Choice Matters Website

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie;

Just got back from the WRAP "Choice" mtg just SE of Camrose;

Good to see the issues brought forward;

The most compeling is that there will be a change in the CWB system, sometime in the future... we need to clearly think these options through... prepare for change...

Alberta's call for a 3rd party to issue export licenses was a very good point;

Contractual systems are already in place in the CWB system now... PPO's mean farmers must now think about more than just pooling, seperate delivery contracts are required;

Interprovincial movement was an issue brought up as a problem... from Sask to AB... I personally don't see it as a problem;

We have these same issues exactly happening today between non "Designated Area" BC and Ontario... movement of "designated area" grain into these areas is not any problem now... why should Alberta being added to the list change anything?

Much has been said about the Ab gov's spending on ads... the question was asked how much was spent in the past 10 years on CWB "CHOICE" activities... the answer was, how much has been spent by the feds/CWB promoting the monopoly?

Steve Snider gave a good presentation on Organic Restrictions... the surprising result was in backroom/washroom talk... most of the lefties admit that organic is getting a BAD deal... I expect the CWB has fully lost the battle on Organic wheat and barley at least... they just don't know how to deal with this problem yet. One thing leads to another...

THe more we talk these issues through... the clearer it becomes that the CWB is badly losing this battle on the issue of the moral high ground.

A big thanks to Alberta Ag in putting on a good, humble and constructive presentation in a difficult environment. It is amazing how many farmers love to blame change and hardship on someone like the Alberta Gov... it was really easy for them to do...

My single astonishment in retrospect is this;

It is 2004... and we still don't have CWB wheat/barley cash prices that reflect realistic daily international market conditions. We are all huge losers on this point... a point that does not even question the stature of the CWB monopoly. The PRO/pool is still King at the CWB!

WRAP should be thanked as well for starting the process of thinking and working through these CWB issues...

[charliep]

Thanks for comments.

Incognito - Hard to prove a negative when you lack information on actual trades/prices. Observation would say the CWB does collect premiums on Japanese business and perhaps European. These markets represent about 10 % of the wheat ex durum pool size.

The CWB goes out of their way to say the domestic and US markets get charged a fair price so there is no premium here.

Both these markets have other benefits they get which supply agreements that carryon through a full year and have committed/specific quality guarantees over the whole period. These commitments have value and in my opinion, eat into whatever premium the CWB argues they get. This is the main experience of 2002/03 and was the major cause of the deficit.

All other markets are an open question that needs some answers. Based on observation the world market is extremely competitive, I doubt the numbers would should any premiums that do not relate to other factors such as quality characturistics or supply agreement benefits.

Durum is an even more interesting question. The CWB may be able to argue they can support international durum prices by holding back supplies - some sense I can't argue with the comment that this information is available to the market/impacts buyers negotiations. The downside is that the CWB also makes decisions about market access with farmers currently likely to carry 30 % of their crop into 2004/05 to be sold at whatever price is available.

[charliep]

Just a note to highlight the CWB response to the Alberta suggestions.

See the entry point into the CWB webside.

http://www.cwb.ca/choice.html

[katoe]

Charlie If this is about choice and not trying to get rid of the cwb, then where is the choice to test market peas and canola on the cwb for those who have the desire?

[charliep]

I don't think anyone would have a problem with this as long as it was an alternative and not the only choice. Would farmers use this tool? Why?

[TOM4CWB]

Katoe;

If the CWB is to survive in the future... and becomes a true commercial operation responsible for cost of sales instead of hiding behind a contingency fund and the pool accounts;

IT NEEDS TO MARKET ALL GRAINS.

DO "designated area" farmers in western Canada trust the CWB enough to add these crops to CWB Marketing?

Or does experience prove the CWB will blow the bottom out of these crop prices as well... meaning a vote would NEVER allow the CWB the privilege to market Non-Board crops... BECAUSE the CWB CANNOT be TRUSTED?

