Where is Vader?

[northfarmer]

agstar, your logic is flawed.....margins on the grain trade and logistics related to the movement of our grain to end users around the world, and domestically, will inevitably results in revenue flowing to the grain merchants, shippers and people who physically purchase and move the commodities....the CWB constitutes a large beuracracy, enabled and empowerd by federal legislation and government guarantees, to act as merely another intermediary in all this activity and at the same time add even further cost to the primary producer which grows the product and eventually bears this cost....

it is common knowledge that that highest margin handle at most primary collection facilties is board grain, what gives? they consistently make more money per tonne when moving CWB grain than say Canola, a lot by their own admission....and it is crop that rivals wheat in terms of gross receipts for western farmers.....so tell me where are the 450 beuaracrats and related agencies and representatives that we need to market our canola....alas...no need for that, redundant, is what that would be....

so It might be hard on good old wpg if the CWB has to lay off some redundant folks, but it will be a lot easier on my pocket

[parsley]

Value-added momma-poppa farm operations throughout France/Italy are embraced and valued. Are they effective? Yes

It is you agstar77, who cannot concede that one big monstrous government conglomerata spendicata is not the only viable way to do business.

You want a government run plant. I want a farmer run plant.

You want government. I want farmers.

Parsley

[parsley]

northfarmer, the 2003 ANNUAL REPORT • WEYBURN INLAND TERMINAL LTD., backs up exactly as you say:


WIT COURTS BOARD GRAIN:

"In 2003, 84% of the grain shipped by WIT was CWB grains,wheat, durum and barley, sold by or on behalf of the CWB into the export and domestic markets."

SWEET DEAL:

"the Company’s risks are reduced through the terms of formal legal arrangements between WIT and
the CWB."

CERTAIN COSTS?

"These arrangements provide for full reimbursement of the price paid to producers of grain as well as certain costs incurred by WIT."

VOLUME IS CASH COW :

"The Company’s profitability is
generated by maximizing value extracted from processing each tonne, rather than as a percentage of the value of each tonne."

SUCCINCTLY SAID!


OH OH:

"As a result of a change in accounting presentation .... WIT no longer records the value of grain billed to the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) as sales, now showing only the tariff rates charged for handling grain
purchased on the CWB’s behalf."

HA HA HA HA HA HA!

WIT revenue in 2003 was $53,588,985."

"The Company’s revenues are volume dependent, and economies of scale are an important factor in profitability."

Doncha just love those gold bushels flowing through?

Parsley

[parsley]

Remember the biggest grainhandler in the world a few threads ago, northfarmer?

Agricore United is western Canada’s largest grain handling and merchandising company by volume.

Wonder if the grainguy posted this:

The volume of grains handled impacts the Agricore United's profitability directly. About 50% (2006) of the grains handled are Board Grains on which set tariffs are earned.

AE is an accredited agent and an accreditied exporter of the CWB.

Parsley

[agstar77]

I guess parsley and North farmer are right . Lift that yoke of socialist oppression so you can build your own mills just like all the farmer owned oat , canola and flax processing plants in western canada. Did I forget lentils ,peas and beans?

[kamichel]

Agstar I just realized that all my diffent types of no name pasta that I always buy is made in the USA. How can that not work here to have some pasta plants. The CWB would rather ship all grain out of the country. Making pasta is easy, Mix bread flower , few eggs and enough water then run through rollers add water as needed run through different rollers to make the type of noodles desired and then hang to dry. yummy.

[parsley]

agstar77......and your reving jewels of ..wisdom, challenges farmers threefold: to change the heading on the stationery, carryon as is, and more of the same.

You are having another one of your inspirational moments.

oops...Visions...isn't that what we established on-thread?

Parsley

[parsley]

kamichael,

Having faith in your fellow farmers yield rewards:

http://www.pizzeys.com/industrial/

Parsley

[parsley]

Agstar do you really think that companies like Cargill and ADM don't make money on CWB grain.They pocket just as much or more handling CWB grain as they do on non board grain.So why are we paying 450 employees to do the same thing as what the grain companies already do(and own the infrastructure to do).

[Vader]

I am not sure if Cargill and ADM are making more than they should on board grains. I thought Cargill and ADM were competitors. I thought that the battle cry of the anti-CWB establishment was that competition would cure all evil.

The reason that companies like Cargill and ADM make multi-millions of dollars in profit from the business they do with farmers while farmers struggle to cover the cost of production is because "THEY CAN" and they will continue to do so as long as the sun continues to rise and the waters continue to flow.

Am I fearmongering? I don't think so. These guys are wolves in sheeps clothing. If they were our friends they wouldn't be profitting at our expense. Just remember Allan Adreas press release a year or so ago. The reason for the companies bottom line strength was low commodity prices!!!!

Their corporate agenda must be to divide and conquer. That is a strategy as old as dirt. Now they have their board member Brian Mulroney as personal confidante to the Harper government.

This is a game of musical chairs. As long as we fight with one another atrition will continue to take its toll. The CWB is our best and most powerful tool to fight back against corporations and governments whose vision does not include a strong and viable family farm. It may not be perfect but it is ours to do with as we want. We just have to stand by it and make it powerful and effective. It is not the status quo as so many detrators would have you believe. The CWB is becoming a meaningful and responsive farmer controlled organization. Its shortfalls can only be a result of our own disagreements and lack of constructive input.