What to do with the railroaded over payments?

[furrowtickler]

husker - how about somewhere inbetween? It does not have to be black and white.

[Kodiak]

Why would you want open running rights in Canada? Almost where ever its been tried, its been a failure. Either a lack of coordination curtails efficient movement, or a lack of maintenance causes safety problems AND inefficent operation of the trains. There are many forms of running rights, but none that work as good as amalgamated railroad companies.

BTW, I'm not an apologist for Canadian rail companies, and the shoddy and overpriced service we are getting from them. Massive improvements are needed, but running rights is not going to do it. Enhanced shipper protection will help to some extent, but it won't solve the problem completely. Increased competition will help too. More domestic markets so that we depend less on rail for export would be the most effective. If we don't like their service and price, we can tell them to go haul coal.....

[husker]

as an alternative to building a fertilzer plant,take the money as a group and tender 2009 inputs

[mcfarms]

Ummm does the term WESTCO ring any bells...

[Hopperbin]

Take this money and hang onto it.
Then when the class action is done and there is another billion we should be given prefered shares. Plus the couple years inbetween the class action is done.
We should own the tracks or a portion of.

[mcfarms]

Or this one CF
CF Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of CF Industries Holdings, Inc., is one of North America’s largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer products.

Founded in 1946 as a fertilizer brokerage operation by a group of regional agricultural cooperatives, CF Industries grew by expanding its distribution capabilities and diversifying into fertilizer manufacturing. Through 2002, the company operated as a typical supply cooperative. However, in 2003, in response to changing market conditions, it adopted a new business model that established financial performance, rather than the traditional cooperative charge of providing an assured supply of product to its owners, as its principal objective.

In 2005, an Initial Public Offering completed the company’s transition and established CF Industries Holdings, Inc. as a public company. Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CF.”


I don't recall getting any shares when this company went private, our good boards at then Agricore and SWP must have held them in " trust" for us owners.

Same thing will happen to UFA in Alberta one of these years.

[TOM4CWB]

Send the money to the CWB ($60M)... match it from the feds(another $60M)... and then us as growers put the third $60M in... ($180M total).
Then distribute these new shares in the Market Choice Alliance (MCA)... the choice for wheat and barley growers.

Hold a new MCA election for the 12 Directors that will run the MCA as a truly share holder run and managed grain, input, grain handling (through producer car, farmer owned independants who operate terminals) and lastly turn Prince Rupert over to this entity... with the option to purchase at cost.

Well... I know I am a fool... to even suggest this... we are too stupid to even try.

[TOM4CWB]

P.S.;

The GOC has to eat the CWB contingency fund... and provide the $60M... Because they let the CWB 'single desk' tools squander the $60M - the $90M outstanding (Total $150M)... that should have still been in the CWB Contingency Fund today.

THe CWB managers that allowed this contingency fund rip off to happen... should be run out of Canada... and dropped in the middle of Greenland to manage the seals and gulls!

[haveapulse]

Obiviously no one supports the farmers overpayment money going where it is now and agree we need a new solution?

Any ideas how to begin that official dialogue with Ottawa?

[mcfarms]

Sask canola gowers support monies going to the WGRF , CWB and WGEA to farmers.

[haveapulse]

I would too if I was them. We already pay check offs for research. I believe an agri diversification fund with a board of farmers is a better idea.

[cottonpicken]

Only a farmer would beleive a farmer could accomplish something against a team of corporate lawyers standing up for a multi-national company.

Why do you think these companies have teams of lawyers?

Wake the hell up.

We wouldnt have to consider building our own frickin fertilizer plant if we had a team of lawyers taking these huge companies to court over price fixing.

[Hopperbin]

How about a marketting club owned by producers with all money going back to producers.

[Hopperbin]

And allow it to head to head with the CWB.
Dealing in all grains of course.

[RedRiverMB]

WCWGA supports giving money back to farmers as it is their money. I am really concerned with the cost to do that, but perhaps other things can be considered and I think WGRF should be the last option for the full amount. WGRF assumes its their money like they won a lottery, they should first be proving why they should be getting any money at all and put forth a business plan to tell me why they should be considered at all. It is always complicated to give farmers money especially their own, but no problem to steal it.