Media

[parsley]

Jay-mo,

I have to say that organics began because there was a demand. I have not created demand. I have satisfied demand.

I have noticed that in some industries/sectors/circles, advertising is approached as "educating" the consumer, but organics never began that way.

Frankly, my take on it is that the consumer has resented that tactic at times.

Organics has always asked the consumer what they wanted, and supplied it.

For one thing, we know who the buyer is.

And the second thing is we get direct feedback.

The consumer is always right because it is his money and he can walk any old time. If he wants a red yo-yo, he gets it or he walks.

It is what it is.

Parsley

[parsley]

Yup. They been reading the exporting sheets.

Just like those giant jellyfish slide about the ocean, bottom-feeding, multiplying, multiplying, and slurping up everything of value, growing fatter and fatter, here comes the Wheat Board vacuming organic buyers, organic profits and organic integrity.

Expelling slime.


QUOTE from CWB Gunsite
Newsroom
2008
CWB offers spring contracts for organic grain

March 28, 2008

Winnipeg – The CWB’s farmer-controlled board of directors has approved enhancements to the organic marketing program for the 2008-09 crop year.

On a limited basis, the CWB will offer organic growers spring contracts as a continuation of its pilot organic marketing program. The program includes a cash price upon delivery and, under the new basis-pooling contract, the potential for an additional payment at the end of the crop year. The CWB will continue to offer spot contracts in 2008-09.

“The CWB’s organic program continues to grow and evolve. New cash-buying enhancements, such as basis-pooling contracts, will help us meet the needs of organic producers marketing through the CWB,” said CWB President and CEO Greg Arason.

Starting in mid-April, the CWB will offer organic producers a spring contract for the 2008-09 crop year. Contract availability is limited and will be determined by market opportunities.

Under the new basis-pooling contract, producers will receive a negotiated cash price upon delivery, just as they do now. However, producers will also be eligible for a potential payment at the end of the crop year. The potential payment will be derived from any spreads between the upfront cash prices paid to organic producers and actual CWB returns.

Organic grain is marketed separately from conventional grain, and is distinct in a number of ways. Organic grain must adhere to strict certification requirements and federal regulations.

Although demand for organic grain is growing, organic production constitutes less than one per cent of the overall wheat and barley production in Western Canada. Organic grain sells at a premium to conventional grain, and does not compete directly with conventional grain sales.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada’s biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.
UNQUOTE

Gawd, slime is disgusting stuff.

[bucket]

And FLAMAN and WELLS keep laughing all the way to the bank.

Cash upon delivery. It probably means they are getting a substantial amount of money for cash flowing their farms.

I wonder why the cwb can't do it for conventional farms considering they pay $6 for my grain now and are asking (and according to Vader/Flaman on other threads the cwb is making substantial sales at these high levels ) close to $18. Why is there not better cashflow options for conventional grains?

I don't see them taking a fee like the epo or fpc on organic grain.

Discrimination. I think so.

[parsley]

Discreet Contract Peeping


Every time an organic farmer goes through a buyback,do you suppose the Wheat Board looks at the name of the buyer listed by the farmer?


Nah.


Do you suppose the CWB Marketing jellyfish slither through those buyers' names that organic farmers have established and add it to the CWB list "to call"?


Nah.

Do you suppose the CWB Organic Marketing specialists who despise organics at the best of times, phones those buyers to ask about the weather?

Nah.

Do you suppose those new specialists have now self-appointed themselves as the "Canadian Organic Marketing Specialists"? with Departments to consolidate transactions, statistics, and attend all the trade shows, compliments of the Conventional pooling accounts?

Nah.

Do you suppose Conventional farmers' pools have been paying for organic Marketing specialists all along?

Nah.


Thought naught.

I get these really funny notions first thing in the morning.


Carry on.


Parsley

[parsley]

Calgary Herald
29 March, 2008



Wheat board elects pro-monopoly chair; Hill faces ongoing struggle with Tory government




The farmer-run Canadian Wheat Board has elected Larry Hill as its new chairman after Ken Ritter, who had led the marketing agency since 1999, stepped down this week.

"I know that it's not going to be an easy job, but it's an important thing that the CWB function in the best interest of producers," Hill said in an interview on Friday.

The wheat board, which had $4.95 billion in revenue last year, has been locked in a struggle with the federal government, which wants to end its monopoly on sales of Prairie wheat and barley to millers, maltsters and export markets.

Hill, a farmer from Swift Current, Sask., is a strong monopoly supporter and has been on the wheat board's board of directors since 1999.

Ritter, who farms at Kindersley, Sask., became the first chairman when the governance of the 72-year-old wheat board was overhauled to give farmers more control over the agency, one of the world's largest grain marketers.

Farmers elect 10 directors to the board. The government appoints five, including the CEO. A narrow majority of elected, pro-monopoly directors now controls the board.

Ritter's term as a director is set to expire this year. He said he stepped down so a new chairman could begin at the same time as the agency's new chief executive, Ian White, who takes the helm on Monday.

"It's a new beginning, a very fundamental change for the organization, and this is as good a time as any to make that exchange" at the board of directors, Ritter told Reuters.

Before he joined the board, Ritter had advocated for a "dual market," where the wheat board would compete for farmers' grain with other buyers. But he changed his mind after joining the board, and became a staunch monopoly supporter, leading the fight against the Conservative government's push to change the agency's mandate.

Ritter said he is optimistic about the wheat board's future if farmers are allowed to continue to control it.

"If it's left in the hands of farmers, I think the board has a bright future. If it's left in the hands of government, who knows -- they have to answer that question," he said.

UNQUOTE


All these years on the Wheat Board. and Ritter still doesn't know that the CWB is an Act of Parliament, and farmers are subject to an act of Parliament.

The poor man.

Farmers running farmers.

No wonder farmers are in such a bloody mess.

Parsley

[parsley]

The polls in Quebec are not exactly spirit-brightening for the Liberals> The following is from MSN:

QUOTE
For francophones, who comprise about 85 per cent of Quebec voters, support breaks down this way:

Bloc: 35 per cent
Tories: 30 per cent
Liberals, NDP: Tied at 15 per cent
A key region is Quebec City, the so-called 418 region. The news for the Liberals there is even worse:

Tories: 41 per cent
Bloc: 25 per cent
NDP: 17 per cent
Liberals: 14 per cent


"Quebec City is Mr. Dion's home town. He's in fourth place in his home town," McDonald said. "A leader without a base is like a prophet without a homeland." UNQUOTE

And then it also states:

"There are rumours that Dion might reshuffle his front bench to give newly-elected MP Bob Rae, who finished third in the leadership race, a prominent role on the front bench."


Parsley

[agstar77]

So you want the Politicians running things? What a lovely idea that is, they have done such a wonderful job. Oh , I forgot you want to be free so ADM or Cargill can tell you what do. What a lovely thought. What dilusionist drivel you spout.

[parsley]

The point was this, agstar, that goofy Ritter does not even want to admit that it is the Act that has set out what the CWB can or cannot do.

Farmers did not write the legislation.

The CWB was, is and continues to be subject to an Act of Parliament.

Quoting farmer's rem-mumblings is fine breakfast conversation, but the Act is the law.

BTW, I could not source your link, agstar. I tried several times.

Parsley