request to the CWB

[just_wondering]

Below is a press notice of a meeting held in Regina a week ago. Interesting now that three provinces, (even BC !) agreed that we need to move forward on barley now. As the notice mentions, close to 100% of the malt and 90 % of the feed is grown in those areas, add to that our grain trade and the Maltsters want to give producers choice. SO whats wrong? GrainVision one of the groups present has written to Greg Arason and Ken Ritter asking for a meeting. Apparently no response yet. The CWB keeps telling us that they are run by and for farmers, seems funny that they would refuse to meet with a delegation of producers! It is fully with in the means of the board of directors to adapt to moving barley marketing out of the monopoly, as producers have asked them to. So why do they refuse to do what farmers are telling them or even to meet with them?
Erik


Communiqué
Grain Marketing Forum Meeting
Regina, December 10, 2007

On December 10th, 2007, barley industry players representing the full supply chain in the three western provinces met to discuss and agree on an action plan for removing barley from the monopoly control of the Canadian Wheat Board and putting in place a process for marketing choice for wheat.

"In calling this meeting my goal was to seek consensus on what has to be done to ensure the rights of prairie barley producers who want and need marketing choice with their malt and export feed barley" states Jeff Nielsen, President Western Barley Growers Association.

"Opportunities are being lost, farmers are being denied what they want and need. We look to the CWB to be proactive, yet it is time the federal government took more decisive action", says Nielsen.

Barley farmers in Saskatchewan, Alberta and the British Columbia Peace country produce over 90% of western Canada’s total barley production of 10–12 million metric tonnes. Of this, close to 100% of the malt barley malted comes from these areas. And from the processing side, the Malting Industry Association of Canada (MIAC) has called upon the federal government to move forward with total barley deregulation by August 1, 2008 from the CWB. MIAC members represent approximately 60% of the current CWB malt barley pool volume.

Farmers, along with farm organizations, the prairie grain trade, Winnipeg Commodity Exchange, the brewing industry, independent market analysts, MIAC and the Provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. all support the government in presenting to Parliament legislative reforms to the CWB Act removing barley from the monopoly as soon as possible. Marketing choice for barley must be in place for the new crop year.

A delegation from this forum will be requesting a meeting with the CWB to impress upon them that they have the ability to give barley farmers complete choice. This proactive measure would show producers that the CWB could and can work for all producers. Minister Ritz, Minister responsible for the CWB has been contacted, and we are in the process of arranging a meeting with the Minister and staff.
WBGA, WCWGA, GrainVision, Marketing Choice Alliance

[TOM4CWB]

Erik,

Perhaps someone should remind Chairman Ritter of his words July 31?

“The farmer-controlled board of directors has gone a long way to provide flexibility in terms of pricing, payment and delivery -- and we've got plans to go even further,” said Ken Ritter, chair of the CWB’s farmer-controlled board of directors. “We will work hard to find new ways to create marketing choices for farmers...

without stripping away the marketing power of their single desk”.

While today’s ruling means the single desk remains intact for barley, Ritter says it will not be “business as usual”. The CWB will accelerate the evolution begun several years ago to transform the corporation into an entity that effectively responds to farmers’ business needs without sacrificing market premiums..."



Pooled Feed barley... worth $4.10/bu... and a Fixed Price Contract @ $3.85/bu... with Corn at contract highs?

With friends like these...

These people have proven to be unworthy of negotiating anything... let alone the terms of our freedom!

[stubblejumper]

What % of producers do these 4 groups represent?

[Kodiak]

Stubble, does it matter if it’s 1%, 20%, or 80%? Do you have a greater right to tell someone how they must manage their business, than that person has himself?

What I find objectionable about the collectivists and CWB supporters, is that they don’t see the double standard they promote. Its seems its OK for them to have their business model imposed on their neighbour, but its not OK for the open market supporters to participate in a system that gives their neighbour their own choice.

At no time have a seen a marketing choice proponent advocate that collective marketing not be allowed. But I see single desk supporters advocating all the time that their choice is the one their neighbour must ‘choose’.

[AdamSmith]

stubble

what % of farmers do you not give a $#!t about?

what % of farmers does the nfu not give a $#!t about?

what % of farmers does the CWB, the Liberals and the CCF not give a tinkers damn about?

stubble, what % of the grain growen in the three parairie provinces and parts of BC, do you really not care one wit that it has been taken, against their own desires and better judgement?

What % of farmers do you just dismiss as irrelevant?

[parsley]

A meeting with the CWB? Sounds like a Christmas present for somebody.

Don't be surprised if the CWB:

1. Say one thing but mean another
2. Reverse positions an hour later
3. Pretend they have an interest in farmers, but forge decisions based upon the needs of staff.
4. Pitch a plum to one participant in order to undermine the efforts.
5.Have the press releases already prepared for the outcome of the meeting.
6.Has the presentation agenda, er, "fixed".

Hope it goes well. Thanks for the efforts.

Parsley

[parsley]

Stubblejumper
what % of these groups represent? I'd personally say the majority, we are talking barley here !
perhaps you have a better idea of those that support the status quo?
Who knows what the CWB will say to this group, I doubt that any resolution from them will come about. Yet seeding time will show. I'd think barley acres will drop drastically if we don't get barley out of the monopoly. Why grow something that can't return a profit to your farm. Could be a sea of yellow next summer. And if you are some one that takes on some risks you more than likely have priced one heck of a good return on some of your canola already. Something you can't do with your malt barley.
Erik

[parsley]

Discouraging farmers from planting barley might be prudent, with the expectation that barley the way it is now, will not put cash in the pocket.

Last year, most farmers' expectations were buoyed by the enthusiasm that the anticipated free barley market wouuld bring.

They got burned.

Perhaps a resolution warning is warranted.

Parsley

[charliep]

Stubblejumper

Don't want to take this thread off topic so maybe better answered in my thread two below. The questions.

Is status quo acceptable to you as a malt/feed barley producer?

What you like to see happen with malt barley on August 1, 2008?

When you remove some of the political issues around single desk, how different is your position on barley marketing than what is being asked for in the press release?