How do you think a vote would go, even on voluntary CWB marketing of these crops?

[katoe]

tom4cwb The AB. Govt always says that they don't want to get rid of the cwb, that farmers want a choice. If this is meant to be an experiment then lets have one.Whether you don't think farmers will use the cwb is not my concern.In hindsight if the continental barley market had stayed in place all of this would have been behind us long ago.My experiment on this would be to open up barley domestically and export , feed and malt,with the cwb participating fully even in the domestic feed market.I want farmers to be sure that they can have this dual marketing or not.I forgot to mention that in this experiment that the cwb market canola on a voluntary participation.If this experiment works fine great,excellent, if it doesn't then at least farmers can decide if freedom and choice is worth losing the cwb for wheat.

[TOM4CWB]

Katoe;

I see the word "Democracy" being tossed around by the CWB with arrogance and reckless abandon.

Democracy is NOT Democracy if it does not have STRONG property and human rights tied to the system.

Democracy without property rights of the individual is simply communism with a smattering of socialism... the majority votes to take away the economic rights of those who work and create wealth... and vote to give it to themselves.

Common Law is the basis for Democracy, the CWB has pledged to stand by it; the principals and maxims are as follows:



1. The Common Law is based on the Golden Rule, which states;
Do unto others as you would have done unto you,
And the Negative Golden Rule, which states;
Do not do unto others as you would not have others do unto you;

2. The two fundamental principals of common law:
*** Do not infringe upon the Rights, Freedoms or Property of others, and
Keep all contracts willingly, knowingly and intentionally

Common law maxims include:
*** That for every wrong there is a remedy,

*** The end does not justify the means,

*** Fundamental principals cannot be set aside to meet the demands of convenience or to prevent apparent hardship in a particular case,

*** Ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking the law,

*** Two wrongs do not make a right, and

*** One can enlarge the rights of the people, however they cannot be taken away without their informed consent.


As soon as the CWB stands on these principals, it will deserve to survive and support from many will make the CWB fair to ALL;

However, if it continues to conive and spin everything that easily can be seen to be simple distortions of fair principals... to remain lazy to sustain itself;

Then CWB is then it's own worst enemy and many will welcome the demise of the spinners of deception at the CWB.

How do we impress on the people working at 423 Main... that we require the simple truth... work hard, tell the truth, tell us when the CWB makes a mistake; that they have learn't from that experience... and will pledge to do better in the future.

And the Political/executive leaders at the CWB, are the main offenders of the spin of distortions to save their skins ... and their foolish leadership in this area sinks the rest of the hard working staff... and recks the whole integrety of the CWB...

This is VERY sad.

Will farmers be offered a change of integrety...
then will farmers break with tradition and respect their neighbours right to decide on how to market their OWN grain in a Manner appropriate to the needs of their own farm?

[katoe]

Tom4cwb .You never responded to the barley and canola idea. I know that you would never use the cwb but not all agree about all your mistrust, and thats fine. Its all about choice isn't it?

[TOM4CWB]

Katoe;

You are wrong that our farm "would never use the CWB", on the contrary.

We sold into the CWRS pool and priced using PPO's, 5700PR CPS pool and priced using PPO's, 2 series of Barley contracts using EPO's, Osprey winter wheat into the pool and PPO'd in the 2003-04 crop year.

I speak from experience... many years of it, and frustration upon sadness that we haven't progressed much further than we have on respectful choice of my neighbour to decide how and when to market the produce of their farm husbandry and blood sweat and tears.

Should the CWB market Pulses and Canola?

If the CWB respected the CWB Act and allowed marketing of wheat and barley that has not been "offered" to the CWB...

Outside the CWB as the rest of Canada has the right to do...

As "designated area" farmers legally are entitled to have therse same choices;

When the CWB respects us as people... then they will have earned the opportunity to market our pulses or canola on a voluntary base as well as marketing our wheat and barley voluntarily in the future.

I have always said this, this is not a new issue for me.