So no problems in farming all is good move on! Nothing to see!

[SASKFARMER3]

We all know the shit show in grain transportation this winter. Even if the crop was smaller ithe railways still are not able to handle volume of any kind. But ever wonder how not getting to deliver a contract effects farmers.
I talk to lots of guys either at rinks, conventions, sitting in line or on the phone etc. One common comment. We're all delivering on contracts that should of went months ago.
Farmers are good managers but if everything you have in place for movement is derailed (pun) you have to juggle then when the contracts continue to get behind you start to panic then as cash gets tighter you panic some more. Finally liquidating other grain that can move to cover grain you already have contracts on that's not moving.
It's a vicious circle, but talk to any politician and all is fine.
But back what do farmers do, well yes you can liquidate grain into the feed market or blowout deals on canola which really isn't a deal. Or finally take a cash advance on your 2014 grain. Ah not so fast their is a sign up date of March 1 and it's now 10 th. No no mr farmer you should of planned better. I heard on the radio that farmers should get your spring advance, get the paper work done before the end of the month so when April arrives it's simple and done. So I phoned I'm always curious the lady said that the paper work isnt ready to go, they didn't know prices or mr farmer you can't get anything ready. That's where I found out that lots and lots have asked for advances on their 2014 grain and lots didn't make the March cut off.
So now farmers have to not only plan deliveries but also have to plan for disruption and month on month delays in service.
How does one plan for grain movement in jan and grain finally goes in March.
But we're farmers we adapt. Or have to adapt.
Then talked to a few other elevator points today and they all laugh at the service again this winter and wonder if the crops big again this summer will it be worse than 2014 again.
So who is advising the gov that everything is working fine.
Did here today on the news that the Saskatchewan canola growers association is worrying about grain movement finally. Delays are delays.
So ritz quit listening to your advisors talk to real farmers, real grain company managers and it's a different story.
This is all costing farmers millions to maybe billions.
Someone look into the money made last year by the big three companies. Due to limited delivery. Easy to crush a farmer when he's hurting.
But all is fine no problem keep moving on.
Ah farming!

[cuban_assassin]

Ultimately nobody within the industry or government gives a shit. We have all these different farm groups i.e.. wheat growers, canola growers, apas, nfu etc. All of which have good ideas and work to help the farmer, however they are each asking for different things and that gives industry and government an excuse to say, " once all you farmers decide what it is you want let us know, cause each group we talk to tells a different story". Even though each group raises legitimate issues that need addressing, all the division, or what is viewed as division by industry and government, gives the powers that be an out. As a result not much changes and what does takes forever.
Farmers need to learn to get along and do whatever is necessary to help each other out or things will never change. If we would work together we could accomplish a lot. The deck is stacked against us by the industry elite, and the only way to change things is cooperation. As long as we chose to operate our farms totally independent we will continue to get screwed. I have often wondered if we were to seek out like minded individuals to market our grain with or purchase inputs with if we could become a large enough buying and selling entity that we could actually get some respect. Perhaps just a pipe dream. But you know the old saying "united we stand, divided we fall.
Oh, and by the way i'm not talking about starting up the wheat board so don't get you panties in a knot! Ha Ha.

[hobbyfrmr]

The groups that I am aware of that have made some efforts towards what you have described are FNA and Farmcorp/virtex.
I have not heard anything about APASS in the media for a very long time, possibly two years. I really dont know what they do. I regard them as so useless I am not even motivated enough to check if they have a website.

[SASKFARMER3]

I just find it funny when you talk to other farmers, really talk and listen lots comes out. Always when I'm dealing with industry I ask questions. Why not you never learn things if you don't ask.
I wish all involved would ask more questions why things aren't working and what can be done.
It's a great country to be living and farming in. But if nothing changes we can't move successfully forward.

[binthere]

you just answered your own question. if nothing changes how can it be fixed? we cant expect everyone to change to suit our own needs or wants. the change has to start with you and i. we have drifted into a near total free market economy from a mixed economy. as wanna be capatalists we are now finding out the same rules dont apply to us.

[SASKFARMER3]

But why shoot for the stars in yields etc and build mines and produce oil if it can't get out of the country.
That's where sooner or later someone smarter than all of us has to figure out the problem or as a country we fail, and fail miserably.
I'm hoping soon someone steps forward to show the world what Canada can be.

[Horse]

So instead of growing a crop then bitching like hell because no one wants it or wont pay enough or haul the stuff away. Mabey you should rechearch what the market is first and go to market and get a favorable contract,if not dont plant it . Seems simple dont it? But then what are you going to do with the dirt, good question isnt it but then is it someone elses responsibility to sell it for us? Is it our right to grow what ever and how much we please. Mabey a good start would be cut back on imputs and new toys (aka high tech)but then we wouldnt be able to farm thousands of acre and always shit on the big pile.
Anyways you look at it its our own problem made bigger by our own stupidity.

[TOM4CWB]

When a school yard bully... beat up on others...;

What did we do 50 years ago?(Shut up and learn your lesson...!)

NOW (What does society do)?

What does society do today?!!!

Don't Bullies get expelled?

[SASKFARMER3]

Horse are you on Meth or what.
Reserch market and grow what you can sell.
Really. Did you type that.
WTF do you think we grow, crops no one wants.

Simply contracts in place price is fair yet cant move our product. So the back up starts and continues all year till a shit show happens when Farmers get to Boiling point.
Really how many times does it have to be spelled out.

[farmaholic]

Emptying grain bags in fields will soon impossible. Better hope there isn't a call for the grain stored in them until it dries. Does anyone blow the snow away from them to help speed up the drying?

[SASKFARMER3]

I have one left that is in the field and will get moved hopefully on sat and sun morning.
Rest in field by yard are cleaned beside in winter and access is like bins.

[farmaholic]

Moved into bins or to the terminal? If it's just to bins, are you getting paid to do it? ;-)

[Hopalong]

Contrast grain shipping with potash.
Do not hear much from potash producers but plans for increased production are sort of opposite to what some posters suggest for grain production.
Mining industry did indicate a year ago distaste for what it saw as government favouritism to grain farmers.
Remember twenty or so year period when IMC had potash trucked 120 miles from Esterhazy to Northgate to put on US rail system.

[SASKFARMER3]

No moved into the yard. Contract is for march but probably April.

But the post is about disappointment in a system in Canada that's failing Business and farms.
Potash wants to expand again and a few new mines are on schedule to open. But aren't they going to have problems getting product out.
Meal Is backing up at crushers along with oil problem getting out.
Grain is just piling up all over.

Finally some groups are seeing the problems others still feel it will go away.

Growing more to feed the world wont work if in a medium crop production year were still not catching up.

If we grow a bumper again 2014 will look like a cake walk compared to what will happen in the winter of 2015 to 2016.

[SASKFARMER3]

I do remember that trucks moving south then loaded.
But sooner or later all effected have to push and push hard to straiten out this mess. You would hope.