AAFC Investigation into Farm Income Crisis

[TOM4CWB]

Furrowtikler;

Sorry, but I am with rodb.

That we must have a decent saftey net, there is no question about it.

I really hope Crop Insurance will work to improve coverages... instead of the policy which reduces liabilities anywhere possible.

When I have $8/bu Canola locked in, I need to be covered @ $8/bu. Manitoba does this, why not Alberta?

We are in a battle.

But haven't we always been there?

I can't remember anyone promising me grain farming would be easy, or a get rich quick scheme, can you?

In my way of thinking, the crisis is in the spirit of our farm community... we are giving in to fear, deception, intimidation, condemnation, and dispair.

Our forefathers certainly did not build the Ag Community in Alberta using the above principals.

Many folks are working really hard to make it through this winter of dispair:

We must enter into faith, hope, and love what we are doing as farmers, for our communities and families.

The days will get longer.

The tempature will rise.

The crows and robins will return.

It is still a blessing to be a grain farmer in Alberta!

[Vader]

Ones level of enthusiasm might have something to do with the value of ones farmland and the degree of liquidity!

Those who are in fact having trouble putting food on the table and where the banker is rattling the chains would have somewhat more trouble putting on the happy face.

[TOM4CWB]

Vader,

Just the person I was thinking about !

We have a neighbour that took out a EPO.

It was for 80%, on Hard White wheat, for $3.30/bu.

Now I know CWB Directors cannot do PPO's but, they should still be responsible.

His Hard White turned out to be feed.

He was told this EPO could be converted to CWRS... now the CWB says no, that can't happen either.

The CWB is asking for $27/t to liquidate this EPO, on 220t.

THis is Dispair in action for a farmer.

This is intimidation.

THis creates fear, anger, resentment, frustration... and might I also point out a lack of liquidity for farmers.

The CWB promises to only charge the "cost" to liquidate PPO's.

There is no CWB cost, as the grain was never delivered. If it was never delivered, it could not be sold, because the CWB didn't know the grade... just as the farmer didn't know the grade.

We are seeing fall assesments broken all the time now, that promised a 2, 0r 3, which come back Feed, even with excelent falling numbers.

What gives VADER?

[Vader]

Ask this farmer to get the current explanation for this situation with the CWB. There may be a new options available to mitigate the losses.

The CWB directors function is to establish policy not to be hands on in individual cases.

The overriding policy is to indemnify pool participants and to have the user pay for the programs that are being offered. If the CWB uses risk management tools to offer program flexibility then these costs are passed on to the user. If problems in program delivery are identified and if program redesign is in order then certainly that should be undertaken forthwith. Participants should be aware of the obligations created under contract.

Tom, I am sure that your observations of deficiencies in the producer pricing options have been noted and have been part of the impetus for program review and reformulation.

[Vader]

from the CWB Bulletin

Bulletin
At a glance

The CWB has released the Early Payment Option (EPO) discount estimates for the new feed wheat EPO which will be offered Feb. 7, 2005. The 80 per cent EPO is expected to cost between 25 cents and 75 cents per tonne, the 90 per cent EPO to be between $2 and $4 per tonne and the 100 per cent EPO to be within a range of $11 and $15 per tonne. EPO discount prices will vary with grain market activity and CWB sales.

[SW1-32-5-4]

The mistake most people make is that they actually believe the drivel that drops from the lips of the cwb. These people at the cwb are protecting a kingdom and a way of life for a breaucracy not accessible by freedom of information. Only when this diabolical organization is on the access schedual of the freedom of information act will there be any acountability and transparency. Until then we will be subject to this liberal sewer system.

[Vader]

So if the CWB were subject to access to information what question would you ask?

[TOM4CWB]

Vader;

Make the CWB accountable, through a fair transparent third party "access to information" process, then you can be sure many, many, questions WILL be asked.

[TOM4CWB]

Vader;

Why isn't this process already avaliable now

[Vader]

I will give you my response. Not sure what the CWB's position is.

The access to information is applicable only to government organizations. Try to get information out of the likes of Cargill. Look how they treated the government when they were asked to open their books.

The CWB is much more open and transparent than their commercial conterparts. Details of transactions are private between parties at the request of the parties. The customers of the CWB want this privacy and details of transactions will remain private forever if that is what the customer wants.

The CWB is moving away from government not towards it. I know that you will argue that the CWB is government controlled. Whatever government control that exists at this point in time will be greatly diminished or totally eliminated over the next while. When that happens all request for the application of access to information will fall on deaf ears. A situation not unlike that you see today.

So get over it. The CWB is open and accountable. Ask your questions. Do so in good faith. Be persistent (like I have to tell you that Tom). Be reasonable and realistic. Look at the annual reports. Attend the corporate accountability meetings. Work with the Director in your District. That is the democratic process that is in place. Work with what you have and you will be much more effective than continually lamenting what you don't have.