( professors, not consultants) report to it and it's research is globally respected( CETA, C-18, land grabbing...). They rely on logic.
Check out the publications of each. Be critical.

[tweety]

Grassfarmer, farmers don't have the "right" to retain seed. Never did. Never will. Its the property of the holder and full rights are theirs and theirs alone.

You have a privilege to retain seed - only if the holder lets you.

Would have thought by now farmers understood that but apparently the myth lives on.

[bucket]

I am sure I will of all the good work they do or have done upon joining.

I just want the number of actual farmers they represent.

[charliep]

bucket

Just curious why you want this discussion in a public forum? Why won't you contact one of the WCWGA directors and ask them for the information?

[URL="http://www.wheatgrowers.ca/index.cfm?show=10&mid=13"]WCWGA contact info[/URL]

I would note that the directors on the WCWGA are relatively young (at least to a 62 year old) and represent farmers in the growing stage of their business. I might also ask both the policies and where they are represented on different forums/policy development initiatives. You may disagree with the organization but you always know where they stand.

[bucket]

Left messages for the current president to call me months ago.

I think it's been long enough.

[bucket]

Besides half the directors are here on a regular basis like a coffee shop.

Don't want an open honest discussion ?

[bucket]

It's a pretty simple question that has a long discussion. JFC.