Check off redunds on the rise

[TOM4CWB]

Went to the Crossroads Crop Conference.

They gave us plenty to think about!!!

Our Commissions and Canola Council did a bang up job of working through the maize of mines that the federal government has laid for us… they have a plan and are representing us in a reasonable manner.

It is difficult to work through the new communication pathways… the Pandemic has radically altered how policies are developed… not a fun time to influence the political policies in Ottawa…

Walk a mile in the shoes of those working against the rising tide of wokism, climate change, and sustainable environmental ism… what a challenge for any farmer to even mentally prepare themselves for the radical future we are challenged with…leadership is a overwhelming mission… the urban 95% of population… ‘Against’ rural (5%)…

policies and political pressures/leadership in this split very lopsided environment……is daunting… rural politics is totally lost on the vast majority of the urban population that votes…

Reality is a …… don’t shoot the very few left that put their necks on the line for your farm… do something your self if you believe that you are a leader that has the answers to lead us out of this rural wasteland of political purgatory… urbanization and immigration are driving 90% of political policies.

Spend your political power wisely… rural people have important perspectives… but reality sucks… we don’t rate anywhere near the importance politically…that was accepted as normal…50 years ago.

Blessings and Cheers!

A brave new reality… for those willing to do a reality check on the political landscape!

We will be very fortunate… if many of us in western Canada escape a major drought this summer… it could be heart wrenching for many farmers!!!

[TOM4CWB]

Could be a wild summer for weather!!!

[TOM4CWB]

Blackpowder,

We all need to do a reality check...

Have been active in AB Commissions since 1989... many many thousands of volunteer hours... passionate effective leadership is a trek though endless challenges... it is so very easy to shoot missiles at those brave souls [farmers] willing to put themselves on the front lines of leadership and representing our agricultural communities.

It is costly and requires real self discipline... to challenge urban political perceptions... few farmers actually have done a SWAT accounting of farmer's new political and social economic reality in an urbanized post pandemic world.

It is very easy to get 'lost' in our own....'small' but important farming realities... it is a no brainer that people starve without food to eat... yet...humans are creatures of habit...

Farmers easily forget... that our farm worlds are radically detached from 90% of urban civilization... we are left with a very diminished power base politically to leverage.

Cheers

[bucket]

Blackpowder,

We all need to do a reality check...

Have been active in AB Commissions since 1989... many many thousands of volunteer hours... passionate effective leadership is a trek though endless challenges... it is so very easy to shoot missiles at those brave souls [farmers] willing to put themselves on the front lines of leadership and representing our agricultural communities.

It is costly and requires real self discipline... to challenge urban political perceptions... few farmers actually have done a SWAT accounting of farmer's new political and social economic reality in an urbanized post pandemic world.

It is very easy to get 'lost' in our own....'small' but important farming realities... it is a no brainer that people starve without food to eat... yet...humans are creatures of habit...

Farmers easily forget... that our farm worlds are radically detached from 90% of urban civilization... we are left with a very diminished power base politically to leverage.

Cheers

So having said that , you have to take some responsibility to the topic at hand and why farmers are being encouraged to pull their funding when they believe there is no value for money ?

I watch announcements for other industries get grant in the billions and yet agriculture lobbyists ( puke) rarely get an effective lobby result like those other industries.

Dofasco and Algoma steel both extracted 400 million each for replacing their steel melting furnaces. Do you see the government helping farmers the same way for primary agriculture overall.

[BreadWinner]

Well said Bucket, feds are throwing money at every sector except agriculture, transportation of goods, and oil and gas. Why shouldn’t there be a incentive to replace that old smoking massey tractor with a newer carbon capturing model…..after all one of the largest grocery chains got new fridges to save the environment. Because we are western right wing racist white farmers, nothing for you unless you are a minority. Another thing I noticed, Canola organizations are not rebranded themselves as producers of green energy. Why not this is what the government tit is looking to feed.

[bucket]

Why shouldn’t there be a incentive to replace that old smoking massey tractor with a newer carbon capturing model…


Sadly that old smoking Massey is probably more reliable and uses less fuel.

Here is the problem, so called scientists haven't done the math on the reduction of hours on a per acre basis.

Remember a tractor at rest is not polluting. And really why does 300 hours on a combine per year require emissions reduction. Or why does it make sense for a hotter burn cycle?

Over the last 40 years our trips to the elevator have become longer to satisfy logistics of the graincos and railways . Anyone done the emissions for that change?

[TOM4CWB]

Bucket… blaming Commissions and the Canola Council of Canada for ‘Climate Change’ … eco environmental policy is deceptive whining with no constructive content.

The Cash Advance has been expanded (interest free) from $100k to $250k… expanded total advance to $1M…

As farmers we do the best we can with what we are handed to work with…. Shrinking political influence makes the rural agricultural community vulnerable… not the fault of the Commissions or farmers themselves.

Obviously the agricultural community has radically less political influence… Now… as urbanization decreases rural voter influence… thereby as we have become more efficient… some saying that over the past 20 years up to 60% better efficiency in some crop production segments… we repeatedly point out these efficiency gains when ever the opportunity exists.

