Who agrees and who disagrees! Open for discussion.

[cottonpicken]

Agree. Last nail in the coffin was the seed thing. Kind of poetic in a way seed killing the farmer.

[SASKFARMER3]

Its funny to spot these farms isn't it furrow.
In our area All of a sudden bags are cleaned up and trucks are ready and boom grain from all one farm is taken. Then the rest of the farms bring in slowly are canceled etc.
Two years ago when a famous Useless farm owed a large sum to local Terminal guess what Shit Grain was hauled and filled elevator. Hm no coincident.
That is the master plan Im sure every one on here can spot the group that has bought into this. No control of farmer they work for grain company but grain company lets them think their running the show.
Now some times the rest of us really can skin these companies when their protégées cant produce enough to cover their contracts then the call comes can you please deliver to help us fill a train. Ah negotiations begin and that's when a farm can get some nice deals. Over production years stopped that but I think those years are coming to a end. Lower production will help straiten out all this shit show we have in place. If industry doesn't want to change to deal with good production buy building infrastructure to handle the volume. Piss poor crops can help or Realistic goals of Good old 40 bus crops and No the world isn't out of food.

[Hopalong]

Agree that much of it is already happening but what is good or bad depends on individual opinion and outlook.
Think back to days of unit quotas, international wheat agreement, jack of all trades farmers (and masters of none), grade eight education, wheat pool committees, single country elevator delivery points and more.
Business oriented farm structure is going to have more advantage in future because it will provide more attractive income to everyone involved.
Can see continued presence of way of life farmers who value independence and are willing to take less income but think trend will continue to go other way.

[SASKFARMER3]

Only thing hop is the Big Corp farms that pay individuals and have structure in place and work with grain companies still are only one to two crop failures away from disaster.
Two years of drought and watch what happens. But 8 years of over production kind of was easy to play.
I do think Family farms have a huge place corp or not. Because these farms are working for one goal their existence. Times get tough shit changes. The others don't see it. Broad ass was prime example still taking a check and their Bankrupt. One earth thought it would work how well did they do.
Time will tell who is right but isn't faming interesting on any given Sunday.

[Hopalong]

New business models are likely to come forward.
Think of Hutterite driven by something else than their religion.
Franchise operations is another possibility.
Have to wonder if present confrontational attitude that exists between some growers and the people we deal with and depend on will continue.
Many family farm operations have superb management and vision and will be very tough to displace.

[foragefarmer]

Hopalong

" jack of all trades farmers (and masters of none), grade eight education, wheat pool committees, single country elevator delivery points and more."

I would a have to disagree with you on many fronts of this statement.

Jack of all trades farmers would qualify as diversification which in my eyes are farmers that are currently doing the best in today's farming. Examples for this would be producing livestock, growing forage for seed production, selling hay, etc etc.

As for education, many successful farmers have limited education, but have adopted to many new farming methods and technologies.

As for farmers in committees, does it really matter which one they belong to, sticking together to take on farming issues so voices can be heard is important at any level. Things are happening so quickly in Agriculture communication between farmers is so very important. We certainly are not getting any help with from our Ag minister Ritz

[jamesb]

The bottom line is that all areas of the chain must be profitable or else its not sustainable. I believe farmers are a lot better business people than we were in the past and if we run the farm as a business, do the math we can find the profit centers. IMO the big monolithic companies always leave room unintentionally for the small nimble operations to survive and thrive. Its in our power to decide who we do business with.

[agchat]

Well tweety, you disagree but no explanation as to why. Hmm, that is kinda like phoning in a complaint, them making it anonymous. Just a waste of everyone's time.

[TOM4CWB]

Sf3
One Earth and Broadacre show we have a very long track of failures disproving you

Weather is a very disruptive element to your model plus motivated labour to work 18 hour days

No good model to control this risk

Cheers

[wilagro]

I partially agree with the scenario presented...BUT...you farmers DESERVE everything that is coming to you.

You collectively shucked off your Co-operative elevator systems, you went along with the CONS and their elimination of the ONLY marketing system you ever had (CWB), you wanted FREEDOM. Well not you have it...FREEDOM TO BE USED AND ABUSED.

Are you happy now?...NO!!! of course not...farmers are NEVER happy. It must be in the genes or some infectious disease.

I wouldn't recommend farming to any of the younger generation...buy your food from China or Russia or the good ol' USA...who gives a rat's ass for agriculture in Canada anyway.