WESTERN CANADIAN WHEAT GROWERS!

[SASKFARMER3]

I will be the first to say that the CWB should be Changed or replaced but what really bugs me is how a USELESS organization with a handfull of memberships is bushing their version of wheat market. HEck their spokeswoman from southern sask was on the radio spouting off how good the worbiton contract was! as an example of how she is an expert at grain marketing well she must have not done her homework since when you factor in Certified seed costs and the premium you are 3 cents a bushel ahead but then you have to truck it to a certain terminal which will eat into your big 3 cents profit.
IVE done the math on this one and went head to head with neighbors and for 3 cents it doesnt pay.
What I am trying to get at is why are we just looking at what her organization is saying and not have others show their side(no not ken ridder and the CWB)

[wd9]

Maybe the media could ask the Canadian Wheat Council, or the Canadian Cereals Council?

Or maybe the media could ask the provincial wheat commissions that are focussed on market development, research and extension work?

[TOM4CWB]

Saskfarmer3;

Developing relationships and providing intrinsic value often has other side benefits that aren't easily measured.

If we all just grow commodities... we will see them worth less.

If we segment the production into IP segments... we make bigger more robust markets... and fill needs customers have that might otherwise go to other grains or food products.

We need a bigger pie... and IP's will, with investment and work... grow our demand... just like ethanol.

Laugh if you like... but hard work and care for our consumer will pay off in the end!

Being on the cutting edge is like being in a bed of roses at times... it is sharp, prickly, and one must take care not to be pricked too much...

But it can be rewarding to see the results when the roses are in full bloom!

[AdamSmith]

SASKFARMER3

Maybe you should phone that woman up and tell her how she is suppose to market her grain. I hear she really appreciates it when others insist they know whats best for HER farming operation, as clearly you must have better knowledge of what she likes and what individual choices are best for her.

Yikes!

[SASKFARMER3]

What I was trying to get across is that here is a organization that closed its doors just three years ago because they were so out of touch with reality that no one wanted to be one.
THen all of a sudden they are the voice of farmers. Hell in Sask we use to laugh at members as the BBC (Billionare BOYS CLUB) DADDY LEFT THEM THE FARM OR THEY WERE OLD SEED GROWERS.
HELL Dont think Ethanol etc will give me bigger returns but her example is a joke the local Elevator for years has offered this program the only winner in a big way is the company selling the seed they make the big dollars then the Elevator company then finally the farmer with pennies not dollars.
The big profit for farmers will be in ethanol or Bio Diesel since the freight we pay CP and CN will be gone and thats big dollars. Finally also the ONes who have used our products as cheap food HRS Durum Barley for malt Canola will have to start paying for a product and god help them if we have a failure somewhere in the world.

[wedino]

Skfarmer3, Wheatgrowers are funded solely by farmers, unlike the likes of SARM & APAS who get their funding from rural municipal taxpayers.

[AdamSmith]

If I were in government or the industry and I wanted to take the pulse of farmers who are optomistic and whose operations usually reflect that optomisim, I'd would be talking to the WCWGA. I'll admit I'm biased because I'm a VOLUNTARY member of the WCWGA. In fact I once was a director.

The thing that always struck me was that almost all other members seemed to share that optomisim.

I spent about four years with KAP and was a district rep for a couple of those years and every time I came home from Wpg after a two day board meeting I was more down and depressed than I was before the meeting. The opposite occure whenever I went to a wheatgrowers meeting.

Optomisim is a wonderful thing but I soon realized when I was with the wheatgrowers that many farmers resented that level of optomisim. They believe true farmers were helpless victims. Wheatgrowers believe as individuals our destinies are held in our own hands. Just get out of our way.

At KAP everything was a crisis, I'd walk away from a meeting wondering if there was any point in continuing on.

So when KAP looked like they were going to have to shut their doors because of low membership, they just pushed the MB government to give them a check-off via the grain companies.

The wheatgrowers directors at the time chose to shut down (they didn't need to by the way)But the membership felt the WG's voice was still needed and we built it back up again. By the way I'll take 1000 voluntary, progressive thinking, optomistic, $150/yr, members anyday.

No other oganization has the depth of loyalty like the wheatgrowers. I'm damn proud to be a member.

[stubblejumper]

wedino SARM and APAS are funded by producers through their tax dollars. How much funding does WCWGA get from major ag corporations.

[magpie]

warburton wht contract enables one too get better cash flow as it is over and above quota provided your first quota is filled

[wedino]

Stubblejump, Major ag corporations make the decision to contribute to WCWGA on their own, no forced contribution through taxes. Some Major ag corporations do contribute to SARM, voluntarily. All ratepayers (not just prodcers) are forced to contribute to SARM & APAS.. Producers that rent land do not fund SARM or APAS. Less than 40% of RMs are members of APAS.