Do you vote in director elections?

[gustgd]

At the SPG meeting the other day they
reported16000 ballots went out to people who had
grain sold in their name. (Note I never said
farmers) of that 1500 ish were returned and 75
were spoiled.

Is it important?

What would it take to improve participation?

What would you like to see commissions do?

Are most content, or mad and disengaged?

Voter turnout is low for all commodities, most
have acclaimed directors.

These farmer elected directors have access to
real money to be spent on your behalf. Most are
doing the best they can with the experience and
info they bing to the table. Some are just in it for
the per diem.

[$short]

To answer your question do I vote? I have in the
past a few times but never voted in this past SPG
election.

Are you wondering about how your going to get
farmers to participate in the sask wheat
commission they are trying to establish?

Somehow we need to streamline all of these
separate commodity groups. There's too many of
them. That's why we are short of quality people to
go on these boards. The talent and funding is
spread too thin.

Directing levy dollars as to where they get spent is
a function that all these separate boards have is
one thing. Another important task these boards
have to look at is trade issues when something
happens. For example, the triffid issue with flax.
What happens when our wheat is rejected by a
country because it contains something it's not
supposed to.

That situation will require a lot of money and
expertise to defend....

[Rareearth]

I wonder if a association management, ag
producer groups is workable?

No I haven't thought this through, just concept.

Some groups are large enough for full time staff,
others are small and voluntary. A harmonized
system, shared office building, board rooms,etc,
etc,.
Large groups pulse, canola, etc they could have
there staff, smaller groups could share executive
directors.

Potential small cost savings administratively. all
issues big, small or common could be addressed
strategically.

This is no solution for voter turn out, but would
help in the efficiency and functionality

I'll stop here and listen

[BTO_farmall]

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wd9]

why are there so many boards?

Cereals board, Legume board and oilseeds
board max. The last 2 could certainly be
one.

[sumdumguy]

What about Canaryseed? At least the Pulse
Board has had purpose and we have benefitted
from the breeding that was supported by levy. In
the beginning, the producer paid for research,
then had first crack at the Laird Lentil through
registered seed growers. In 1980, foundation
Lairds cost us $1.20/lb. Thankful to have a
chance at the seed.
And yes, we vote for board SPG board members.

[food4u]

Yes, I vote in every election.

[oneoff]

There's proof that worrying about serious voter participation in elections is a waste of time.

[wd9]

sumdumguy, can not the funding still
exist with less 'administration'?
wouldn't there be even more for MD and
research?

[bluefargo]

I vote in all Federal, Prov and municipal election. I see it as my duty and obligation as a citizen in this wonderful country.

I vote in all SPG elections also. Since it's my money they are spending I want a say in who spends it.

As for the low voter interest It does bother me a little. But I am of the opinion that if people aren't interested then they better be happy to accept the decisions of those who are.

[sumdumguy]

I agree about the cost of administration.
Bureaucracies just grow to swallow all available
funding. If they have a blank chque where no one
gets their levy back and governments throw loads
of money at them, they turn into a pretty cushy
fifedom. Remind you of anything thats going on in
the news right now?

My point is that the Pulse Board grew at the
outset because of a few new breeds of Lentils
and Peas. A lot of us benefitted, and we
appreciate. My life and that of my family would
be very different if not for the lowly lentil. Ask
Havepulse.

[gustgd]

A common theme from Crop production show was
watch overlap and admin costs. And yes this will
help me make decisions going forward.

As I understand to have cross provincial
associations it's tough because of the way the law
is written. Oats has done a good job with
POGA with the three Prairie oat groups trying to
save on exec directors and staff. Still have to
have farmer directors in charge of the dollars and
making decisions.

Ontario has gone to their Grain Farmers Ontario
(GFO), which is the corn soy and wheat groups
under one tent. I would imagine that it's a little
easier geographically, than say Saskatchewan
with almost 50% of seeded acres in Canada.

Anther look behind the curtain would reveal that
many farmers are concerned about staff expense.
Absolutely agree! Determining what programs
are wanted and needed is tough. Try getting more
than one farmer to agree on anything.....

I got my ass chewed out at my Ag grad reunion
because one fellow who farms "big" acres says
he's paying "to much". Not sure what he wants to
cut, that's up to people like me. But he's pulling
his check off.

IMO Smaller acre crops like canary for instance
have trouble consolidating because they see
themselves getting swamped by the wheats and
canola... I would argue that in WGRF that the
smaller acre crops have gotten disproportionately
more dollars.....

I agree that there should be consolidation of
groups but I'm one farmer. Others have to let
people know also.

[Rareearth]

There are fewer and fewer good and willing
people to sit on all the community, church,
producer, town, prov., national boards.

There is a dilution of the pool, those willing, able
etc. there are only so many hours, days
available.

Families are under a lot of pressure to keep up
to the new standards of family, business,
demografics, etc and are making difficult personal
choices, determining what are the priorities are.

There are just too many positions to be filled now.
They are all import, seems to be more each year.
Seems to be more demand for those in 40s who
are few and far between.

No easy solutions, except fewer boards working
to a common goal. Some thing like donors
choice?

[wd9]

Gust, why have both a wheat and barley
commission in SK? Why 2 boards?

Set goals, policies and frameworks that
allow the staff, the people who do all
the work anyways, achieve those goals.
From my experience having more and more
farmers in the same rooms actually end up
doing less and less.

[mbratrud]

$short nailed it...