We need a spokesman or group that works for famers!

[blackpowder]

Had good visit with American grain exec based in Canada. He marvelled at the access to govt we had compared to US farmers.
Just thought I'd throw a positive out there.

[CptnObvious]

The Quebec farmers have been laughing at us for years. All of them MUST belong to the union( UPA) and therefore have a strong voice, represent ALL farmers( by majority opinion) and don't have to worry about losing memberships. Out west we have a different organization for every topic and if there ever is a disagreement within an organization, it splits to form a brand new one. Gov't can pick which ever of the dozens of different view points they like and can claim that they have consulted with and are listening to farmers. We make it so easy for them to screw us.
Join the one organization honestly for all of us. Join the NFU.
The NFU: is run by a board of directors, 2-3 from each province plus a few execs elected at the annual meeting.
Jan Slomp is the president.
Most members are conventional farmers.
There are NDP, Lib, Green, and whatever else as members. I have spoken personally to Conservative NFUers.
They DO put out press releases, one every few days, Canadian media considers ag to be a low priority and farm media has a right wing bias.( I sent in a letter to the WP urging people to join the NFU in which they edited out every reference to the NFU. This was not by any means 'Thou shalt not advertise in the letters section' because they left in references to APAS and others.) Comments from those who has studied NFU documents have assessed them as in depth and insightful( 'near clairvoyant' said one).

[Braveheart]

Grassfarmer almost nailed it for me. I would prefer to say is folks don't seem to grasp YOU have to take personal responsibility.

By saying that YOU are charged to be active in whatever farm group suits your needs/wants/personality. Whether you like the NFU, WCWGA, APAS, KAP or whatever, if want advocacy in your desired direction you need to do more than just belong.

Directors of such organizations need and want feedback from membership. Sure, there will always be directors that just want per diems, dinners out,and other activities?, but the majority want to work on your issues. But they need to know your issues.

No new group needed. That would only further splinter an already crowded landscape of farm groups, and not accomplish one new damn thing. Just, YOU, take the time to join and support whatever group that appeals to you.

[GOODRUM]

You mean that unless someone tells them what is going on they won't know? That's there job !
Were the ones in the trenches here! We have to do everything? I kinda got my hands full here without another job. A good hired man can work unsupervised, is that what's needed? Supervision

[Braveheart]

Directors aren't mind readers. Your paying to join to work on your issues. That's YOUR issues.

Example: So, you leave them alone. They approve UPOV. They go the Keg in Calgary to celebrate. You get the newsletter and say WTF just happened? Then you wonder why didn't they read my mind? I could have sent an email from my smartphone while seeding. Damn!

[grassfarmer]

Thats how democracy is supposed to works too GOODRUM, elected officials are the representatives of the people so to be able to do their job well they need the people to give them direction. Where democracy and many of these producer groups break down is the leaders start following their own agenda and soon become alienated from their members or those they should be representing.

Jan Slomp is a good friend of mine and along with his predecessor Terry Boehm are two of the smartest leaders in CDN agriculture. They both have a global knowledge and understanding of the issues through having spent extensive time in Europe that tends to be lacking in many other prairie based farm groups.

I see some of the recent issues the NFU have press releases on are:

NFU testifying on Bill C18

An OP ED on public research and extension being the key to adoption of farmer controlled pest management.

Enhancing pollinator health and reducing the use of Neonicitinoid pesticides in Ontario.

Federal Government must ensure fusarium research genetics remain in the public domain.

Not bad in my opinion for an organization on a shoe string budget, entirely reliant on member donations - and only farmers can be members.

[CptnObvious]

The NFU document on the cattle crisis was brilliant too. They started our to measure the effect of BSE and found the price of cattle had been depressed since 1989, it was just masked by low grain prices at the time.

[bucket]

Part of directors responsibility is too make sure they are talking to the people they represent. As opposed to justifying the other side presented to them.



The people representing farmers on this seed thing should know it's not good for producers in general. The optics are bad. If it needs too much defending or explaining - more than likely it's not good.

[Guest]

I have never voted NDP, although I have voted for some PC candidates that are totally useless. I have never supported the NFU because of their union and NDP ties in the past . But seriously , I ask this question again , why are they the only only ones making any noise on this issue or several other important ones??? This is a huge issue !!! If nothing else , me and everyone else should buy their membership on this C-18 issue and give them some money to make some more noise . At leat they are trying . Can't be any worse than some of these useless check-offs we are funding now . Grass , how much is a membership ?

[freewheat]

Interesting having a dairy guy as the head of the nfu. hmmmm....

[grassfarmer]

caseih, it is $195 for an annual family membership but all donations are welcome large and small FROM FARMERS.

Big deal freewheat - Jan had dairy, some hogs and grew grain. He and the entire organization represent all sectors of agriculture equally from bee keepers in Ontario to potato growers on PEI.

[riders2010]

So what ritz had ostriches he saw them stick their head in the sand so he did the same now he can't see that they pulled theirs up. So what?