Alberta Government or CWB website

[parsley]

Here goes your pooling money:

Quotes from SouthWest website:


1. "A number of South West Terminal Board Members along with Mark Schell (CEO), Trent Weber (Director of Transportation and Marketing) and Rick Spetz (Grain Operations Mgr) toured the Port of Vancouver from Dec 5th to Dec 9th.

The trip was organized by Robert Chapman (Farm Business Rep) from the Canadian Wheat Board and was also attended by other local area producers. The tour was quite comprehensive with unfettered access to nearly all areas of the port. All participants felt that the tour was very informative and provided a unique view into many of the challenges faced by individuals working in the Port of Vancouver."


Buzz Hargrove would approve.

Parsley

[charliep]

I would treat it as another vehicle to communicate about CWB issues. Farmers are smart enough to watch the posts and know the spin that may be put on them. Everyone knows the CWB needs to change with the questions are how and how quickly. An area of concern specific to South West Saskatchewan is durum.

[parsley]

You make it seem like this is just another deduction from the pooling accounts.

One more tree chopped down on Easter Island.

My point continues to be, there NOT ENOUGH money left for farmers in the pooling accounts so he can survive.

Parsley

[wmoebis]

My question has to be, how many other initatives have we invested in that is questionable as to whether it is in our best interest?

Why do we need weather stations paid for out of our pool accounts. Check the Sask. crop ins. web site they have weather stations all over Sask. paid for out of our pockets. The tax payers of Canada pay Environment Canada to track weather, we farmers are tax payers. Why can't the CWB just access that info off the web or phone the guys at SWT and ask what the weather is like.

[charliep]

Your assumption is this website is funded by the CWB. I have no idea whether is it is or isn't. With the exception of monitoring, this type of software is likely relatively cheap once you have it established on a server and can be done by just about anyone.

Communication is the most important thing. I have faith that farmers can read information and can come to a conclusion that best fits their business and personal interests.

[chaffmeister]

Incognito (or should I say Kevin Nealon):

That was the funniest thing I've ever read on Agri-ville! I'm a big fan (suck-up)!

[parsley]

QUOTE:

"South West Terminal and the CWB have worked together to launch a series of weather stations in the southwest of Saskatchewan."
UNQUOTE

Do you really think SouthWest is paying CWB staff to facilitate the launch,and keep it current, charlie?

What are you sipping?

Parsley

[parsley]

Another thing charliep,

You say, "Everyone knows the CWB needs to change with the questions are how and how quickly".

Farmers don't need more questions. Or answers. Both are inevitably incorporated into another dog and pony show. The CWB well might commit a few cool $Million for that dog and pony show, and I think you're just seeing the beginning of it.

Listen carefully. And take a good whiff.

Your pooling $money is starting to float noisily through the media, and you can smell the "experts" and consultants and backroom fingers on it.

Farmers need action.

Bureaucrats love dithering >into stalltime >into inaction. There are panels, and consulatation meetings, and coffee sessions that pay per diems with your pooling money.Mileage. Accomodation. meals.

Is there anyone out there who does not understand that most of the farmers I know and talk with are ready to throw in the towel?

Parsley

[wmoebis]

I E mailed SWT on this issue the reply included:

From; Mark Schell;

Cost? "It was a cost sharing project. As far as the CWB's share; I have no idea. You will have to contact them directly."

Operating cost? "They are solar powered and radio linked to the internet which is cost bore by SWT."

"The program was initiated by the CWB, but my understanding is that many cutbacks at Environment Canada have resulted in the CWB looking to alternate methaods to gather their weather information.

[Incognito]

Wmoebis - how many of your durum dollars went to pay for the SWT/CWB weather stations?

I don't buy the Environment Canada excuse you posted.

The PFRA is/has been setting up additional weather stations for a year and will start to issue vegetative maps this year based on those stations and satellite shots.

With the money they took from your pooling accounts to fund the Gull Lake project, do you have access to that information or does Beechy, SK not count as a durum area?

These are monetary issues you now know about.

What about the clandestine funding that goes on and you don't?

You have been a staunch single desk supporter. What would it take to shake that belief?

I look forward to your thoughts.

[wmoebis]

That is exactally why I persued this expendature and posted it here for all to read. I don't understand it either and would like explanations as to why we need these types of costs. Especially at a time when many are having trouble just to figure out how they are going to put fuel in thier tractors to put in this crop.

Like any other organization where public funds are being managed I believe that the CWB has to be open and transparent. That is why on this and other topics I ask questions and read intently, both here and at the CWB, CGC and agents, about issues of marketing and expenditures that affect our bottom line.

I think that the integraty of the farmer elected board lies with us the farmer to give direction on these and other matters that are costing us money. It is up to us to question when we don't agree with issues. We have a right to know that every dollar the CWB is spending, out of our pool accounts, is for the betterment of the producer, not the industry. It is up to us to inform the board in a respectful manor of the direction we as individuals would like to see them take. Then they take the direction that the demacratic majority wishes.

The industry, as such, has ways and means of looking after itself, they can pass thier cost on to the next level, however for us the buck stops here.

We as producers are classed, by the gov't, as suppliers to the industry it is up to us to change that attitude unless of course, we like it. Because right now the indusrty likes it.

[parsley]

wmoebis,
How could Mark Schell not know how much money SWest received from the CWB for this project?

I appreciate very much, your research and posting. Farmers have every right to know what is being spent.

Why would the CWB fund SouthWest? Is the CWB just throwing around money, aiming at groups of single desk supporters?

Is the CWB simply providing trips as "was organized by Robert Chapman (Farm Business Rep) from the Canadian Wheat Board", for teacher's pets? A video of the WestCoast setup is ample, folks.

Doesn't anyone out there realize that gasoline is high, that grain prices are low, and that farmers won't be able to even pay the phone bill with the CWB's final payment?

(By the way, do you think the CWB ever refunded the political fundraiser money back into the pooling accounts?)

Parsley