Questions

[TOM4CWB]

Sorry that should have been 2004 when the CWB paid out big time against the contracted PPO's.

[TOM4CWB]

Silverback;

Did you see this?

-DTN "Washington Insider: Cooperatives Working Together, An Unusual Program

Cooperatives Working Together is a non-government, voluntary, producer-run milk price stabilization program, the only one of its kind focused on a major U.S. commodity. It is managed by the National Milk Producers Association, a commodity association representing dairymen and cooperatives. The program works to moderate supply and strengthen demand by buying cows and helping members export. It claims coverage on 74 percent of national milk production which experts say would give it a budget of about $70 million."

Hmmm voluntary... no monopoly... still works...

Here are some more comments:

"Recent surveys of dairy producers suggest that cooperators support the program strongly because they believe it increases milk prices -- in amounts ranging from $0.50 per cwt to as much as $1.00 per cwt. Producer responses have been good in recent months, but some producers point to the 30 percent of the milk that does not contribute and worry about the "free rider" problem. Others are concerned that the program might not have the muscle to support prices during periods of rapid production growth -- and, that perhaps the program itself could stimulate production enough to swamp its supply stabilization efforts.

The National Milk Producers Association says the program is working very well, about as it was intended and they expect it to continue to grow in both support and operations. Even critics of its supply management concepts concede that the program model of concerted action by interested producers is a good one -- perhaps even better than the government system which has been in place for more than seven decades and is facing growing pressures for reform from many directions, Washington Insider suggests."

Now, can't we make a voluntary CWB work, if we "designated area" Canadians make up our minds to do so?

[agstar77]

An example of voluntary pooling in western Canada ; the three prairie pools. What has happened to them? They have been caught up in the I have to expand to survive mentality as well as being controlled by people who did not believe in co-operation. Could these be the same people who ran border crossings under the guise of freedom of choice? You expect these people to market together and accept the same return as someone else? I can't survive unless I get a higher price than everyone else! In an ideal world voluntary pooling would work but unfortunately Western Canada is not part of that ideal world.

[TOM4CWB]

Agstarr77

We do it with beans in southern Alberta of all places.

The longer you guys burry your heads in the sand... the more we will all be HURT!

Can't you see your head is in the sand between two tire marks about 8 feet apart... and the rumble of the convoy comming towards us is now shaking the ground?

[TOM4CWB]

Silverback;

DId you see this?

"Winnipeg, MB, Dec 02, 2005 (Resource News International via COMTEX) -- Due to technical difficulties at the Canadian Wheat Board, the listing of Canadian Spring Wheat Domestic/Export Prices is not available today."

WHy didn't the CWB have prices today?

[TOM4CWB]

Agstar77;

I see on DTN Dec 2/05:

That World durum production is estimated at 27 million MT, down close to 20% from a year ago. Canadian durum production is up only about 8%.

CWB EXPORTS of DURUM SLOW. The CWB is blaming a higher Cdn $ and higher US/Cdn. supplies for their problem. CWB PROs have been lower for some time. The middle of PRO for 1CWAD 13% durum is currently about $4.14/bu at the elevator.

Since Spain and south western EU are short... there should be reasonable markets IF we price into the market at a fair value.

VADER... what gives here? Who made the decision to short the market... CWB directors of the CWB staff?

With the mixed signal out of Winterpeg... I must assume that the CWB Board of DIrectors were the primary cause of the 50/80% acceptance policy announced last week.

Blind sided many folks... to say the least! Withdrawing when unsure of supply in one thing... stepping back with full bins... what gives here, we are going to loose market share.

Isn't there a better way to speculate than go long in the bin...

Vader perhaps a better signal to grow less would be a lower price to growers... NOT 50% acceptance in 2005?