something to think about

[rbrunel]

For those of you who may still have an open mind. The group of farm organizations who worked together to form a set of questions for producers to think about while discussing the CWB in the on going saga. The paper is posted on several websites, www.kap.mb.ca it is on the right side of the page in the new@KAP section This paper is meant to provoke thought for both pro choice and pro board thinkers. Although I know some think that these groups are out in left feild. At the end of the day, wherever you sit on this issue we will all need to come together and work this out in the redesigning of our industry. As this is what I think this will bring about. So if you have an open mind read it and maybe we could have some productive debate and discussion on this issues as we will all be affected good, bad or otherwise.(this will be a matter of opinion)
hope to hear some interesting thoughts from both sides.

[Southpaw]

You are certainly correct about KAP being in "Left" field. They have gone so far left in the last couple of years that I would imagine they are losing membership bigtime. As for a plebisite, why should you or anyone else have a say in how I sell my grain.

[AdamSmith]

Southpaw, I heard from a very reliable source that KAP has lost over 500 members in the last few months because of their staunch pro cwb stance.

[rbrunel]

That is news to me....I am active in the organization and i have not heard a thing.

[silverback]

What sort of debate do you want to hear?

All I want to do is be able to grow what I want and sell it to whoever I want.

How much more can I debate.

You stay out of my business and I will stay out of yours.

Don't force me to accept what you think is a good idea.

You go ahead and ship to the board if you want, I will go out and decide who will buy my product.

If I fail, then it is my fault.

Don't confiscate my product to mix with yours.

Simple.

[rbrunel]

Ok, so the market is open, is there a need for continued funding to things like CIGI, etc, who is going to replace the CWB in working on trade disputes. other sectors have groups that do this. These are the things that I am interested in debating. Since know one is really interested in talking about open market/single desk. whether you like it or not, these sort of things will need to be looked at.

[rbrunel]

cont'd
Get rid of the KVD? (I hope so) what who sets the grading criterea, testing program, do we move to a mcvet type, maybe be have 20 new varieties every year like canola, one not much better then the last. I think these things will change if/when the cwb looses it monopoly. THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DISCUSS> Do they not interest you. Do you not think they will change. Do you not think we as farmers should have a say in where they go?

[silverback]

Do you think that the CWB has been solving trade disputes in the past?

Really?

In my opinion it is the Federal Government who is ultimately responsible for handling trade issues between countries.

If the beaurocracy of the CWB was cut in half, I am guessing that we could use that cash to look after the things you are talking about and still be money ahead.

[wmoebis]

I agree rbrunel. I would like to hear from the seed growers, the CGC the railways, all the grain companies, shortline rail and producer car loading groups. What about our domestic and export markets the guys that matter the most in our sales. How would they operate in a dual/open system?

I would like to hear from the federal gov't who realy settled the trade disputes. Maybe someone can tell us where we can read all this info.

We know what the two sides of producers think, now lets hear what the rest of the industry think.

I agree with you silverback but it isn't only the CWB that it top heavy it is every gov't agency and every grain company. If not in personel definatly in wages. We pay some awful big wages to CEO,s etc. of all the companies that work on our behalf.

[mustardman]

rbrunel

good points you raised, and haven't looked at kap article but yes there are a lot of issues arising from this whole decision to go open market if thats where we are heading.
Right now a plant orders 13% 1cwad from the board they can be assured of its milling qulity (probably 90% Avonlea)
Varietal release program makes sure any new wheat variety released has characteristics that exceed previous
varieties unlike canola where there is not such a standard.
There are alot of issues that need looked at and I'm quite sure the group that reported back to Mr. Strahl the other day didn't have the time to deal with them.
You can't simply axe the board ,go open and things will carry on. There could be big consequences and meanwhile our customers are not wanting to commit to long term agreements as they are not sure if the board will be there to deal with in future.