Comments from seed royalty meeting

[bucket]

So as devils advocate, US soybean grower pays checkoff to bean board, rup beans get developed, then M takes beans to Brazil and surprise surprise, the Brazilian bean grower doesn't buy seed and doesn't pay royalty. So M sees all the benefit and the growers get the pickle. Sounds like paying a tax to clean up a third world mess ... I'm assuming no clause when epr is paid that the genetics are solely for the benefit of Canadian growers? Of course not ....

Been hearing rumblings on NAT about the soybean checkoffs...

[jazz]

Do something fun once bring up google maps and look south to the American water system and see how close it actually is to your farm. I think Sask Alberta and Manitoba would be better as Americans than Canadians Just saying.

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In ND there is a far superior rail system that heads to water ports all along the Midwest. The Missouri isn't too far from us but it seems to only be able to handle larger barges part of the season. The americans don't bang their heads against the rockies. They go to open water ports with no geographical barriers. We have some like Churchill or thunderbay but they are very seasonal.


This seed royalty will have major impacts. Not because its big money but because of principle. I know a lot of guys who tolerated control of canola seed because it is low rates and created a market along side it. But wheat - there is no market improvement to be had by growing more of this stuff. Durum is DOA around here at $5.50 per bu even if we can get 60bpa of it.


A lot of smaller guys will just throw in the towel. Carbon tax, seed tax and for some unknown reason N $200 a ton more than 6 months ago.

[Rareearth]

Why can’t every farmer that pays the check off grow king red lentils?

[macdon02]

Been hearing rumblings on NAT about the soybean checkoffs...

I know the past president of the US bean board and ND durum association. This isn't just a Canadian deal, growers as pist they are getting taxed and not getting a return. There's resistance to change in the boards and it pays well. The ones that step in trying to change the way things are done quickly run into a wall. Durum association is pist there's 2 sets of rules depending on country of origin. From what I've been told by Durum board the attempts to use production contracts aren't working and growers are selecting their varieties from universities that are publicly funded. Croplan and Winfield are having limited results even with the carrot of high performance varieties. Nafta protects Canadian seed by grading all US varieties as feed, then a set of phytosanitary rules kick in on feed making it totally unfeasible to import into Canada.

[farmaholic]

Grassfarmer, you're not suggesting these meeting are somewhat orchestrated masterpieces with the facade of Producer consultations with an affect on how this will play out...are you?

This all started with adoption of UPOV91, then the reclassification of some varieties, and de-registering of others. The stage is being set for more control of seed.

We are already well into the process.

[bucket]

Why can’t every farmer that pays the check off grow king red lentils?

Thats a good question........I am going to sit back and wait for the fireworks....

Wait until you find out how much it cost to private label that variety ....

[macdon02]

This is simply a lobby group(seed cos) have the ear of govt because they paid to make changes. Growers get ignored because we don't feed the beast. This is no different then dairy. Consumer gets screwed.

[ajl]

The meeting isolated the question between two choices, one obvious. I guess what bothers me is the age old debate about who pays who benefits and how it relates to the national policy of Canada is one that needs to happen but it was not in the room.

Canada & farmers cannot ignore the fact that increasing global competition from lower cost, more ideally located geographically production zones is real, the debate of how we compete globally, is one the nation should have.

Keeping up with genetic edge is vital to Canadian crop competitiveness, the way the costs are split is the question.

This is just classic seed industry bull. The only way to stay competitive in Canuckistan is keep the cost structure low, not enable more profiteering on the inputs side. Hand picked consultation with a bunch of yes peoplekind. That is the Canuckistanian way.

[furrowtickler]

Grassfarmer, you're not suggesting these meeting are somewhat orchestrated masterpieces with the facade of Producer consultations with an affect on how this will play out...are you?

This all started with adoption of UPOV91, then the reclassification of some varieties, and de-registering of others. The stage is being set for more control of seed.

We are already well into the process.

Some of us tried to call this out from day one . The cheerleaders of UPOV91 were those who were going to benefit financially.... not the othe 98% of us.
It was easy to see where this was all going to end up.
Cereals are only slightly profitable on most farms right now because seed cost can be controlled somewhat. Take that away and most cereals will be a money loser consistently.

[bucket]

I wish I could think faster and process what I heard yesterday (dec 4) and go to the meeting in Edmonton....

I am not necessarily against the fact that royalties would provide better varieties....but when I take the blinders off and look at the big picture ...growing more or better quality doesn't guarantee me a better net to my farm....

As long as as all options are presented and their downstream effects ....

As an example if you are a government person qualifying the term "high performing varieties" as yield and quality.....then you had better take a hard look at the implications of such a statement....the physical infrastructure in Canada isn't prepared for higher volumes ....and no one is buying high quality....

The government officials want the farmers in canada to be leaders.....well guess what the Russian government is building infrastructure to move ag commodities....Canada isn't keeping pace and if they are its government funded so why not fund ag research as well....


Secondly, like one guy mentioned, if a multinational seed developer builds a variety in Canada for Canada using our wheat commission checkoff funding ....then if they take the variety halfway around the world ...I don't really like my checkoff dollars competing against me in a country that the government supports ag producers better with no royalty or checkoffs..

Short story is Canada doesn't value Agriculture or investment in it....

If Bombardier can extract billions for high tech jobs that end up moving out with AIRBUS....maybe the government should discuss the fact the land in Canada isn't moving away and its a better investment....

[grassfarmer]

I wish I could think faster and process what I heard yesterday (dec 4) and go to the meeting in Edmonton....

I know what you mean bucket been in that situation many times. Bottom line is you are not going to win in a controlled agenda meeting format like that though. If as I suggested you can mobilize 100+ farmers to go to the next meeting - take it over by rearranging the seating and call some media ahead of time and tell them to expect some fireworks. That works, I've witnessed it in the past. If you can't mobilize 100 farmers then I guess it isn't an important issue - at least that's the message we're sending.

[bucket]

I was late so I just went to the front where there is always chairs...there wasn't a seating arrangement but I think the seed growers had a plan to be at different tables to ensure their voice was heard. ...