Why does the CWB advertise?

[wedino]

Why does the CWB run costly advertising campaigns? It seems every ag publication carrys large ads that are paid for out of the pool accounts. Why is it necessary for a monoply to run these ads?

What really gets my dander up is when I notice that they (CWB) are a GOLD sponser for SARM's annual convention. What possible benefit can the CWB obtain by sponsering SARM (Sask. Assn. of Rural Municipalities)? How do Manitoba & Alberta wheat & barley producers benefit from SARM?

It's easy to spend someone elses money. Seems to me this money should be in producers jeans, let the producer decide what organizations he wants to contribute to.

Comments welcome including CWB directors.

Later..........Cam

[TOM4CWB]

Cam,

I couldn't agree with you more!

If the CWB is truly doing what is required of them, then brainwashing us would not be required.

I understand Ken Ritter, Halyk, McCreary, and Hill are all in Ottawa trying to brain wash M.P.'s today, again with our money!

When will the partisan politics stop?

[CWBRules]

Wedino,

Wouldn't you spend someone else's money on inconsequential things too, especially if you didn't have to answer for it? That's what makes Canada great, you know, seperates us from the USA. Oh oh, I'm starting to feel patriotic again.

Seriously though, Saskatchewan produces more wheat and barley then Alberta and Manitoba combined. It's in the CWB's best interest to keep Saskatchewan's wheat and barley producers brain washed,errrrr, satisfied.

As per the SARM conference, the more support the CWB recieves from the RM's, the more support 'they hope to' recieve from the individual producers.

I know, I know, that last point is weak, but then again so is the CWB. I'm just trying to think like a communist.

CWBRules

[parsley]

You boys could use a little educating. Advertising is supposed to do the trick for all of you.

In the April 3/97 edition of the Western producer, there was a headline proclaiming the words of Gary Storey, an economist at the University of Saskatchewan, "Economist says farmers lack sufficient marketing knowledge" .

He goes on in the article to say, "If farmers knew more about grain marketing, more of them would have voted for the Canadian Wheat Board in the recent barley plebiscite".

The article goes on:"Gary Storey said too many producers simply don't understand how much they benefit from single desk selling"

'"I think the evidence is such that the CWB should have received an overwhelming endorsement by barley producers," he said'

"Storey said those results tell him policy makers, farm organizations, educators and the media must do a better job of informing farmers about marketing issues. We've got a problem with farmers being insufficiently knowlegeable about how different marketing systems work, he said"

"He said one of the problems is the amount of bad information circulated on grain marketing issues which may lead farmers to make bad decisions with potentially disastrous long-term consequences.
End of Quotes from article

__________________________________________________ _____________

Farmers have become very knowledgable about marketing and about the CWB . The CWB's been advertising fot years! So what would Professor Storey say in 2001 about the the farmers continued and growing demand for marketing choice ?. That could mean either:
1. Farmers are getting stupider and stupider :they don't truly understand what they have been learning.
or
2. Storey was out to lunch and so is the CWB with this idiotic advertising.

One of the things that Storey maybe got right was his last sentence about bad information being circulated. The CWB has been putting out a lot of misinformation. Maybe that's what Storey was trying to warn us about.

Parsley

PS If Storey works on any more CWB Studies, you better remind him, that the advertising and the "education" worked in the reverse.

[chas]

Haven't you guys heard advertising makes money if you got something to sell. I wonder what the CWB is try to sell us stupid producers.
Where the hell is Homerville Alta or Midale Sask. Have you got electric power there and regular mail delivery and do you have to have your own tom cat there. Don't pay no atention to me it just the dandellions are good this spring. Chas
May as well laugh.

[wedino]

Hi Chas,
I don't believe it, ya ain't heard of Midale, home of the Johner Bros., Where oil & grain meet, yada yada yada, check it out here.

http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/jawe/index.htm

PS: great fishing & golf at Mainprize Park

Later.........Cam

[wedino]

Sorry, the Link didn't work. If this doesn't work, well you know for sure I'm computer illiterate!!

[URL="http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/jawe/index.htm"]Click here for Midale[/URL]

[chas]

wedino: The link works, Midale looks like a beauitful place. Coming down that way(Radville) this summer will try an golf your course. Are you on the Chamber of Commerce in Midale. Chas

[prairiedog]

Cam, your queston regarding the CWB advertising is a good one. In particular your comment re "gold" sponsorship of the SARM(Saskatchewan Assn of Rural Municipalities) convention. Is a "gold" sponsor the top category and how much do you suppose the CWB contributed? Maybe 2500.00 dollars or perhaps 5000.00 who knows. As you may have already figured out, SARM is passing it's self off as a farm organization and is well known for its leadership's unflinching support of the policies of the CWB. Of course that is the reason the CWB is happy to share farmers pool account money with SARM. The CWB's communication budget is in excess of two million dollars and growing. Self promotion is big business at the CWB.

[parsley]

Good points, Prairie Dog. How much money does the CWB Communications Budget pump into Alberta 's county meetings?
Parsley

[wedino]

Howdy Prairiedog, Gold is 1 down from top. Platnium(Spelling?) is the top category, I believe.

Parsley, I've no idea of contribution amounts. I could ask the CWB how much they contribute, but they wouldn't have to tell me, something about not having to comply with freedom of information act.

Re: how much they spend in Alta.
Can't be very much, they wouldn't even promote district 2's information meeting. That really ticked me!!

Later........Cam

[Braveheart]

The CWB does advertise in AB in ways that would surprise and disappoint most farmers. While in Claresholm last summer, I stayed at a motel on the highway (very nice I might add). While checking in, I noticed a trophy on the front desk. It was sponsored by the CWB and presented by the AB Chamber of Commerce to this motel for the quality of it's service.

This is an unbelievable waste of farmer's money. It is one thing to sponsor farm groups to meet. (That shouldn't include SARM, they're tax collectors and small time politicians, and don't represent farmers.) But, sponsoring non farm things like awards for motels and the extravagant statue they sponsored at The Forks in Winnipeg is inexcusable.

[AdamSmith]

Why does the CWB advertise? Anyone who advertises does so because they believe it will generate more sales for their products that they have to sell. Since the CWB sells to foriegn grain buyers, advertising in MB, Sask. and Alb. would appear to be one of the greatest examples of misplaced ad dollars by any company in history.

But if your more interested in selling youself than selling grain maybe their ad targeting makes sense.

The CWB (circa 2001) would appear to be so consumed by the need to preserve their single desk status that (other peoples) money is no object when it comes to, shall we say, coaxing along farmer understanding of the CWB.

For all you CWB people out there, if your going to spend MY money communicating with me let me suggest some information that would be appropriate.
1. Salaries of CWB employees.
2. Individual grain sales info like price, grade sold and grade delivered (there can be a difference).
3. Results of CWB opinion polls.
4. Minutes of CWB directors meetings
5. Dollars spent defending your monopoly in court and other public hearings.

These were just off the top of my head and I'm sure I can think of more things that I'm sure MY money is being spent on that I wouldn't mind knowing about.

AdamSmith

[parsley]

Braveheart, I don't want to get you in trouble, but exactly what kind of "service " does this motel supply? Get the damn wine Chas.This might get interesting yet.

Parsley

[chas]

I just knew we were going to have some good clean political fun somewhere. Clarsholm will do. Yipeeeeeee. Chas