Is our Customer Right?

[magpie]

Boone you are 100% correct,we are nearing the end of the ride.Ultimatum time is here.Now with the scandal in Ottawa,I doubt anybody will even hear us for awhile.

[cowman]

But boone our "leaders" both elected and appointed have clearly decided they are not going to do a test! Our real leaders(Cargill and IBP) definitely like things just how they are! It's sort of like the grain industrys leaders? They decide they will sell the good wheat, on credit, at well below the highs while insisting that Canadian millers buy the pig feed left over at world class prices(early nineties when the wheat froze over much of the west?) And don't forget that you elected the majority of the old boys sitting on the CWB?
Now it is true that 6% of the producers elected our ABP, but I'm not sure that we voted for the rest? At least I can't remember voting for Cargill or IBP! But then Ralph Klein and his tories definitely voted for Cargill and IBP so I guess it is okay that they now run the show?

[boone]

Cowman: remember though when all is said and done these minions may get a job on one of the boards of these companies, so it isn't like there isn't some long term intrinsic value to some of your constituents.

[TOM4CWB]

Boone and Cowman;

Is the concentration of packers all the fault of IBP/Cargill?

I think not.

If Alberta growers/finishers had supported smaller packers... would they not be still around?

When will we farmers take responsibility for our actions... instead of always finding someone else to blame things on?

Look at the Dairy Industry!

Value added up to the ying-yang... owned by farmers in Canada... and farmers sold out.

Now what do we have?

Industry concentration/lack of choice.

As was stated earler GOV policy pushed an over development of the livestock sector by stopping exports of particularly lower quality grains...

on the backs of grain production in the wesr...

THe CWB paid $128.50/t for feed wheat last year, the AUSSIES paid "A"$210/"B"$190/t in their two pools, we can get over $5/bu for feed peas going the the EU, but lower quality wheat throught the CWB is only worth $3.30/bu...$2.20/bu for feed wheat?

THis skews farmers towards livestock production in the outer reaches of Canada. Of Course not one bushel was exported of lower grades of grain in 2002/03.

My neighbour shipped some 4CWRS by CGC accident/deception (producer car)... and it instantly disappeared into the port terminal and could not be taken out... as it was "upgraded" and did not "exist" any longer.

I am getting distracted... but how exactly does the CWB blame FSU feed quality wheat (by CDN Standards) for lowering our 2002-03 pool?

ANyway... the point is it does not really matter who owns the system, does it?

Constructive points boys... you laid down the law earlier in this string...

What are your 10 points to fix the woes of the feeder/packer industry?

How do we as farmers create more value for our Customer, wheather that customer is a beef consumer of a grain user?

[TOM4CWB]

My point #1

POINT ONE: An ALBERTA Feeder and Finished cattle futures.

[boone]

Tom4cwb:your right about farmers not supporting small entities, so solution New generation Co-ops where they can't run away from their commitment the first time the price moves a nickel. Obligation in hard times and exclusive profit when things are good. This is a start. But as for price discovery you are absolutely right. We need a real way to hedge prices in Canada on Cattle JOB #1. Take a look back at Manitoba provincial hog marketing etc. then build. As for CWB they have little time left to vindicate themselves and show value. But you will be weaker without them. Think IBP,Cargill. Then extrapolate to grain. Better buy some shinpads, because eventually they won't treat you like a big guy Tom, they will warm the soles of your feet as well.

[Incognito]

Boone:

Looking out my window this a.m., not sure if there are two moons or not, but I agree with you.

The early co-ops were there for the people. They transformed into big business and forgot where they came from.

I've been harping about leadership in this business for awhile - but i've been labelled a whacko too...

Balance and vision are what we need and we need it now.

[TOM4CWB]

Boone;

THIS IS TOM4CWB, remember the name... I have never advocated the distruction of the CWB... check out my 10 points... clearly I am only asking for a "little" competition to sharpen CWB marketing skills!

[ianben]

Unless we find a way to manage/cut production when the market changes dramatically as it always will, we will follow the dinasaurs to extinction.

BSE demanded a reponse like the airlines took post 9/11 redundecies and downsizing. Car plants would close a plant or lay off a shift.

Farmers produce a record calf crop?

I dont believe individuals can effectivly risk manage events like BSE or severe weather which can disrupt markets and production so wildly

[boone]

incognito: I don't get up as early as you do so I can't prove it one way or other. But thinking about what has been said here, where the 'h' is FEDERATED CO-OP? I know. Opening up a spot free hands off carwash on a bunch of city realestate near you. They have become the best example of forget your roots and overcharge the children of us old stubblejumpers, that have been raised out in the boonies, but take a page out of the history book and give something back, not on your life. They can sell lotto tickets and GOLD (popcorn,pop,cookies,pudding,etc.) yadda yadda yadda, with the best of the mindless retailers, parked on land made posible by the Cooperators investment fund (care of Gramma cookiejar, aunties creamcheque, and dad with the haywire) Hello! anybody listening, your big fat realestate portfolio, is gonna getta bruisin and Your upgrader in Regina won't be the only smell you are going to have to ignore at your peril. Now is the time for all able agriculture entities to stand up! How about a beef Upgrader?Ah! History in the making, let's see where your involement will be inscribed? As they say down on the Highline are you with us or agin us?

[Incognito]

Who speaks for farmers anymore?

I miss the days of Hubert Esquirol and Nettie Weibe. At least there was a voice on both sides. APAS is a frikkin joke. All the cattle associations say no testing - most of the farmers say why not? Whose levy is paying for the associations?

Last I looked at the Co-op their meat was the same price as Safeway and Superstore - maybe even more. Good thing that equity is showing some leadership.

Agriculture has morphed into big business and everyone has forgot where they came from - not just the co-ops!!

[cowman]

Actually TOM the producers never left the Canadian packers it was the other way around. Burns and Canada packers basically sold out to foreign companies that had no intention of continuing meat packing(they were much more interested in the real estate and brand names). Cargill and IBP got massive concessions and aid from the PC party to set up shop in Alberta. The same goodies were not offered to the Canadian plants. Canada Packers and Burns were both turned down for government help to rebuild their existing plants or build new ones that could compete with Cargill/IBP.
In other words our Tory government picked the winners and losers. Something they are very adept at?
Perhaps they knew that the CROW was going to go when they encouraged Cargill to build at High River around 1988? When the CROW died the cattle feeding industry took off.
Alberta always had the killing capacity to get the job done before Cargill moved in. The cattle feeders were very happy to have Cargill, and later IBP, come in because they thought it would be a good thing to have more competition. Little did they realize they were opening the doors to a pair of wolves who had no intention of competing with anyone!
You boys should take a lesson from all this and not be quite so eager to help the wolves destroy the competition! Because once Cargill/ADM/Louis Dreyfuss have got rid of the competition then they will squeeze you!

[Incognito]

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