I think were getting bullshitted on Big Canola Supply!

[Oliver88]

We took up some last minute specials for $11.00 during harvest, felt it was a fair price to gain more bin space. But now that harvest is a wrap, we might trickle out a bit at $11.50 if the weather is still nice and the roads are dry, otherwise we'll be holding for $12.00 before any major sales again.

It looks like $12 canola will be a reality once the tough and green canola and farmers without enough aeration sell more.

$11 + for November already.

[sk_wheatking]

Excuse me but...what the hell is sustainable grain now? More bullshit to pay less for "regular grain, the grain companies will let you know what you have and what they think it's worth I guess.

[wmoebis]

Excuse me but...what the hell is sustainable grain now? More bullshit to pay less for "regular grain, the grain companies will let you know what you have and what they think it's worth I guess.

Could someone explain what the term sustainable grain means to the elevator and who decides if our grain is sustainable?

[samhill]

Sustainable grain

Divide and conquer

[farmaholic]

Could someone explain what the term sustainable grain means to the elevator and who decides if our grain is sustainable?

VITERRA SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM


1. What is sustainability certification all about?

Many of our end use customers are looking for raw ingredients produced in a sustainable manner. Customers sourcing sustainable ingredients from Viterra are able to transfer this certification down to their finished product and provide a sustainably labeled and verified product to the consumer.



2. What does a sustainably produced crop refer to?

A sustainably produced crop does not negatively impact the environment. Compliance is verified through a number of different criteria that prove that the crop was produced in an environmentally sound way, using ethical farming and management practices and that no further land has been cleared after 2008.



3. Why is Viterra involved?

Worldwide demand for sustainably produced products is rapidly growing. Many governments are mandating minimum levels of sustainability produced products. Viterra’s ability to supply sustainably certified Canadian grain allows access to these developing markets. Sustainably produced grains provide the raw ingredients for many different industrial, food, and feed end products.



4. What’s the benefit of enrolling in the program?

Enrolling in the program will give you access to new/emerging markets, which will create more demand and movement opportunities for Canadian product.



Talk to your local Viterra Grain Buyer today to learn more!


This likely only scratches the surface. An actual agreement should likely be read over.

[farmaholic]

"Recently, specially designated Viterra grain handling facilities which ship canola to bio-fuel markets in Europe have been certified sustainable. These facilities and certain farmers are certified to the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification scheme (ISCC). The ISCC scheme meets the requirements of the European Union in the Renewable Energy Directive for the production and handling of sustainable biomass."

The evil GMO canola into Western Europe for bio-fuel feedstock? At a premium?

[farmaholic]

So draining/ditching and bush clearing aren't allowed(after 08). I wish I would have kept a copy of the agreement.
Then there was the potential audit for the farm and it's records. I am just not "willing" to give up that much information and control.... being mandated is one thing but volunteering is another.

[sk_wheatking]

So draining/ditching and bush clearing aren't allowed(after 08). I wish I would have kept a copy of the agreement.
Then there was the potential audit for the farm and it's records. I am just not "willing" to give up that much information and control.... being mandated is one thing but volunteering is another.

What so some asshole from nowhere near your area is going to launch an investigation on your farm because there may or may not have been a certain bush on your farm in 2009? Now it's sustainable agriculture. Like what's next. If you burn diesel your out????

[Partners]

trucking grain 900 km sounds sustainable?

Sounds stupid yes .
Local trucker gets paid a dollar a bushel to haul it.
Must be mega money in it for bunge.

[Dylan]

No one has ever been audited they said.
As long as you deliver good quality seed..no surprises like to many greens or high moisture.

And you bought that hey?
Did they pay you $500 for signing up for the program? They were paying that when they first started signing guys up a few years ago. I asked "if this program is as good as you say, why do you have to pay people to sign into it?" Answer was "to encourage people". I said no damn way! I talked to a couple guys who came from Europe to farm and they lost their mind when approached for this program. they said that's how it started over there. Next thing, OH&S is on the farm saying they need to paint yellow lines on their shop floors, any little oil spill had to be dug out and disposed of, fuel tanks had to be replaced, outlets need to be replaced, etc. One guy said he knew a guy that was forced to spend $10,000 to bring his farm up to their standards. No damn way!

Oh, and at the time, the Viterra rep told me "as a company, we need so many of these signed cause as long as we can show we're able to source sustainable canola, then we can get into those markets". So basically admitted that they will sell regular canola to that market as long as the have the paperwork showing it could have come from the farmers who signed it.

[Agvocate]

I sat in on a presentation Viterra did on this when they launched the program 5 or 6 years ago. We signed up and think they paid us $500 at the time for doing so. Didn't seem as thought they wanted to do it so much as it was required for seed and oil going to the EU for biofuels. If you did get audited they would come and facilitate it as well as pay any expenses you may have. It's not a grain company initiative it was a political one. So if it seems ridiculous, it was designed by politicians, so it likely is.

[farmaholic]

God, I'm glad I'm not the only nay-sayer.