Alberta Ag decimated

[blackpowder]

Didn't hurt when Ralph did it.

[furrowtickler]

Flea quote; "If you don’t know what you are doing by now, you shouldn’t be farming."

Huh?

So you know everything there is to know about farming? Never have grown a new crop or taken on a new enterprise where you needed some extension advice or expertise? You can diagnose every disease, pest and fertility issue and know exactly how to treat it? Even the rarely seen ones?

And what about new and beginning farmers?

Why send our kids to ag college when Dad and Mom already know everything there is to know!

And we don't need any more research? That's all settled?

Some people say the darndest things!

..... so what your saying is ....
Yup that’s a typical response from you lol
And yup you do say the darnedest things ... check your own post back a few .. ya the sexual deranged one .

[errolanderson]

Sometimes when one door closes another opens.

Depends on the individual and what they make of it.

Do you have any comments Errol ?

Definately, I was saddened to see ‘Call of the Land’ cancelled. Enjoyed working with Jack Howell and Caitlynn Reesor over the years. They are real pros.

But I am a strong believer that true economics rules and what’s important again floats-to-the-top. Ag information is available from many sources. Private business is covering this well. Business will always step in to fill the void. And gov’t can act as a clear competitor to business trying to make a go of it.

When you look at vacanted downtown Calgary office towers and thousands of permanent job losses, why should taxpayers remain responsible to maintain gov’t status-quo. Fresh buds will start to grow as the economy repairs from private business, but you have to plug the holes on the ship first.

Realize, there are many talented agrologists now on the sidelines, but true economics always rules. It may take a step backwards to allow for a stronger step forward in the yrs ahead. No different for government or business.

We are entering a new era of significant change and realinement. And this is just the beginning (IMO). Financial reality is forcing tough love, but had to be done . . . .

[Oliver88]

Never hurts to trim a bit of fat or clear some dead wood.

Time to trim some extreme fat in university budgets next as Liberal arts degrees don’t deserve to be subsidized based on the value they add to the economy. I’m sure Alberta could easily trim a $billion out of the budget easily without much of an effort.

We need to focus on trades and degrees like engineering, medicine, agriculture, etc.

[MBgrower]

Lets not forget the impact of technology, ease of data and information gathering has on these government services. We dont need govt ag reps in every small town , plus there arent many farmers left to service. Too bad all other govt departments didnt embrace technology and move to virtual services, but as earlier noted, lots of deadwood in government protecting jobs and inefficiencies.

[chuckChuck]

Farmers are getting alot of their agronomic advise from agronomist who have a vested interest in selling more products. And then you guys complain about how high the cost of inputs are and you can't make any money? LOL

Governments are cutting services for farmers and handing it over to the private sector for a fee.

And numerous posters have called for more government support and subsidies for farmers?

[GALAXIE500]

Never hurts to trim a bit of fat or clear some dead wood.

All of these people do good and valuable work. That is my opinion. However , when their paycheck enables them to get a good pension at 25 years , when the rest of us have to put in 35-40-50 years I have a problem with that.

Strictly my opinion , and I don't like seeing research cut, regardless of the province.

[wmoebis]

All of these people do good and valuable work. That is my opinion. However , when their paycheck enables them to get a good pension at 25 years , when the rest of us have to put in 35-40-50 years I have a problem with that.

Strictly my opinion , and I don't like seeing research cut, regardless of the province.

I worked for Gov't at one time. I paid into Gov't employee pension. I would like to see a take home pay stub comparison from a gov't employee making the exact same wage as a private employee. And then again when they turn 65 on both CPP and private/gov't pensions. Just for interest sake.

[Blaithin]

The government sites (and universities) are some of the only places doing research and trials that AREN'T run by the companies pushing the products being studied. Even if somebody feels research isn’t highly necessary, being left with mainly research and trials run by the companies on their own products is hardly something I like the looks of.

Also you look at locations like Lethbridge and Breton plots and trials they've been running for decades. Tweeking plants and breedings.... that’s a lot of work wiped out with the strike of a pen when places like those are told they’re done or they have to move. It will take a long time to build back up to where they’re at.

At least there are private ranches and farms that assisted in many of these trials that hopefully won’t just go out and plough in or start using controls just because the division they’ve been working with is gone.

[farmaholic]

There's alot of Industry people not earning their wages, those are the ones I'm talking about.
It's the ones that add no value that can and should be trimmed. Just because people collect a paycheck doesn't mean they've "earned" it.

[ajl]

I worked for Gov't at one time. I paid into Gov't employee pension. I would like to see a take home pay stub comparison from a gov't employee making the exact same wage as a private employee. And then again when they turn 65 on both CPP and private/gov't pensions. Just for interest sake.

Today a private sector worker at the same pay grade works longer, has more responsibility and takes on more risk than their public sector counterpart. 30 to 50 years ago the spread was not that much and the public sector provided some useful services. Today they are pretty much all grifters working on non sense projects like climate change and renewable energy. What has an AB ag department worker done for me lately?

[walterm]

Didn't Ritz down size and destroy work and results a bunch of fed research offices and down load that work onto provincial research branches? Are some of these those branches.