Western Barley Growers' Convention

[parsley]

Good Morning all,
I attended The WBCA's dandy convention in Calgary from 11-13.

Quorum Corporation made a very interesting presentation on A STUDY OF THE GRAIN INDUSTRY, examining the grain industry from a business perspective, the same as every other industry is looked at,right from the producer to the retailer. It exposed the weaknessess in the system we now have, and exposed why the producer ends up paying for so much.

Honourable Shirley McClellan spoke, and strongly confirmed her committment to getting rid of the monopoly part of the Wheat Board. She was very focused and has the weight of her caucus behind her. And doesn't mince words.

Policy guru for the Alta. Gov't, Nithi Govindisami, easily spoke about Alberta's Bill 207, and the ways Alberta will look at to get a voluntary Wheat Board. He's a sharp cookie.

Darhl Vercaigne presented on Selling a Voluntary Wheat Board to the Business Community, and Colin Carter adressed the Changing face of Agriculture. Just a few things from the presentations.

Pres. Doug McBain sure knows how to throw a good convention.

I guess I came home with a feeling that change is rattling the door. Loudly.

Parsley

[wbrower]

I also attended the Western Barley Growers convention. It was packed with pertinent speakers with a wealth of information pertaining to this business of agriculture.

This is in stark contrast to the CWB accountability meeting that was held in Lethbridge the night before, which I also attended. After the high carb supper the CWB put on for the old boys, there was little that followed in the way of questions or accountability.

I look forward to the day when a producer in Western Canada can market Wheat or Barley without being threatened with jail time or subjected to the inefficiencies and corruption of Government of Canada agencies.

[parsley]

wbrower,

What I found particularly revealing was the linechart that traced movement of grain from Producer straight through to the End-user. It followed Possession, Control and Who Pays through each of step of transportation, and clearly identified where we are going wrong. Unsurprisingly, the CWB is really a major problem.

Sometimes, producers become penalized because of what he called unintended consequences, too.
The railways, or grain companies modernize,or get leaner, for example, and farmers end up paying for the extra 50 mile haul, and are stuck with the bill, with no recourse.

Didn't you find Shirley McClellan filled with a deepened resolve, saying she really wanted to see the end of the monopoly before she quit politics?

Parsley

[wbrower]

Parsley
The fact that the CWB has a monopoly on Wheat and Barley coupled with the fact that it takes them an average of 79 days from the time a producer delivers to an elevator at which point the board gets possession, until they get it loaded on a ship, speaks volumes about just how inefficient a state run monopoly like the CWB really is. This kind of Socialism failed in the old Soviet Union and in like manner it will eventually fail here.

Another thing one of the speakers referred to was the trading of demurage charges amongst the players at Port. Kind of like a little futures market. In some jurisdictions that might be referred to as Racketeering. Maybe it takes the CWB 79 days to make sure that there is ample time for all these players to extract maximum benefits unto themselves.

Finally, I have to say I was pleased to see that Shirley McClellan does seem to have the resolve it is going to take to restore a free market to Wheat and Barley markets.

There is now under construction a huge malt Barley plant in Great Falls, Montana, and another one in Idaho. I don't believe there is enough barley in Montana to supply even one of these plants. Maybe the CWB could cut them a sweet heart deal, if we let them.

wbrower