Is Monette Farms like Bernie Madoff?

[BighatPete]

All I know is the CEO, president , CFO on this farm sits in the cab of machinery and earns very little. Just saying

I hear Bill Gates also sits in the cab and earns very little. Just a regular guy

[BighatPete]

Some how it made sense to silage their canola crop rather than run their X9s over it. After breaking tame pasture that couldn't support 3 pairs per quarter.

That would've been some expensive canola to silage

[BighatPete]

Small minds. I haven't seen Monette's operation up close for maybe 10 years now but when I did see it he grew crops. He paid attention to the details and absolutely wasn't afraid of work. The last time I talked to Darrel he was hanging the bag on the bagger for one of his harvest "pods". The one time I talked to Ponch he was running the sc****r (this forum software is so effing stupid - I can't believe it edited that word) to get ready for one of the bin yard expansions. The difference from Pike/One Earth/et al is owner involvement and work ethic. Maybe it will all blow up one day but maybe some of those of you who are so jealous of Monette will blow up one day too. MYOB.

10 years ago they were a much smaller operation, there is no way he can be doing that on all his farms. Logistically it'd be impossible, so he has to be more hands off which would leave room for leakage on ops.

[BighatPete]

The broader issue here is how much has laundered money increased the cost of production for small and medium sized enterprises? The other major problem is that gubmint sponsored inflation continuously bailing out mal investment has also lead to an increased cost base which is untenable in the competitive environment we now face. People getting poorer can't sustain high land values. Heard yesterday about the high price of beef pricing many people out of that market.

As another poster astutely said, it will be hard for Canadian farmers to compete selling a commodity that is priced globally when the input costs are so high.

[BighatPete]

I d like to know if it is true that farms of this size basically submit their claim info and
the claims are completed basically on line no adjusters no accountability. Its been stated by more than one crop insurance employee these size farms there is no way to audit
or verify anything. And is it also true that this is where 90% of the agristability payouts go? Not saying anything improper is going on here but that certainly would be a piss off
to all of us getting nothing out of agristability in any years good or bad and these guys
sustained because of the incompetance and of course possible corruption within the program itself if the rumours are true .

They would need to list their prior year yields. So you are saying that a large farm could lie about their prior year yields, overpay insurance, and it wouldn't matter on the crop production. Totally possible, but I don't think someone could get the large amount of money behind him like Monette has based on that strategy.

[bucket]

That would've been some expensive canola to silage

They own a lot of cattle but it's hard to say if that silaging made sense. NOMB. Bought out Remington ranch in Saskatchewan and converted it to grain production. They also picked up a small lot near Swift Current that was Primrose. Just things we notice in our travels. No opinion as to whether it makes sense or not. My guess is the guys selling to them made out very well.

[LEP]

They own a lot of cattle but it's hard to say if that silaging made sense. NOMB. Bought out Remington ranch in Saskatchewan and converted it to grain production. They also picked up a small lot near Swift Current that was Primrose. Just things we notice in our travels. No opinion as to whether it makes sense or not. My guess is the guys selling to them made out very well.

Are they doing branded beef?

[WiltonRanch]

My cousin who I’d consider successful says do one thing and do it well. Probably more applies to an owner operator situation but seems once you stick your irons in fires you don’t have full understanding or time to get to better know and manage you don’t do as well. Even a mixed farm you’re not going to do a great job of both. There’s always something neglected. I admire the Monette brothers for being able to operate the going concern as good as they are.

[BTO780]

My cousin who I’d consider successful says do one thing and do it well. Probably more applies to an owner operator situation but seems once you stick your irons in fires you don’t have full understanding or time to get to better know and manage you don’t do as well. Even a mixed farm you’re not going to do a great job of both. There’s always something neglected. I admire the Monette brothers for being able to operate the going concern as good as they are.

The “going concern” is run by numerous going concernies who report to the head honchoes.
There is absolutely no way these boys could actually know what’s going on without several hundred on lookers. Lots of ears and eyes are on the look out there. Chem reps would be on speed dial 24-7 along with an array of other highly educated people.
Couldn’t imagine ….. wouldn’t want to!!
If that’s what it takes to survive they can come visit me anytime.

[bucket]

Are they doing branded beef?

I don't know, but these guys seem to have a plan to be in everything , seems like a logical step. Thinking there is probably good money in being cow calf, feedlot, then slaughter and branded beef. Can't miss much of the margins along the way. Expensive to get that integrated but chances are the returns are big$$$.

[wrongway]

i would venture a guess that most farmers would prefer not to have a need for HR

[Taiga]

Nata Farms just declared insolvency, crumpled under $62M in debt. Farm started in 1960.