Pasta plant?

[seabass]

We sell our wheat for a lot more money than we use to get and we get all the money once it hits the pit. Good ****in ridance.

[blackpowder]

We have lost much of our food processing industry in Canada over the decades. Preventable? Some perhaps. How to properly encourage an indusrty to flourish?
I agree with Braveheart. Some ships have sailed. We all have some responsibility. Some more than others. People like the Friends, the most of all. What did their kind accomplish in 40 years? I know of projects that were looked at and dropped over that time period.
What would New Zealands dairy industry look like with their attitudes.?

[Jdhot]

Why can there not be a discussion ON this topic? Would not a proposed pasta plant add market support for the durum market? Murad did promise one to be built and Gerry and the Blonde lady did lead us to believe that durum farmers and the durum market would benefit. The monopoly is gone, but this is now, I think the topic is a valid one. Where is Murad at on this? That lack of follow thru by a crop purchasing company does reflect on my view of how they MAY do business.

[bucket]

Much like the day over in kindersley it was just a rah rah event. A feel good thing at best.

The government's handling of introducing an open market has been dismal at best.

And even with the latest TPP announcements more markets mean better transportation.

Nothing is happening on that file other than parked equipment and lay offs.

[Rareearth]

Well, carefull what you ask for. Murad just bought Mobile Grain. He's providing infrastructure for the pasta plant.

[stonepicker]

There will be an oppurtunity again in the future when it will be feasible to build a pasta plant. I know your old willy, but get a life, you sound like a bitter old man.

[perfecho]

Blackpowder.this taken from a publication of Sept 15th this year...
"Farmers are responding to the lower forecast Farmgate Milk Price by returning to more traditional farming practices. They are reducing the use of feed supplements, and lowering stocking rates per hectare as they concentrate on utilising pasture.

"Market data from several independent sources show that cows are being culled at higher rates than last season while many of our farmers are also providing early advice that they are expecting significant year on year volume reductions," Hurrell said.

[vvalk]

Wilagro is the stereotypical cwb supporter. Telling you what's best for your farm. I don't grow any wheat or barley but trust me if I did the cwb is the best.

[jdepape]

Talking about CWB interference in farmer-run pasta plants on the prairies means you're talking about Prairie Pasta Producers (PPP). Here's some relevant facts:

- PPP was over 600 farmers that wanted to process their durum into pasta to extract full value.

- the CWB had a policy that allowed farmers to process their own grain on their own farm and sell the products, without CWB involvement, but the products could not be sold outside the province they were produced in.

- the CWB took the position that PPP would be a commercial enterprise - not farmers processing their own grain, and therefore had to buy its durum from the CWB (not its owners) and its owners had to sell to the CWB (not to their own plant).

- the CWB criticized PPP as being a small group of farmers wanting to "cherry pick" the high-valued North American market for themselves, forsaking all other farmers.

- PPP countered with the idea that ALL durum farmers could belong to PPP. They presented the idea of a "Pasta Pool" - a CWB pool for all farmers wanting to invest in pasta production and reap the full rewards.

- The PPP argument allowing all farmers to participate in processing (if they chose) through the Pasta Pool was a compelling argument as it fit very well with the culture of pooling. On that basis, the CWB board voted on allowing PPP the exemptions they were seeking and open the door to a potential Pasta Pool. It lost by one vote.

- In the end, the idea of investing in an enterprise that would rely on one supplier (the CWB) that had a reputation of changing the rules of engagement - always in its favour - put PPP in the same camp as many other would-be investors in processing in Canada, known by the acronym ABC - Anywhere But Canada.

- For PPP farmers, dealing with the CWB in the way the CWB prescribed was repugnant. The true value of vertical integration would be lost.

So, yes - the CWB clearly was an impediment to processing in the prairies. I can give more examples if you like.

As for Murad's plant, I can't say why he hasn't built yet. But things change. Whereas the CWB used to be a dominant factor, its not the only factor.

[bucket]

Depape

Btw Your welcome.