Agriculture...more than ever.

[farmaholic]

As a Producer, what does this campaign mean to you? Young and starting in the Industry versus old and ready to leave. Young, ten feet tall, willing to risk it and blinded by ambition versus old(er) with a lifetime of experience, jaded by it, and less willing to risk "YOUR" capital. Encouraging or discouraging the next (family)generation.

If the Ad link is showing up on Agriville's web page click on it and see what it says. Is it a question of denying some fundamental problems on the Producer level with a warm and fuzzy feel good campaign? Any positive spin on primary ag production is a good thing but lets not neglect the cold hard facts either...

[perfecho]

Yes, I do chuckle at this campaign. "They " have to teach people to have a positive outlook on ag.
IMHO, pay fairly and the positive frame of mind would be there......

[bucket]

Any of you watch the movie " hancock" with Jason Bateman and will Smith?

This reminds me of someone trying to put a symbol to something of nothing.

Next time guys go to buy something, tell the retailer you want to pay with huggy feely stuff because you are an agvocate.


shheeesh!

I would like to know who is funding this.

[mbdog]

As far as political advocacy goes, I like this campaign. Doesn't have that "lipstick on a pig" feel to it, even though it can be/is on the ground.
I like the fact that they ask/listen/defend/explain while promoting the industry without picking sides. The politics of ag is the elephant in the room...they seem to take a soft approach to the politics of things...and don't hide from it.
Huge challenge to overcome confidence/trust/perceptions of ag but I continue to like how this ones rolling out.

[hobbyfrmr]

As I get older if find it tough to promote ag. Very seldom does anything work out as planned, which is the nature of the occupation. There is always some type of troubleshooting on multiple aspects. Then the weather and financial risk. Add politics to the mix and it's not easy.
I would like to know of a comparable industry. Highway construction?
It's going ok, but I say that every year. Not really super confident about agriculture. It "looks" like anybody with a decent job is doing as well or better.

[SASKFARMER3]

Simply if your kids get a trade or degree, are hard workers, go to the oil patch, be like a farm 10 on 10 off make $240,000.00 to $256,000.00
And enjoy your life.
Farming in Canada, one in ten you might luck out, three more will be good, 2 will be break even, three will loose money and one will almost break you or it will.
That my friends is farming 101.

[tweety]

Reading these posts is exactly why Ag more than ever is required.

[farmaholic]

Bucket. This is off their website. There are twenty eight pages with a supposed 333 "partners". But I don't know if they found it. I'm not saying this is a bad thing.

http://www.agriculturemorethanever.ca/partner-category/all/

[farmaholic]

Typo.... "fund it" not "found it".....

[bucket]

Yes let's all cheer for canadian agriculture and miss some important facts.

The US farmer grew a large crop and payments to farmers there will top 10 billion from government.

China has a domestic wheat price close to double the futures market or what we get paid.

China can buy potash cheaper delivered there than canadian farmers that are 2 Mikes from the plant.

Same goes for nitrogen.

In other words farmers are well protected in other countries because they are valued.

We are valued here as host for the leeching parasites that includes government.

If you think competing against other countries treasuries with no support is worth cheering about - knock yourselves out.

But at least present some facts to young guys that might take this up on their own without grampa John's jar of gold.

[wmoebis]

333 sponsors all with hands in your pocket.
Not judging Ag more than ever, but I wonder how much all advertising really costs farmers. We know that everyone passes on costs to us whether it is on input or marketing side or just AG itself.

[farmaholic]

Bucket, your last sentence is exactly my point. Read my starting post. Is that whining or just saying it like it is. I don't want to "fool" my kid who I'm passing the torch to. Its a big panaramic picture, make sure you look at the whole thing folks.

[vvalk]

Sask 3. What a load of crap! Just go to the oil patch and make $250K? Most might make half of that working in brutal northern secluded conditions. People come back to southern Alberta to make $25 an hour and feel it's a better life. Not only that what is your take home pay on $250K. Maybe $150K. If you figure everything your farm pays your actual take home pay is very high. No reason not to make $100K on 640 acres these past 5 years and that's after you paid for much of your living expenses.

[Cattleman]

How typical. A group is trying to put a positive spin on agriculture, then everyone else bashes them and jumps all over them to piss and moan some more!
Lots of people inside and outside of agriculture just see the pissing and moaning and see this industry as always negative. I agree we need balance, but providing some positive reflection probably isn't a bad thing as we know there are lots of negative sentiments out there.

In terms of the income side, a neighbor left the farm for a few years to get some experience and build some wealth, he bought some land in the mean time, but still finds himself way further behind than the guys who stuck around the farm the last few years. He doesn't have near the equity to buy land, and is not sure he can make it work to buy even half decent equipment if he wants to farm a decent land base. He has a good paying job, and has invested wisely, but his wealth hasn't kept up to the farming community at all.

[bucket]

Rose colored glasses and sugar coating doesn't do anyone any good.

There is no sense in lying about the simple fact it's your bank account vs the treasuries of other countries.

But maybe it does make sense since for over 75 years western Canadian farmers financed other countries grain purchases.