The world in 10 years

[FarmJunkie]

Easy. Pay us more money for our product so we don’t have to subsidize society forever.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I'm just shocked to learn that 17 years ago posters used the commodity marketing forum to discuss marketing and offer constructive forward looking solutions. Not even a mention of global warming, football, or alcoholic drinks.

[ianben]

Hi, I thought Charlie was back for a moment. I remember this post, trying to get discussion away from CWB.

I thought at the time by now farmers would use the internet more and be better marketers, but nothing has really changed and now I am not sure it can.

The problem is the weather, looks like you guys are really having it bad at the moment.

In the last 17 years I have tried to produce what our market wants, malt barley, milling oats, and specialty canola all on contracts but half the time due to the weather they do not make the grade.

The next bit is quite simple really, if it is not what they want they will not take it. They are not screwing me just down to the weather.

So here in UK not much has changed since 2001 and even with brexit and removal of subsidies unless we get better at weather forecasting I see little change in the next 10 years.

[Rareearth]

In the last 10 years, and in general terms the world was evolving to one of free trade, consolidation( merger- acquisitions)harmonization and production and manufacturing in the least cost jurisdictions (economies of scale, cost , infrastructure, etc) for the benefit of every one. This has all changed as trump wants it all. Zehan writes with interesting perspectives.

Today it’s damage control economically or politically. Just hope it’s not a physical war that the top dogs see as necessary for the reset others promote and hope for.

Nothing much has to change, do what you do best, focus on cost reduction, delivery and quality. The Q word, if every one grows the same it is a race into unsustainably ( that’s a popular word, sustainable), if it’s less than average pricing below the cost of production that is the norm, average Q and it’s about price, logistics, relationship etc, premium there is always a market ( price, logistics etc just as important) organic might fall into this category, if it’s not top quality it’s fuel.

I favor commodity and infrastructure super corridors, that Canada can’t afford with Unions and lack of political will ( do what’s best medium and long term for the people). 25 years for now with exponentially dollar value calculation, these projects will never be as cheap as they are today.


That’s 25 years, in a few short sentences.

[Hopalong]

Sorry about any confusion over date.
Looking back 17 years, two big changes in own area are increase in percentage of crop production coming from large farms and number going to straight grain.
Risk management, especially over weather, now a big or bigger concern.
As Charlie noted, farmers still look for a larger share of the production pie.
Increased size puts us in a stronger position indiividually when dealing with grain companies.
Increased protectionism another big risk.