Producer Group Director Elections.

[Oliver88]

I get all the checkoffs back I can, bloody crooks just have a slush fund of fun.

Is this an easy process to get it back?
Do you have to do this every year or just once?

[BreadWinner]

Its not easy, but it does add up to allot. Basically around $1.00 per acre. I prefer to use this money for my holiday not theirs. You have to contact the checkoff office and ask for a form to put your grain sales info on and then they send you a cheque. Every one of them has a different deadline so it is the pits. None of them like to make it easy so they refuse to send the forms out or stop answering your emails. You almost have to go to the office to demand a form sometimes. It is legislated they have to return the money but you get treated like it their money and they can be rude to you.
I get it back now because they piss me off how they treat me.

[Rareearth]

The shame,

You might as well ask for your rm tax money back as well. You don’t have kids in school and don’t give a shit ( your parents did), roads well they “they can’t get any worse, they will fix them selves”

The things you don’t see, or take for granted, this happens how and by who?

Let me guess 2 years left, then the Chinese can farm it?

Shame

[bucket]

I would put money that the Chinese won't pay the checkoffs if they don't have too....

I suspect some larger farms ask for it back as well because it all adds up....

[Quadtrack]

I am going to disagree with several on this discussion. I think there is a purpose and value for the $ with some of the commissions but certainly there is room for improvement and efficiency
Some facts:
There would not be a pulse industry in sask or certainly not near as robust a one as what we have without the producer $. All the best varieties to date, and in lentil, all varieties anyone here grows, have been developed with check off funds. And we can grow them royalty free. Not important? Switch back to common crimson lentil seed and see how that works. Don’t grow lentils at all? Similar story for peas although there are a few other decent varieties around-not royalty free tho. Compare your total check off per acre to royalty on a variety in another system(like canola).
There are issues, serious issues, that some of the groups address or the national ones address that does not happen unless there is $. For example the COOL issue in Italy right now with durum wheat. Will there be a positive outcome? Hard to say, but if not for the national org addressing it, chances are very slim. The prov SK Wheat has chosen to completely ignore this issue w funding and involvement so the likes of Gehl are simply saying durum going to Italy is not important to SK.
And MRL issues-look back to 2011 and review what would be the state of the green lentil market with the glyphosate issue had Pulse Canada not been involved with science to intervene-there may not be a market at all. Those issues are way more prevalent today but many producers are not aware of them.
It’s another misconception that it’s nothing but trips and party for those on these boards. That is not accurate in my experience. In fact, there is a major contribution of time and mental energy being made by many to try and make things better for everyone.
Now, if the majority of farmers do not see value-after some due diligence determining what actually goes on, then there needs to be change.
We have the system we have and I am not going to say it’s perfect or there should not be change. It is up to farmers. Get involved if you want to make change. Propose a better system. Amalgamate some things for efficiency. Most importantly vote and make your voice heard.

[Dylan]

If you guys don't think they're doing anything with your check-off, spend less time bitching and more time applying to get it back. Problem solved. Have a good day all!

[wmoebis]

How do you guys bring your concerns forward to commissions?
What things do you think they should be doing for you that they aren't now?

I see some big holes left in the system that aren't being adressed and not sure who would do anything about them. I have brought forward to all commissions and CGC not hearing of much action or maybe even addressing.

[MBgrower]

Is this an easy process to get it back?
Do you have to do this every year or just once?

they don't make it easy. first of all no forms can be found on their websites, you have to call (what is this the 1970's?). then you need to submit a record of all your deliveires, plus the deadline dates are different with all of them, some annually some several deadlines per year. if the computer systems are already in place with most graincos to report the deductions to the check off groups, why do I have to go thru the whole process again to show them records of my deliveries. Lots of work to get your money back.

as stated earlier, keep your money and take the family on a well deserved vacation this winter. you will likely bump into one of these groups holding 'meetings' while down south.

[sumdumguy]

I am going to disagree with several on this discussion. I think there is a purpose and value for the $ with some of the commissions but certainly there is room for improvement and efficiency
Some facts:
There would not be a pulse industry in sask or certainly not near as robust a one as what we have without the producer $. All the best varieties to date, and in lentil, all varieties anyone here grows, have been developed with check off funds. And we can grow them royalty free. Not important? Switch back to common crimson lentil seed and see how that works. Don’t grow lentils at all? Similar story for peas although there are a few other decent varieties around-not royalty free tho. Compare your total check off per acre to royalty on a variety in another system(like canola).
There are issues, serious issues, that some of the groups address or the national ones address that does not happen unless there is $. For example the COOL issue in Italy right now with durum wheat. Will there be a positive outcome? Hard to say, but if not for the national org addressing it, chances are very slim. The prov SK Wheat has chosen to completely ignore this issue w funding and involvement so the likes of Gehl are simply saying durum going to Italy is not important to SK.
And MRL issues-look back to 2011 and review what would be the state of the green lentil market with the glyphosate issue had Pulse Canada not been involved with science to intervene-there may not be a market at all. Those issues are way more prevalent today but many producers are not aware of them.
It’s another misconception that it’s nothing but trips and party for those on these boards. That is not accurate in my experience. In fact, there is a major contribution of time and mental energy being made by many to try and make things better for everyone.
Now, if the majority of farmers do not see value-after some due diligence determining what actually goes on, then there needs to be change.
We have the system we have and I am not going to say it’s perfect or there should not be change. It is up to farmers. Get involved if you want to make change. Propose a better system. Amalgamate some things for efficiency. Most importantly vote and make your voice heard.

The Pulse Board during the Slinkard - Robin Morrow(I think) made great strides. We all benifited and owe them a debt of gratitude. that is or sure but now the budget is huge because the check-off is too high for the number of acres. Maybe this year at the annual meeting growers will vote to reduce the levy again. The board talked about making the levy refundable at he last meeting I attended. Many of us probably wouldn't ask for it back anyway.

[LEP]

Not defending anyone, but the pulse levy doesn't get used up every year because they mandate a percentage to go to fund future needs in case of shortfall. They fund multiyear research projects.

These recent pea fractionization plants came about because of several years of the pulse board funding research on using pulse fractions in flour to lower the glycolic index of white bread, buns etc.

So that, some early agronomy research and varietal development are vital gains for the pulse producers.

Canary guys funding research on suitability for human consumption.

Wheat guys.... no clue.

Canola growers have funded some autonomy stuff in the past.

Wheat guys ... no clue. Oh ya I said that.

[farmaholic]

Not defending anyone, but the pulse levy doesn't get used up every year because they mandate a percentage to go to fund future needs in case of shortfall. They fund multiyear research projects.

These recent pea fractionization plants came about because of several years of the pulse board funding research on using pulse fractions in flour to lower the glycolic index of white bread, buns etc.

So that, some early agronomy research and varietal development are vital gains for the pulse producers.

Canary guys funding research on suitability for human consumption.

Wheat guys.... no clue.

Canola growers have funded some autonomy stuff in the past.

Wheat guys ... no clue. Oh ya I said that.

Maybe the Wheat Commissions could work at getting fair standardized contracts and getting the ridiculously low specs adjusted upward for fusarium damage in wheat and durum.....don't forget that beast will rear it's ugly head again! Don't let one disease free year lull you into a false sense of security!

[LEP]

Friggin autocorrect on phones.

Glycemic not glycolic.

Agronomic not autonomy.