What else do you expect from your farm leadership??? If you can do so much better… then have at it!!!

Find out that walking the walk in effective agricultural leadership…is much more difficult than complaining about it!!!

Have a great day! Happy 2023 seeding!!!

Cheers

[bucket]

Bucket… blaming Commissions and the Canola Council of Canada for ‘Climate Change’ … eco environmental policy is deceptive whining with no constructive content.

The Cash Advance has been expanded (interest free) from $100k to $250k… expanded total advance to $1M…

As farmers we do the best we can with what we are handed to work with…. Shrinking political influence makes the rural agricultural community vulnerable… not the fault of the Commissions or farmers themselves.

Obviously the agricultural community has radically less political influence… Now… as urbanization decreases rural voter influence… thereby as we have become more efficient… some saying that over the past 20 years up to 60% better efficiency in some crop production segments… we repeatedly point out these efficiency gains when ever the opportunity exists.

What else do you expect from your farm leadership??? If you can do so much better… then have at it!!!

Find out that walking the walk in effective agricultural leadership…is much more difficult than complaining about it!!!

Have a great day! Happy 2023 seeding!!!

Cheers

The topic is about refunds. Farmers don't see the value, that why they are asking for their money back.

I always like that line """" If you can do so much better… then have at it!!! """"

I have put resolutions forward that get passed that the farm groups are to work on....once passed is it my responsibility to continue working on it or is it the farm group's?

Seems to me if you tell an employee to do something and you end up doing it yourself , there is no sense having an employee. Right.

That is what the people asking for their money back are implying. The farm groups are not doing their jobs.

Increasing the cash advance rate to 250,000 interest free temporarily?????

Do the math on an interest free 60000 CEBA loan for 3 years and a grant at the end compared to that?

Not sure farmers that helped the economy got a better deal with a temporary measure.

Why not a million interest free that reflects a real farm these days?

[blackpowder]

Thank you Tom for your service.
I don't have the ability or desire.
I should not comment too hard if I don't go to these things. The Edmonton conference became ho hum for me years ago.
But I suspect a small percentage do anyway.
So why the dissatisfaction?
Am I under informed?
I do read the glossy mags they send.
Takes 2 minutes. Yawn. Same with their websites.
I bet you're right, we haven't seen anything yet from the government etc.
Why do I get the feeling I'm listening to a bunch of ****olds??????
The only response to govt I recieve is from wcwga. FWIW.

It is interesting to look at the companies hired by drug manufacturers to work with govt on registration etc. Have a relate with a international firm specializing in just that. Have a neighbor who used to work for the drug manufacturers on the other side of the table.
My suggestion. Maybe remove half the farmers on boards and replace with a qualified suit. Co-ops generally fail while exclusively farmer managed.
Hire a qualified firm. Demand results.
All I ever saw or heard around those tables were Cheshire cats.
Most on agriville seem disappointed. Most at the coffee table don't seem to know much or even have an opinion.
If they're working that hard, why is that?? What do we hear from the Canada Grains Council? Sunny ways. Pull the plug and hire a private firm?
Or am I just under informed and easily disgruntled? Funny, I have never heard a "NO" from any of these types. Agreeing with the bs to stay at the table may be necessary but it's gone too far.

And it's also sad that after 11 years we still struggle to modernize our thinking. Maybe that's on producers.

[TOM4CWB]

To withdraw and leave agricultural policy up to urban politics… we both know is suicidal.

If farmers have no ‘skin in the process’ financial contributions give legitimacy and build better policies.

Withdraw Bucket… have zero influence… what could possibly go wrong???

Suck and blow at the same time… not a productive way to communicate or move productivity forward.

Yes being responsible for political policies… and personal participation in the process should make a better case… for implementation… if advocacy is effective in policy development… which we all know is the logical practical common sense path. Whining is self gratification… like swearing at a broken piece of equipment… not helpful!!!

Cheers

[Herc]

[B]
Sadly that old smoking Massey is probably more reliable and uses less fuel.

Kinda off topic to the thread but this really got me thinking. Not in the reliability side but on the fuel usage. Everything leads us to believe the new model is more efficient. I’ve never really cared about fuel usage as long as the thing runs. Same time have never got a newer tractor and said man this thing is good on fuel. Never had an apples to apples comparison either as when we upgrade a tractor it usually has an upgraded drill behind it.

So I looked up some nebraska tractor tests to see whether a new diesel motor is more efficient than an old one. Compared a 4455 to a 6155M. And a 8870 to a 9370R. Old one was more efficient for both at max. Power levels. The newer 4wd was bit more efficient at lower power levels but the old 4wd was within 0.5 gal/hr. 2wd the old engine was better throughout. So in 30 years all we’ve accomplished was mediocre efficiency at mid range power levels on some diesel motors……..that or deere is bad example as they always burned a shit ton of diesel fuel…..

Back to the topic. Give me an opt out option for check offs. Why do I need to apply for it every year. Insanity. Either ur in or out…..

[Stormin]

Could be a wild summer for weather!!!

Thanks for for the charts and your perspective for the upcoming season, Tom. That settles it for me I am going to hang on to my only remaining crop of beautiful oats until next year, I’m not selling for less than $5/ bu!