Doesn't any one else get sick of this?

[agstar77]

I don't have a dogmatic view of who should market my grain. I prefer the CWB system of orderly marketing. I am more concerned about the survival of Grain farming as rural enterprise. The route you are suggesting will make everyone more dependent on large corporations which don't have any particular interest in the makeup of agriculture, as long as they profit. I am not saying they are wrong, that it is just the way it is. I do think we need some strong voices to balance their power. No offence to T4, but I don't believe individual voices like his will be given much merit in the corporate boardrooms. The changes proposed by the committee,CWBII, would just end up with a large corporation to be swallowed by others. Farmers were screwed by the changes to the Crow Rate. There has been a degradation in service and an increase in cost. This gives me pause to be skeptical of any benefits killing the CWB will give me. You have not presented convincing arguements that most farmers will be better off after the CWB, at least none that I can sleep better at night with.

[AdamSmith]

Thanks Agstar77, but call me selfish, I want to understand why it's wrong headed of me to want to look after myself and why I'm portrayed as evil for wanting to look after my own affairs, without penalty? Even if I'm the only one in western Canada who feels this way? (I know I'm not) If I'm evil or irrational, tell me why please. If I'm not then why can't we develop something that can accomodate all those with differing opinions. Or is it an impossible task? Is this the future of grain farming in Canada, bitter division, from now until eternity? Do you not want something better?

Hey I accept your preference for you but why can't you accept my preference for me? I'll bend over backwards to try to address your concerns, but I will not accept that I have to surrender to you 100% of my ambitions in order to accomodate your fears.

Can you not understand, even a little bit where I'm coming from?

[wilagro]

I think that we should go back to the system that existed in the 1920's when the line elevator companies were king and could rob the stupid farmers on price, weight and grade.

That would make the 'marketing choice' people happy...and there would be no more b****ing heard from them ever again...amen.

[craig]

Wilagro
There are lots of companies that have that opportunity to rob us blind whether it is selling non board grains or buying imputs. I try to deal with people and companies who I believe I can trust. If I feel that trust is lost I simply no longer do business with them. When we get to only one player left(monopoly) then I guess it will be time to look for a new occupation.

[TOM4CWB]

Wilagro,

DO you remember the fusaruim damaged wheat in the 1993-95 time?

When the CWB and CGC told everyone to burn it... because it was worthless?

DO you remember at that time grain growers finding the same wheat that was worth $4.00 /bu in Minn/ND on the US side of the line?

Before this the CWB left us alone.

But the Pools and Large grain Co's alike made millions confiscating at $.50/bu and selling it for $4/bu IN THE US... with they did it with CWB's blessing.

This is how this whole thing got started... corruption encouraged by Dr. Doolittle... Goodale... to take from grain growers already smashed by fusarium... and sink them with CWB "single desk" robery to be put in grain co's pockets... for the biggest % of the "profits" extracted!

Wilagro... you really think the CWB system is maximising our returns...?

Think again.

It is to hold in grain supply... provide cheap food/grain for Canada, the US, and Canada's Liberal buddies.

[SASKFARMER3]

First yes I hate how the CWB works and how much money They are costing me but one also has to look a little deeper at this situation. First the USA will try to shut our grain out of their system they talk the talk but they will become protectionist over night if one farm in the US is hurting.
History proves that. Montana wheat growers will object if the flood gates open.
Second if canada doesnt improve their subsidy sytem to copy the americans we as farmers will loose to because in canada when their is a special and the grain companys phone they know where the farmers need to be to let it go but in the US where they have a set price the grain companys know to get it out of the farmers hands they have to dangle a carrot bigger than the set price before a farmer will sell. In canada we just cave for pennies.
So yes the US is a big elephant and we are the mouse.

[youngbro]

Why is everybody talking about the U.S. they're not the only people we can sell our grain to. And as for Galxie saying we just shouldn't grow those grains, give your head a shake!!!

[AdamSmith]

Wilagro, are you stupid? Do you think all farmers are stupid? Like I mean literally, intellectually challenged? Are you intellectually challenged? Now I can calmly debate anyone but when people start calling others stupid, or calling me stupid, I take offence.
And if you think for one moment that anyone will be swayed by you calling all farmers stupid, then you must be….

[youngbro]

Adam u have to go easy on Wilaro, these are one of those guys who think just because here in a month or so they will get their final payment ON GRAIN THEY SOLD A YEAR AGO!!!!, that the CWB must be doing them good because they got a cheque. Watched a farmer last night on the CTV news from Yorkton, that said he wishes the CWB would market all his grains & oilseeds, because it would make his life more easy. That's what the problem here is with all these guys against the Dual Market System, they're to lazy to get off their as**s,and market their grain. Heaven forbid they have to stay home & market grain instead of getting to go to coffee row!!!! Just let the CWB do it for me, (even if I'm getting screwed) because it makes my life easier!!

[youngbro]

Luvnlife I'm pleased to hear the positive feedback about the WCWGA.It is nice to hear my membership fees are being well utilized.Just be glad your poltical opponents arn't using your money like the wheat board using farmers money to remind us how lucky we are to have a gov't mandate forcing usto sell our grain through the cwb.The Wheat Growers are are made up of VOLUNTARY members.Just because some socialist is too stupid or lazy to market his own grain doesn't mean the rest of us are fine with the status quo.

[wilagro]

AdamSmith: I didn't say that farmers were stupid directly but that the line elevator companies regarded them as being so as they could sucker them AND they did.

Yes, things are different now. Weights and measures have more power to keep the buyers honest and grading standards are usually quite transparent and are posted publicly.

In some ways, in the good ol' days there was more competition and one could shop around. Now there may be one or sometimes two companies in town buying grain from a huge marketing area and sellers have to take what is offered as their choice is limited.

Anyway, from what I read of the suggestions submitted to Chuck Strahl, the new CWB II IF ever it is organized will not even be a shadow of it's former self and the old CWB will be effectively lost forever.

Pity really, our last powerful marketing resource available to western farmers will have gone down the tube. Wait for the vultures to come picking at the entrails and having a merry old time. It isn't going to be pretty.

[AdamSmith]

Wilagro, Ok I see your point.

Kinda like the CWB's 2006 Fixed price basis. Starts out at $20 over Minny in July and for no logical commercial or logistical reason, at the arbitrary signup deadline of Oct. 31 it went to $1 or 2$ under Minny.

A widening of over $20t.

So what your saying is it's better to be screwed by the Wheat Board than by an Elevator Company.