CWB Marketing of Barley Plebiscite... whats it about?

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

As the CWB Plebiscite on barley marketing starts arriving in grain growers mailboxes across the "designated area"...

One observation about the plebiscite is becoming clearer and more focused!

This plebiscite is actually not about what system does the best job of obtaining the best price for barley historically, or even into the future...

It rather is about:

1. Personal Property Rights, or confiscation and the overriding of these property rights;
2. Who will Control of Exports of Feed and Human Consumption Barley, thereby controling domestic supply inside the "designated area";
3. The Trust in our present Federal Government, managed by the Conservatives... and the resulting approval or disapproval of the Job done thus far.

It has virtually nothing to do about; where the best place to sell your barley would be:

We know historically, personal responsibility and initiative get the best results... over collective state imposed marketing... so why should barley salesmanship be different?...

It is not different.

Privately sold inventory from "financially fluid" grain growers inside the "designated area" will aim for the top 50% of the barley market in any given year, every time.

Lets face the facts... this is about politics...
NOT about economics...

The NDP and Block pushed the Conservatives into this Barley Plebiscite. THat is why we are voting on personal property rights.

[JohnKenneth]

with all due respect tom, i don't think you do the proponents of an open market much of a service by harping on politics and philosophy. to those on that side of the fence, the case is crystal clear but so is the opposite on the other side. policy makers too care more about overall farmgate returns than what's 'right' and what's 'wrong'.

in this day and age, farming is a business where we try to make as much money as possible, making where and how to get the best returns for all our crops the only point to be debated on.

see the interview with depape for more solid, arguable points.

[charliep]

Hopefully you are wrong tom4cwb.

The question is about which system allows farmers the best opportunity to market their barley. Success should be measured in price but also ability to contribute to a farm managers business in other ways - cash flow, identity preserved crops, quality, etc. It should also be about which system best meets the needs of your customers who currently buy from us (Japanese feed barley buyers and domestic maltsters in particular). It may be some customers (China) prefer to operate with the CWB.

The more the other factors come in, the more farmers are to get turned off by the process. Everyone needs to participate in this vote.

[TOM4CWB]

JohnKenneth;

It is crystal clear to me that Wayne Easter and the Block pushed Minister Strahl into the Barley vote... as did CWB management.

THis was simply to force another vote on Conservative popularity in the "designated area" and enforce "eastern political power" over the backwaters of western Canada.

THis plebiscite has a big impact on what happens to western Canadian oil, uranium, potash, water, you name it... they want to control it.

If the East gets away with CWB monopoly control of barley marketing remaining in force.... toast the rest of our resourses good-bye! The East wants a big cut... and the barley plebiscite is just a little test case to see if Western Canada has any resolve to stand for Property Rights...

If we don't amongst the folks who tend the land...

The East is home free to walk all over the rest of our Western Canadian property rights concerned with resourses.

This is a water shed moment... MARK My WORDS!

[charliep]

Tom4cwb

Shouldn't the barley plebescite stay to the issue on hand? My questions (realizing I work for the Alberta government) would be:

1) How do I market my barley today? If open market, when is the last time I sold to the CWB?

2) I am satisfied with the current barley marketing system?

3) What changes are required in the current CWB barley marketing system to make it more beneficial to my business? Are these changes possible under the current CWB mandate?

4) Which one of the three alternatives puts barley market in the best position to satisfy my business needs?

[Burbert]

Tom4cwb, Fear mongering? At first marketers were thrilled, a barley pleb, the question gave privateers 2 of the 3 answers they were seeking, skewed their way. Now all of a sudden, since the pleb is apparently going to be democratic and include a lot of farmers, fear seems to be creeping in. The sky is falling, the sky is falling, big bad Easterners are going to steal everything!!!!!!!! Come on get real.

[charliep]

Burbert

You posed tough questions for me. Now my turn. How would you answer my 4 questions in terms of your business needs?

[TOM4CWB]

Burbert,

I simply wanted to look at the deeper level of what is happening.

Now I am accused of "Fear Mongering"?

You really think our resourses are not at risk here.... and that we should allow the East to push us around on personal property rights issues?

Read this article by Terry Young... and you will see I am not at all off base... if you cared to look with open eyes!

Terry Young, For The Calgary Herald
Published: Monday, February 12, 2007

Last Thursday, some 40,000 barley farmers across western Canada began receiving ballots for a plebiscite on how their barley is marketed.

This vote could well change how many farmers go about their business.

Since the Second World War, barley producers west of Ontario have had just one option for barley destined for export or human consumption (mainly malt barley) -- the Canadian Wheat Board.

