2008 African Durum Crop

[parsley]

PAGING RICK MERCER
Re "PM makes 'em gag" (Greg Weston, Feb. 5):


The Government of Canada is delivering real action for Canadian farmers.

With so much change making a real difference, it is too bad the issues Weston chooses to write about are figments of his imagination.

I would like to bring him back to reality.

Notwithstanding Weston's vivid imagination, the recent departure of a Canadian Wheat Board employee is an entirely internal matter.

Another of Weston's delusions is equally unfounded; an internal Canadian Grain Commission memo was indeed an internal memo. The government had no influence on it.


Weston stretches his imagination to the breaking point when he tries to connect the Canada Grain Act to the CWB. There is no connection between that legislation and the CWB.

It is hard to imagine where Weston's imagination might lead. If someone forgets to make fresh coffee in the Langevin Building, is Weston going to dust the coffee pot for the prime minister's fingerprints?

Does he really think cabinet weighs in on every staffing decision or requisition for paperclips?

Here is the reality: This government is working with the CWB to give Western Canadian barley farmers the same freedom every other Canadian farmer enjoys, is modernizing the CGC to make services more competitive for Canadian farmers and to ensure they have access to the latest crop science.

We're delivering real change for Canadian farmers.

I suggest Mr. Weston start writing about that reality.


Hon. Gerry Ritz, P.C., MP Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
(

[just_wondering]

Part of farmer apathy I would contribute to one Larry Weber. I was at a chemical meeting (Dupont in the Sheraton hotel) in 2004 where Larry Weber talked about the upcoming CWB elections.
He talked of disgust in the process and talked of idealogs from one side, fighting with idealogs from the other.
This was a group of about 80 prominent farmers who likely took a lot of stock in what Mr. Weber had to say. And just as likely told their friends what this prominent Agricultural commentator talked about.
It's time the opinion makers encouraged participation in all forms of Ag policy not just the CWB.

Please Larry don't let me put words in your mouth, it was almost four years ago, and I realize that you are dong much more in 2008, even by posting your thoughts here under your real name.

If one can believe what they read on an Internet bulletin board

[just_wondering]

PS 2004 was the year Flamen re-ran after flipping sides.
He won on his record <3

[LWeber]

Whilst I remember the venue at the Sheraton, I remember being taken to task for what I said moreso than what was said.
________________________
Read between the lines.
________________________

Get involved. Watch Ontario farmers. Watch Quebec farmers.

Dalek from Ontario has posted his thoughts on what would happen there.

But you are right Just_:

The RR's get a free ride.
The gov't gets a free ride over farm insurance policy.
The Competition Bureau gets a free ride.

Energy is not an infinite entity.

It will become tougher to evoke change because of high prices; however, it shd not weaken anyone's resolve.

Best,

[agstar77]

Hasn't weakened my resolve, LW.

[parsley]

just-wondering,

Let me get this right.

You are bashing Weber, for not pursuing, with enough vigor, YOUR job which is to to advocate the path for your chosen vocation.


Meantime, you sat in a chair like a dolt, hauled yourself home to moan to the little missus, did sweet toot, amd then throw your grievance at him years later. Holy sheepshat.

Did you ever consider that maybe farmers themselves should be the hard-pushing engines driving the agenda we envision? Ya, ya, it's easier to have been feeding the birds this winter.

Did you ever consider that maybe farmers should actually get out and fight a battle or two of their own?

Did you ever write a note to Weber, or Baron, or Dorosh, or any farm writer, for that matter not EXPECTING from them, but appreciative of anything extra they may have done to help YOU along?

Don't post today until you've done something extra to move the agenda ahead for all farmers wanting choice, and maybe I will have calmed down.

Parsley

[parsley]

Organic Golden Flax $40.00 per bushel at the bin

Organic Brown Flax $30.00 same thing


No freight charges

[LWeber]

Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. Lord knows I get in deep voicing mine.

I have the .ppt pres from December 03, 2004.

Here is the last slide:

Summary
Leave with this one piece of information – learn this business – its your business and no one else’s. Take it back

[agstar77]

Take it back from who LW? Do we control the Canola business , the oat business? If we do , could you explain how?

[LWeber]

Progress.

It took you 8 minutes to play the indirect multi-national card.

Butch would have been there in 7 minutes 55 seconds.

Now thats progress.

[just_wondering]

Parsley
when talking about the Barley growers convention you mentioned that you had never seen Webers speeches but were impressed with what you saw.
I did talk to him a few weeks before his Sheraton presentation and he was completely on side helping in every way he could, even made a few calls.
The next time I saw him was at this nice event that Dupont put on for their growers talking about futility in the process. It was NOT the place to call him to task for my personal beliefs.

In answer to your question YES I have written some thank you letters in my time and have subscribed to newsletters supporting those that make sense.
And in my short Agricultural career I have worked quite had at times to instill changes and choice in the world.
I was mostly in a rather clumsy way taking Mr. Weber to task for saying something in Private then doing another thing in public.

If you've got a crush on the guy don't get mad at me for posting something I believe to be true.
Larry thanks for the input
Summary
learn this business – its your business and no one else’s. Take it back
I'm working on it.

[parsley]

just-wondering,

Actually, I wrote I was impressed with what I heard, and I tagged two stars at the WBGA convention. Thought they were both grand speakers.

I said Weber was "softly hard-hitting with his message". Never heard him before. He had a dandy message, as did Stonehouse. First time I ever met/heard Stonehouse and the second time I've ever met Weber. And the first time I met charliep.

I have observed many times, that some farmers look to the government etc. to to lead them out of their financial/policy/ wilderness.

Farmers have to do for themselves. It is a message that has been repeated time and time again. If the apathy continues, there will not be any money to be made.

Farmers need to appreciate that there are a lot of folks who have tried to help them, IMHO.

Taking a round out of them for not doing more, will not make them keener to appear next time.

Good for you if you are making a personal effort to improve what farmers have allowed to happen to farming.

You obviously don't know my age.
Good thing. lol

Parsley