NFU #s ???

[cowman]

TOM: How does it help your cause to create a division in the minds of people? To say things like the "20%" should make the decisions? Or that young progressive big farmers should have a greater say? You are implying that the other 80% of supposedly old backwards small farmers shouldn't have a say?
Do you see how that devides people?
My advice to you is never go into politics...because 20% of the electorate will never get you in office! Your arguments are actually helping the single desk side win this plebicite. Focus on the plusses of "choice" for everyone? Its like I told Cotton...you catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar.

[stubblejumper]

Tom now I see why less than 200 people voted for you.

[AdamSmith]

So gentlemen, the issue as I see it is that these two groups of farmers seem to have different needs and goals, yet we continue to make decisions (on policy) as if there is no difference between them. This leads to conflict which no one wants to touch with a ten foot pole. But the conflict continues and then when someone (governments) does make a decision they do a head count and it almost always sides with the rural lifestylers and rarely sides with the rural businessers. In fact I’ve witnessed in municipal politics decisions that have been made so as to cause deliberate harm to the large farmers and any person looking on objectively could see that. The issue of drainage has become so contentious around here that if you want to drain you follow the policy of “It’s easier to apologize after the fact than to follow the rules and apply for a permit” Because applying for a permit is the equivalent of being told you can’t drain.

There has been some discussion here about rural depopulation, if the truth be known rural depopulation has more to do with “The kids are more attracted to the big lights and have no internal calling for the farm”. Some of the most prosperous farmers in our area will have auction sales because the kids interests and career choices took them away. This is why we have large farms. I don’t know of one farmer who would get in the way of a family transfer of land, but when there is no one there to take it over, it’s sold or rented to the highest bidder and the highest bidder is usually the larger farmer who has the larger resources behind him. Business trumps lifestyle every time here.

I had an interesting conversation with my local tire shop owner. I needed to replace a couple of tires on my grain trailer after my brakes froze and I dragged them around a little to long before I saw what was happening. He was telling me about another farmer who was just in and this guy was bemoaning the fact that there are no young people farming anymore. The tire guy pointed out that he’s not surprised at all because the way he saw it, if as a young person all you ever heard about farming from your parents and other area farmers was how bad things were, and that you can’t make money or your getting screwed by everyone, no sane person would want to farm. Their only goal would be to get out and as quick as possible.

Our children see things that we sometimes don’t see. I will admit that my wife and I live a fairly rich lifestyle. We wear designer jeans and drink wine at supper. We travel well. In fact on Friday we leave for two weeks in Jamaica. We’ll take the kids skiing in Banff in March, we spend a lot of time enjoying life and not worrying to much about how much all of it costs. My priorities are enjoy life and I’ve let my kids know that.

Now I don’t know if either of my boys will farm but I want them to see, day in and day out that you can achieve and enjoy the upper middle class lifestyle from the farm. That lifestyle is not just achieved in the city. In fact if you can achieve it from the farm you have the best lifestyle available.

So if I come across as only for the big farmers well maybe I am, but it’s only because it’s my strong opinion that the “woe is me” farmer attitude and the envious “must be nice” attitude does nothing but drive people away. Portray success and celebrate success and you present a much more attractive choice to the next generation.

[cowman]

The only thing I want to know is this from TOM? Hey TOM do you wear designer jeans and booze it up at dinner? Do you too live the life of Riley?
Now I only ask that because I like to know what kind of guy runs for a seat on the CWB? Is that the kind of guy you are? Is all the humility about being religious and caring about your fellow man, just a fraud?
Designer jeans...give me a break!LOL

[grassfarmer]

Cowman you old cynic,don't you know you've made it when you can afford designer jeans?

[wilagro]

The patches on my jeans all have designs on them.

[parsley]

wilagrow,

You really gave me a chuckle.

Parsley