NFU #s ???

[lohner]

WE have 400 kids in our K-12. Maybe 40 use the hockey rink. Our town pop. is 800. They want to spend $1.5M on a new hockey rink.
My question is how many paying members are there in the NFU anyway?
They are the ones the media seems to go to...

[grassfarmer]

Thousands... quality and quantity. Articulating the truth - if you can't beat them join them!

[cowman]

I think the NFU gets a fair amount of press because they put out a unique message? Most of the commodity groups are pretty well all about free enterprize, capitalism etc.?
There is value in hearing from the "other side", whether we agree with their ideas or not? If all you ever do is consider one side...you might be missing something?
I don't agree with a lot of the things that the NFU says, but they do come up with some very good points at times?

[TOM4CWB]

Lohner,

I watched on Monday at Minister Strahl's news conference, as the Media, Left wing as it is... concentrated on these folks... leaving many of the rest of us to watch.

THe CBC did finally come over to where most of us were... and we did have a discussion about the special CWB "brainwashing" message.

The CWB has so carefully sculpted and extracted revenue the 20% of us that grow 80% of commercially produced grains in the "designated area"... insulting many of us that would appreciate the opportunity to make an honest living from the fruits of our labours down on the grain farm.

Much GLOATING was displayed by nfu types as they left the room... and proved once again that being proud of taking taxpayers money and being an economic basket cases SHOULD be the objective of forward thinking farm families... as they exclaimed "I will vote for the CWB Monopoly on Barley."

Great complaining was exclaimed about using the words like "Freedom, Stealing my families grain, and the choice to prosper"...

What an example to leave for our next generation of grain growers, out here in the "Designated Area"!

Talk about child abuse... and intergenerational poverty

[cowman]

TOM: The "Choice" group really doesn't benifit from farmers like you continually portraying yourself as the 20% who grow 80% of the grain? It might be very true...but it isn't helpful? I would suggest you stick to facts about what choice would do for everyone and not set yourself up as the "elite" farmers who want to dictate how everyone should bow down to you? It really doesn't work in this plebicite?
I have no idea how this plebicite might go? The fact is sooner or later the CWB is either going to have to go, or drastically change how it operates? Eventually farmers are going to "vote with their seed drills" and the coming revolution in biofuel will give them lots of opportunity to do just that?
Consider this: If you 20% who grow 80% of the grain, decided to not grow CWB crops...you would end the CWB tommorrow?

[grassfarmer]

You have two speakers, one talks of the problems in agriculture and how they are trying to improve the net farm income of all farmers/ranchers. The other talks of the problems in agriculture and says "Talk about child abuse... and intergenerational poverty" which one do you think the media should listen to??

[silverback]

Are you two willing to let someone else tell you when you can sell your calves?

Are you willing to let someone else tell you what you will get for them?

Are you willing to pool the value of your animals with all of western canada's cattle so that everyone gets the same value?

You have freedom on the cattle side of things, how about letting the grain grower try the same thing for a while.

[TOM4CWB]

Cowman,
Did you read the above stats on farms?

"In 2004, when farms with gross sales of over $250,000 made up 27% of all farms, they produced 75% of gross farm receipts and 84% of net cash income. The remaining 73% of farms generated a quarter of farm cash and 16% of profits."

To be able to use our strengths, and abilities to earn a living for our families... communities & nation in any other industry would be a goal that would be considered honourable and respected.

Now I am told I should be quiet... and let the lefties and commies who believe it is their right to steal my families grain...

and take the grain and income away from many of my neighbours as well...

We should shut up and hang our heads in shame for telling these folks to get their augers out of our grain bins?

How ironic.

[TOM4CWB]

Grassfarmer;

Clearly spelling out the lack of market access... that the CWB "single desk" distorts and prevents arbitage of "designated area" grain prices with world prices through a draconian license system to confiscate a grain growers produce... the products of his families blood sweat and tears:

To watch unfair communist policies tear apart our neighbours and turn our grain farms into economic basket cases...

Is this not abuse our "designated area" growers family and community?

Is seeking the opportunity to work hard and improve ourselves evil?

[Lifer]

Great. What does either message have to do with serving a consumer needs?

Why should anyone not in farming care about these messages? Are farmers more important then the other 97% of the population?

Isn't it better to focus on the opportunities and come up with solutions that benefit everyone in our region and country?

I don't know about others, but when the whining starts I turn it off or just walk away.

[cottonpicken]

The railways,machinery dealerships,and elevators have all taken more money out of our pockets than the cwb.

Why dont you price detectives find out why canola,flax and lentil prices suck.

[cowman]

TOM: At the end of your life you will leave here with nothing...just like when you came into the world...enough said. You are not special...you are just another poor soul trying to get through this "vail of tears"?
You don't ever attract support by coming across as arrogant? It really doesn't work?
Point out how "everyone" can benifit from "choice" not just the large farmer? This isn't rocket science? Maybe you need to take a course in humananity or something? You are turning off so many people...I don't think you realize it?
Not meant to be a slam on you...just try to think how you sound?

[wilagro]

siverback: Calves you say? In this area, ONE outfit owns all or most of the Auction Marts for hundreds of miles around. They also run their own cattle and have a major share in a major packing plant. This one outfit determines who buys AND sells at their facilities. Sometimes when cattle are sold there are only two buyers present. Yes, we have 'choice' when we sell our calves but it is not our choice it is 'their choice'.

People are getting so fed up with these 'crooked' deals that are being pulled every year that they are trucking their cattle 600 to 1000 miles away, hoping to get a fair return for their work. Some cow/calf operators have just plain QUIT.

[silverback]

Well then that is just the "law" of the land then isn't it!

I guess then you should just grow some other kind of livestock that isn't controlled by those people hey?

Why not try horses, or llamas, or emu, or pot bellied pigs, or ... ?

Does that sound vaguely familiar to comments from the supporters of the CWB?

Basically, too bad, suck it up hey?

Doesn't sound too nice does it?

[parsley]

If there is one thing Tom4CWB is not, it's arrogant.

Parsley