Saskatoon seed royalty meeting

[farmaholic]

As crazy as this site may make some people, it has kinda kept me abreast of Agricultural hot topics. If the rank and file grain producers never read a newspaper or get a two minute condensed version of this issue in some sort of news cast, how are the ever informed?

Then all of a sudden the proposed changes are made and the outcry begins.

Someone talked about polling the rank and file producers at the Seed Synergy(tax) meetings. How about polling outside any gathering specific to this issue. What percentage of Producers do you think know whats coming down the pipe.

Has Saskwheat/barley/canola/flax, or which ever commodity group you want to use, along with APAS, NFU,SARM,.... any rural group or self proclaimed Producer interest group sent out a circular making their members aware?

I do not recall seeing anything, unless it was in some of their newsletters. It may have slipped past me because I am already aware and it wouldn't have been alarming news.

Is it ever too political of an issue for some groups to address?

Edit in, SaskWheat has a comment on their website:

"Sask Wheat, SaskBarley, SaskOats, SaskFlax, SaskCanola and the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers will be hosting an engagement session on the seed royalty consultations on Wednesday, January 16 from 2:30 to 4:30 at TCU Place in Saskatoon. This question and answer session will give farmers an opportunity to provide feedback directly to AAFC as part of the ongoing consultation and understand how farmers will be impacted with respect to all farmer-directed research. All producers are welcome and encouraged to attend."

[walterm]

I have to commend vvalk for searching out and marketing his high quality CWAD into an acceptable market, albeit feed, when the market place (grain companies) had no market or a price acceptable to him.

In the past some farmers had the same situation with the market place, at that time (CWB) then let grain spoil in the bin or in piles then blamed the CWB for no market and used it as case to change.

I would ask tho why not just haul it to the USA and get the price? Was feed higher priced in Canada than #1 AD in USA or was there no market there either?

[farmaholic]

Contrary to what most seem to think on here farming can be quite profitable and I couldn’t imagine quitting farming to take on a MP or MLA salary

I figured that's what you meant....

But it's not up to me to make and defend that argument for you.

[bucket]

The wheat growers is one of the better lobby groups out there IMO. I think in the case of the cwb most of us were so excited to end the single desk that we missed an opportunity to really fight to change the CWB into an organisation that would benefit farmers again.

On the seed royalties I think we dont want to make the same mistake. We have a really good system right now where we can access genetics from other countries if they are superior and a solid public breeding program here at home too. Seed companies have the ability to have farmers sign contracts to protect or pay for the reuse of varieties if they so choose and this is commonly done in many crops for many years. I really see no reason to change the seed system in Canada.

Fair comments but the details have to be worked out prior to implementation this time....

1.Who is responsible for market disruptions????
2. Clear intentions of existing varieties and their future????
3. Will there be a guarantee of price increases for primary producers ????the R&D guys are guaranteeing their income with seed tax ...right????
4. Who is responsible for the infrastructure of more volumes.????

. There are more questions that others can add....

[bucket]

I figured that's what you meant....

But it's not up to me to make and defend that argument for you.

Liberal....say one thing mean another....

[walterm]

If they take an end point royalty on grain produced from farm saved seed they're stealing from Farmers !

I don't understand how when R&D develop a variety and sell it to breeder is that not the end point
or is it when breeder sells it to commercial seed grower is that not end point
or when seed grower sells it to farmer is that not end point
or is it when farmer sells it to grain buyer
or when grain buyer sells to mill or export
or when mill sells to baker
or store or when sells to consumer?

Why is farmer considered end point? Everyone benefits and should pay IMHO.

[farmaholic]

If this seed tax makes it through, are you willing to continue to contribute to the different commodity groups? Some of those check off dollars already go to R&D into seed varieties. Why should I have to pay twice?

SaskWheat, $1.00/t
SaskCanola, $0.75/t
SaskFlax, $2.36/t
SaskBarley, $1.06/t
SaskPulse, .67% of gross sales...non refundable.

What does it add up to on your farm on an average annual basis?

And now someone else wants access to my wallet without my consent!

I have NEVER asked for a refund but I just might this coming August. I have already compiled the list, deadlines, and how to access the forms.

I am so tired of being taken for granted!

We, in the Slum of the Ghetto, will be paying approximately $3500 in check-offs for our modest(small) sized farm....of which nearly a third is Saskpulse's non-refundable portion.

Edit in...this farm also pays income taxes(if Gov wants to claim they are supporting Ag R&D) and the RR freight overcharges get funneled to WGRF. Where is the CGC surplus going to end up?

[jazz]

Contrary to what most seem to think on here farming can be quite profitable and I couldn’t imagine quitting farming to take on a MP or MLA salary

Try starting a farm from scratch and then get back to us.

You are going to kill this industry dead. I know a lot of farmers who will quit before they allow a royalty off their produce. Good job.

Why is farmer considered end point? Everyone benefits and should pay IMHO.

Cause they know the end consumer wont pay for it so its pinned on the guys who will take it and not complain. Face it we are feeding the 3rd world here not fancy restaurants in Europe. Those people don't give a damn about these traits. People in india eat dirt if the lentils get too expensive.

Cant believe the people who were on the consultation for this. They don't represent farmers. The represent agribusiness seed fertilizer and input companies. Some of these big farms are starting to sell inputs and seed. See the relation?

Buy I am glad someone like vvalk came on here and exposed it all. Now I know how to manage my business accordingly.

[the big wheel]

Try starting a farm from scratch and then get back to us.

You are going to kill this industry dead. I know a lot of farmers who will quit before they allow a royalty off their produce. Good job.



Cause they know the end consumer wont pay for it so its pinned on the guys who will take it and not complain. Face it we are feeding the 3rd world here not fancy restaurants in Europe. Those people don't give a damn about these traits. People in india eat dirt if the lentils get too expensive.

Cant believe the people who were on the consultation for this. They don't represent farmers. The represent agribusiness seed fertilizer and input companies. Some of these big farms are starting to sell inputs and seed. See the relation?

Buy I am glad someone like vvalk came on here and exposed it all. Now I know how to manage my business accordingly.

Absolutely correct!!!!
Glad it was exposed what's going on. One of the problems is people can't seperate theory from reality. In theory wheatboard was a good thing reality it went haywire
Free market is good in theory but it doesn't exist only in people s imaginary minds to suit their political cause which is all theory also and not the reality.
Reality is rhat this will be a huge cost increase for all is farmers not to mention a loss of our independance which ironically is what rhe free market is supposed to be.

[RedLentil]

If the length of an agriville thread is any indication of the importance of an issue this thread is it.


With the passing of the agriculture growth act in 2015 Canada was able to ratify UPOV 91. So the UPOV convention has been revised a few time 1968, 72, 78 and 91. It seems we are way overdue for another revision. What is going to happen when that day comes? We are on a slippery slope.