Gustgd

[grassfarmer]

caseih,

"I guess I just wonder why we couldn't have a check off to fund an organization solely for the benifits of farmers ? they could address markets , inputs , transportation and look after the farming industry in general"

You identify a need I think a lot in agriculture would identify with. We already have the solution though - the National Farmers Union! Before anyone gets hysterical think about it - a national organization rather than regional, represents all of agriculture from bees to beef to barley (crucial if you are to prevent government/industry conquer and divide tactics). Accepts no corporate funding, direction or influence. Is absolutely democratic - the policies pursued are those the members want. A grassroots organization not a "top down dictatorship" like so many organizations. Entirely membership funded which prevents the laziness that comes with big checkoff funded budgets. Would need large funding to operate at the level we need but I'd always prefer that was voluntary member donation - encourages accountability and performance.
The predictable response will be "but its the NFU - hahaha" to which I'd answer get involved and make it your organization reflecting your values and the goals you have for better advocacy on your behalf. These so called commodity groups that are all on the Government tit will never get you where you want to go. They are merely pimps for the corporate agenda.

[Klause]

grassfarmer, I tend to agree with you.

There's one problem... farmers will never work together.

Too shortsighted. Too hardheaded.

Just look on here how many arguments we all get into continually... unlike other industries where even though there's competition, there's an association representing everyone as a whole, agriculture is fractured and has a "them vs. me" mentality.

[Guest]

its just to bad the nfu got so politically involved with the ndp in the past . thats just my opinion , maybe i am dead wrong ? maybe they are a good place to start ? i sure am impressed with some of the noise they have been making lately while all the others sit by with their heads in the sand ! as far as political parties now , doesn't much matter, all have agendas that have nothing to do with ag .no fresh choices there, so noise is the only option we have left

[tstep]

Agree with u Krause. It's getting to be a me me industry. The NFU works for the industry and farmers have to look at the industry as a whole and not what's good for ME. The NFU is the one that is in Ottawa and trying to fight for the farmer. Some how we have to kill this Bill C18.

[Braveheart]

Killing a bill is likely harder than stopping ISIS. Is it part of an Omnibus Bill or on its' own?

It would easier to lobby for farmer friendly changes. I don't follow this, so, what needs to change? How do you decide what part of the bill REALLY needs changes, or is opposition just driven by paradigms?

[wmoebis]

I agree caseih.
I have brought up some very big issues with different boards and org's and always seems to fall on deaf ears or they seem to be more concerned with how changes etc would affect them and their bottom line.

I would like to see a farmers advocate office that was funded by farmers and could help us with issues that we face on day to day issues on grain marketing and primary delivery issues at the elevator. You are right some of the issues are national based and concern all types of ag farmers across Canada and even the USA.

We had that with Assistant commissioners but Ritz has refused to fill those chairs. I have worked with Ass't Comm"s in the past putting on farmer info sessions and they were very well attended and lots of valuable info for producers. The Compas review said that we need a farmers advocate office but Ritz has also refused to implement that.

I would rather see farmers attend courses learning grading and what to watch for at the elevator for human error, than seeing pictures out some hotel window in down town Dubai or the foyer of a meeting room in China.

Maybe the farmers that want such an office just need to apply for a check off refund and support it with that money those that don't can keep on as is.

[SASKFARMER3]

The NFU needs to say WTF we need a makeover. The cons and libs saw in sask the only way to destroy Roy was to create a new like minded organization , new name, new vision, and Boom the NDPS were wiped off the face of Sask.
Learn from history boys.

[vvalk]

I have and do sit on boards. Again have to call out Sask.3. Getting 40 bus 30 years ago was a very rare thing which included horrible weed control and many other issues. Never mind it would grow literally 6-7 ft high. How would those varieties stand up to current conditions included disease pressure. If people on here believe canola is such a shitty crop why has it put more money in farmers pockets in the last 10 years then any other major crop( outside of some specialty crops) it's the number one crop now and sure it's expensive and I would agree the last 5 years we have seen seed prices go up with not as much benefit but man we have short memories from where canola used to be.
As for wheat this model is way different from canola and really can't be compared. First of all there are public varieties and public breeding. That will not go away no matter what people try to claim. Farmers will always have that choice.
If a private company doesn't add value then don't buy it. Who is forcing you. As for buying certified every year like canola this is logically impossible. You would need 5% of all cereal acres going to seed production.
Lastly why should a private company spent $100million so you can buy seed once and take the technology for ever.
And yes hybrid wheat and barley are about 0 years away. That will be interesting

[vvalk]

Meant 10 years

[Oliver88]

I don't think the NFU will be taken seriously anytime soon. Their NDP connection and all the weird causes such as Idle No More and their anti-GMO "March against Monsanto" activism does not support western farmers.
SF3 is likely right they need to blow up the group and do a restart without all the loons.

Some credible farm groups such as APAS and KAP have voiced concern regarding end point royalties on cereals which I agree with.

[Hopalong]

Agree the us versus them mindset was, and still is, very much a part of farmer thinking.
Politicians at all levels tend to encourage it in belief it will earn them votes.
Have seen too much small minded thinking in farm organizations, cattle versus grain (remember Crow debate), wheat versus other crops, etc.
Sometimes protection for one crop meant harm to another.
Gets more pronounced as we move up the value chain and start thinking that more regulation on others will be better for us.
Biggest beef with NFU is union idea that if we limit production, all farmers will be better off.
Guess opposition goes back to Adam Smith and support for free market philosophy.

[grassfarmer]

Some strange criticism of the NFU.
From SF3 - "they need to say WTF we need a makeover" Why? when the work they are putting out like on Bill C18 is so on point, as it was in previous issues why the need for a "makeover"? I always think a makeover is a superficial thing, window dressing to make you appear something you are not - why would the NFU need to do that? As I said if you think the content needs changes get in there and change it but don't suggest frivolous window dressing in an attempt to fool people - not sure who you want to fool - your fellow farmers who aren't currently members?

Same with Oliver88, "they have to start over without the loons" as long as you see it as a "they" organization rather than an "us" organization it will not achieve the aims you want. If you want to change it get involved. Sitting sniping on the sidelines gets us nowhere.

Then Hopalong whose main beef with the NFU is it advocates limiting production - really?? maybe you could show me where their policies reflecting that are? The only place I've read such ideas were on Agriville usually coming from SF3 who we all know is the least likely person ever to follow such a policy.

I'm inclined to agree with Klause that it is very hard to get Western Cdn farmers to work together. It was the same to an extent in Europe but people there are generally more political. The one place I've seen a measurable difference is in New Zealand where despite their independent "can -do " attitude they work together on collective marketing schemes for sheep and beef. Perhaps we could learn some lessons by studying them? Tying in such marketing cooperation, political power of working together and accessing inputs the way Klause is advocating could put farmers in a much stronger position. If only we would organize.