How bout some aid now boys

[TOM4CWB]

LEP,

Amen.

We have some of the best neighbours in the world... and if we treat them fair... most will bend over backwards to help us out.

This is the cooperative spirit that can reduce costs and make things work on the farm. Same with the family members. A little give from time to time... goes a very long way... if we are humble and don't always insist on our own way. This is what built western Canada! And what will keep us going!!!

[bgmb]

Also vvalk, I agree we need to push for transparent markets on both sides of the equation, that is the number 1 priority in my books

[farmaholic]

True LEP, but sometimes things go beyond "bad decisions and poor management". Many many people use modest equipment and inputs and don't buy or rent high cost land and will be in trouble.


Re AgStability.

I chose not to be in crop insurance, of which I would have seldom if ever collected, and just AgStability and AgInvest. Firstly AgInvest is hardly a windfall, what does it pay for in the grand scheme of things? AgStability was my choice of insurance and was half decent until they gutted it. The fact I chose not to be in crop insurance and have my AgStability margin at risk was my choice, Crop Insurance procedes are classified as farm income for purposes in calculations of Agstability. So if my margin was to slowly erode, therefore reduced coverage, due to the fact that I chose not to be in crop insurance was my choice and risk. Then they changed Agstability...which rendered it almost useless despite my choice not to be in crop insurance.

AgInvest, the government knows who has and doesn't have an account balance in AgInvest. Those who deposit and withdraw every year versus those who haven't used any of the money. Just like Nisa, it is hard to ask for money/aid when AgInvest accounts aren't being used!!! But what will it "buy" you out of? Really, what? The fertilizer bill for a quarter or two of land?

I try to look at the whole picture.

[parsley]

The message some farmers on this thread sends to us includes the following:

1. Other industries get tax dollar handout so that is the reason we should get tax dollar handouts too. 'Getting my fair share of assistance' is the reason for me to go full steam ahead, even if prices are low and markets are slow.

2. Some of us farmers are too big to fail.

3. I am entitled to my entitlements, and don't forget it.

4. Most people live beyond their means, why the hell shouldn't I?

5. I should be guaranteed my standard of living. #PriceGuarantee

6. Some working-asshole out there has an obligation to service my debt, because I don't plan on reducing my spending.

7. Agriculture needs government as a funding partner so farmers can be competent businessmen.

8. Farmers can ignore the world economy.

9. Interest rates are cheap. Debt is a tool Im not afraid of.

10. Some farmers remain debt-cautious, and growth-measured, & don't expect the rest of society to pay their bills for them.

Parsley's observation: #10 will build the financially successful farms that will endure, b/c their next generation watch how it's done. #StandingOnYourOwnTwoFeet

[grrrr]

I agree with Longmire. I have been through it all. There will be ups and downs. Save in the good years because there will be bad. 2013 and 2014 were huge years for agriculture in this country. What the hell did you guys do with all the money?

[bgmb]

Ageist ability is now useless since ritz took away our margins. They did this very quietly and it only affected producers with a history of margins that are higher than elegible costs. It is a very ndp thing to do, ostrich man decided the best farmers should have the same margin as the worst ones. It would be like crop ins changing your IPI from 1.2 to 1 with a stroke of a pen

[farmaholic]

I knew it happened but decided to stay in against my better judgement. Maybe it's time to submit ten years of crop production data and have my own, versus area, crop insurance coverage.

(AgStab)By protecting the lesser of your production margin or allowable expenses, it basically made it a barely cover your allowable expenses from the margin protection insurance.

Insurance isn't meant to make money on it's there to soften the landing.

[cottonpicken]

The whole picture?

Our economy is called a command and control. The constant misalication of capital and resources coupled legal fraud in the private and public sectors will bring our society to its knees.

The very fact multi millionaire farmers here and now are talking about raiding public coffers thus taxpayers is testament to the rot and inevitable meltdown.

But on the other hand lol,the strategic geo political world of the Anglo/Saxon empire demands tuff choices to stay on top of the food chain because who wants to be eaten by china?

[bgmb]

Farmaholic, don't feel bad everyone has times when they think they are invincible 40-50bu canola at 12-15 bucks for a few years will do that to a guy. All you can do I learn from it, reevaluate and move forward.

[TOM4CWB]

CP,

I saw on BBC last night the Chinese stock market is down 30 percent in the last 3 weeks. 90M investors in China are now mad. Gov is supposed to fix everything they thought... it can't go down. 3 $UST lost.

WRONG.

QE is very addictive... and the Chinese have always been the masters of QE without the publicity.

[bluefargo]

What I hope is that the government keeps the programs we have and keep them running well.
Crop insurance is a good program. It saved my ass in the drought of 2001-2 and to a lesser extent in the frost of 2004. I don't see why it won't come through this year. If we don't get rain in a week or so our crops are toast.
AgriInvest is a pretty good program too. Having a little nest egg is never a bad thing.
AgriStability not so much. I stuck with it but I don't like the program that much.
If these 3 programs work as they should most farmers should get through. I for one am very appreciative that the taxpayer is willing to keep these programs in place.

[farmaholic]

Cotton, most of the cash won't be in the Producer's hands for long. Probably a very low percentage are hoarders, the rest will flow.

So protecting an industry that generates new money for an economy has no more value than all the "recycling" efforts of old money?

Glad to say I've earned my keep and contributed(paid taxes)in my lifetime.

Just my opinions.

[freewheat]

75 to 100 bucks an acre? Good flipping luck!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

I am saddened that some seem to think we need aid. If it isn't working, change. On your own. Make it happen. On your own.

The more cuban talks, the more I feel like he could be one of my neighbors, all show, no actual management skills.

Where were you, cuban, when the wet years were here? Probably in some area that actually NEEDED the rain and had great crops.

I am happy there are some posts that are not embarrassing to read.

[cottonpicken]

That's why they do it in the first place. Out of country external capital inflows is crucial for an economy. That stuff comes in gets put into banks leveraged up by about a ten factor and filters through. That's how japan has been able to keep going for so long.

[riders2010]

Your the wmberrassment. Bumper crop coming so fk everyone else. 100 bucks an acre right on the mark. Deduct it off agri payment if you were getting one. It's a wide spread disaster so at least have some equitable payout for guys that need it most.

Not everyone can afford to be lazy enough to raise their own chickens and chase sheep all day. Most hard working families both are out working to pay these ridiculous inputs.