And were are OFF! CWB Plebicite

[TOM4CWB]

MINISTER STRAHL ANNOUNCES VOTE ON THE MARKETING OF BARLEY TO START ON JANUARY 31



OTTAWA, Ontario, January 12, 2007 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, announced the date today of the plebiscite on the marketing of barley. The voting period will commence with the mailing of ballots on January 31 and the last day for return ballots to be postmarked will be March 6. Results of the plebiscite will be announced in mid-March. The company chosen to run the plebiscite is the international accounting firm KPMG LLP, which was selected through a competitive process.



"Canada's New Government has made it clear that we would consult with farmers and stakeholders. With this plebiscite, we're delivering on that commitment," said Minister Strahl. "We are providing Western Canadian barley growers with the opportunity to make their own decisions about how they market their grain, whether through the Canadian Wheat Board or through other outlets."



All four provinces in the CWB designated region - Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia - have agreed to provide KPMG with their Production Insurance information identifying producers who insured barley in the years 2002 to 2006, which will help to expedite the process of assembling the list of eligible voters. Minister Strahl thanked the provinces for their assistance in developing the list. The federal government is also providing KPMG with a list of producers reporting barley to the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program to assist in developing the voters list.



Canada's New Government is committed to moving forward in providing marketing choice to western grain farmers, allowing them to maximize their returns, while continuing to preserve a strong Canadian Wheat Board.



For more information on marketing choice, please visit: www.agr.gc.ca/cwb.



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For more information, media may contact:



Media Relations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

613-759-7972

1-866-345-7972



Jeff Howard

Press Secretary

Minister Strahl’s office

613-759-1059

[mustardman]

I would gladly give up barley to the open market as long as wheat and durum stay under the CWB. Do you think this would satisfy the anti-board boys Tom ?
Surely there would be enough Cereal crops to choose from for rotational purposes that if you want every crop off board you would have plenty to choose from. i.e canaryseed,fall rye ,spring rye , oats,malt and feed barley and feed wheat.
Just take the barley and hopefully we could end this discussion and the Gov't could move on to fix some problems in Agriculture that Actually exist. Like railroads overcharging us or input costs going thru the roof or etc etc etc etc. Unfortunately there is not a gov't around that would look into these problems not when they have railroads and chemical companies lobbying them.

[cowman]

I find it very interesting that the barley plebiscite is "limited" to the insurance rolls and the CAIS welfare roles?
Fact is a whole lot of people might be very much interested in growing barley besides the people milking the welfare system of CAIS and government assisted crop insurance?
Lets face it...just about everyplace growing silage or hay could grow barley? How many of these farmers...are not growing barley because of the CWB situation?
I don't grow any barley. I do rent out 240 acres to my cousin on a crop share? I do grow 120 acres of alphalfa on a custom deal. All could be grown into barley...in fact of the 240 acres/it is barley, save canola rotation.
Also have around 600 acres that could very easily be converted into barley production(and was grown in the past)..after 30 years of CWB BS find it more profitable to pasture it!
This land is not garbage...would probably out produce almost anything in the west!
Central Alberta.
But I don't deserve a vote...because I'm not part of the CWB welfare scheme?

[TOM4CWB]

Cowman,

Has any of your land grown barley since 2002?

[TOM4CWB]

Mustardman,

Until we have a voluntary CWB, it can not market Canola, Peas, Lentils, Flax, sell imput products, and be a full shop stop to do business with.

I believe this is the real future and need for the CWB, to transform the CWB into a major marketing partner opportunity for my farm and community.

I cannot see this happening with out some form of "opt out" or clearly defined option to de-politisise the MotherCorp... and transform it into an effective marketing tool for my community.

[craig]

Mustardman. If there were some serious reforms done to the Producer payment options that would give us the risk management tools we need then I could live with the CWB for wheat. By reform I mean a total seperation of these contracts from the pool accounts. In other words a system that would function like an open market and still allow the CWB to access all the wheat.

[wd9]

Cowman, it says to help and assist in building the list, not limit it to it.

If even 1 person votes for freedom to market their barley, the government will be committed to providing choice for that person. Do people really think the vote is about determining what the majority wants?

The key phrase is this: "We are providing Western Canadian barley growers with the opportunity to make their own decisions about how they market their grain, whether through the Canadian Wheat Board or through other outlets."

They are simply finding out if anyone wants to market their own barley and provide that option. Pretty neat, hey Tom4CWB.

[rondi]

I can hardly wait until cwrs becomes a IP crop reserved for the lefties.

[TOM4CWB]

Mustardman,

What is a CWB Joke; Mustardman?

1. Class enemies known as "Detractors" (or "decombiners" take your choice)invent them,
2. CWB Directors tell them,
3. The central committee in Winnipeg put them into practice!

A CWB a"single desk" Party member was riding in a SuperBee full of Durum and asked the "designated area" grain grower if he was more happy, or less happy; about things since the 1993 "single desk" "Goodale" Party members took charge!

The Grower says: Less Happy;

The CWB Party member asks: WHY?

The combined driver/grower said he had two suits before... but now can only afford one.

The CWB Party member said... just count your blessings... you should be happy you don't live in Africa... they are completely naked over there!

The "designated area" grain grower asked, Oh, I hadn't realised the CWB
took over there, when did this happen?

The "designated area" Durum grower saw this news report the next day...

"The CWB's selling prices in Algeria are very low, since our country benefits from preferential prices. This preferential
price saves Algeria several tens of dollars per tonne purchased. No other country gives us such benefits."
"Mohamed Kacem, Director General of OAIC"
(Algerian state grain import agency)

Does this answer your question? Cheers

[cowman]

TOM/wd9: Only about 240-300 acres per year...in a rotation barley/barley canola. At one time up to 600 acres was cropped...at that time always barley. Since then we've bought more land, but went with hay and tame pasture. Quite frankly the money in barley, just didn't cut it? I like to do a rotation out of hay every 5 or 6 years so the 240 acres in grain works well.
Actually I don't want a vote as I am not interested in grain farming. My cousin rents this land on a crop share basis and I am quite satisfied to let him carry on. I assume he will vote but maybe not as he has absolutely no use for the CWB and I think he is quite happy selling feed barley to feedlots and hog barns! Now he might be changing his tune if he could deal directly with the malt company?

[just_wondering]

what does Strahl do when there is a 50% voter turn-out and the producers are split 45/55. Is this consultation worth anything?
What do producers in western Canada have to do to let Supply Management know that it's not them we are after? Is it for the next 8 years we guarantee the their 250% over quota tarriff and take a hit on import tariffs on Canola around the world vs soybeans in retaliation?

[TOM4CWB]

Cowman,

If you sold barley since 2002, I would be really surprised if you don't get a ballot.

[wmoebis]

I read it to say if you insured barley since 2002.

I grew and sold barley, but never got paid for it, in the free enterprize system. I better get a vote.

[wd9]

wm, what do you mean you never got paid for it?

[stubblejumper]

Tom no joke: A farmer for just me was asked if he got a better price for his grain when he hauled it to montana. He said no.