Anyone in any other business knows that having just one customer severely limits your ability to grow and manage your cash flow and overall operations, particularly when that customer arbitrarily dictates what it's going to pay, when it's going to pay and when it will accept delivery.

Imagine an arm's-length government agency charged with selling all of western Canada's oil exports.

Then imagine the agency telling producers in Alberta's oilpatch that they'll be paid $45 a barrel for something that's selling for $60 a barrel across the border (or across an ocean).

Oil producers would demand the same thing barley farmers are asking for: market choice. For several years, the Alberta Barley Commission has supported the notion and principles of market choice. We see it as a definitive means of giving Alberta's 17,000 barley producers more control over their businesses. It would allow them to decide when and where they sell their product and at what price.

Market choice is not just about money. It will give producers more options on how they grow their barley, and opportunities to invest in long-term client relationships, new technology, production methods and value chains. Market choice is good for agriculture and good for business.

The federal government's barley plebiscite puts the future of barley marketing firmly in the hands of producers. For more than 150 years, innovation, technology, stewardship and entrepreneurship have been the foundation of our industry. As we prepare for the realities and demands of the "new agriculture" in a global marketplace, the opportunities market choice will offer are essential for new and veteran farm businesses.

As an Alberta barley producer, I believe those opportunities will extend to the CWB. The board is known here and around the world for its grain-market knowledge and sales; it could well continue to be a viable option for many producers.

Contrary to much of the rhetoric surrounding this plebiscite, this vote is not about dismantling an organization that has a long history and tremendous potential in international agriculture.

This plebiscite is about moving nimbly into the future and giving western producers what barley farmers east of Manitoba and businesses across the country take for granted: the ability to operate in an open marketplace.

Terry Young is chair of The Alberta Barley Commission, a provincially legislated body that represents all barley growers in Alberta.

Western Canadian barley growers who sell their crop for export or human consumption (mostly malt) must sell it through the CWB.

All barley purchasers, including the CWB and other domestic, non-food users (for example, feedlots, ranchers or pork producers), are required to forward "check-off" dollars or service charges (50 cents a tonne) to the Barley Commission.

© The Calgary Herald 2007

Burbert... history clearly showed the CWB is a bad choice as a marketing partner for our farm's barley. Honestly I doubt you could answer any differently.

Defense of the CWB monopoly, as I indicated above... therefore is not primarily an economic issue... it is insteadn a political and property rights issue!

[wd9]

I have to agree with Tom4CWB.

Farmers profits as a deciding factor?

It isn't even about barley, let alone whether or not you will make money at it.

This issue is just like that big stack on the desk along with drug abuse and laws, child porn laws, MADD, judicial restraint of the supreme court.....

Squeaky wheel and grease, not farmer profitability.

[winwin]

Burbert is correct to hold the idea of a plebiscite with contempt.True Socialism is entirely incompatible with democracy for a simple reason:If the people are deemed too incompetent to assune control over their own property-to create it maybe but not to dispose of it-how can they possibly be given the power to vote?

This is why since 1943 there has never been a vote on wheat.We will do your business for you AND do your thinking for you.UNT you vill like it!

[just_wondering]

The question Tom is

Will the conservative government throw you back in jail for selling Barley?

I don't have the courage of my convictions to go to jail for this.

But I will fight it out through the channels we have
I saw Strahl speak today outside Saskatoon the plebicite was among many issues that he has on his plate
Bio-fuels, Transportation and shippers rights, Mad Cow, Chem OUI, The plebicite was the only divisive issue and thats the one they Campained on?

[charliep]

Terry Young did an excellent job of presenting a case for voting for one of the two open market questions.

I will note the word "BARLEY" was used throughout the article. When talking about the plebescite, my hope is that barley remains the focus and discussions are based on a business case for this crop.

[Burbert]

charliep, Answers to your questions.
1. Our farm deals within the CWB and the open market as it exists today.
2. I am currently happy with barley marketing.
3.I want the Crow, back. I want the CWB to continue to be responsive and co-operative with farmers. I want to continue to benefit from higher prices. I want the CWB to continue to lobby the government for assistance for a strong ag sector( I feel bad that Measner lost his job doing our bidding). I want the CWB to be my voice, my broker, when dealing with the multi national grain companies.
4. I will vote for the status quo. I think the CWB does a good job. I believe they have integrity and are an honest hardworking organization, with farmers best interest at heart.

There are my answers. Call me naive, but the system works for our farm!

[charliep]

You make a case for how the CWB benefits your business. Will you still market barley to the CWB in an open market setting?

[Burbert]

charliep, Possibly, depending on market conditions, price, etc. I will continue to use the board as much as possible, if it remains a viable entity in an open, dog eat dog world..