What to do with the railroaded over payments?

[haveapulse]

We are not talking about giving money back to farmers, we are talking a about how to reinvest the money IN CAPITAL PROJECTS for the benefite of farmers, at the decision of a farmer directed board.

And yes, I do believe that given our corporate expertise in this industry that we can, with a pool of 60 odd million dollars in capital to begin with, begin the process of building the value add projects. We could do better good for the industry than
anyone else.

For example is a pool of 60 million dollars were avaiable, North Battleford would be applying to the board right now for 10 miilion to build a biofuel/canola crush plant.

Based upon a diligent set of criteria and governed by a scrupulous body of individuals, if a fertilizer plant worked or a flour mill or for that matter someone wanting to make mustard in their making gourmet mustards in their kitchen met the criteria they would receive money from the fund for investment.

[haveapulse]

Besides that if we assume 500 employees can market our grain better than we do, we should take a huge leap of faith and assume that a smaller pool of money might be equally well directed by a board of business men who just happen to have a busines which is a farm.

[cottonpicken]

Wow 60 million eh?

Follow and understand do you?

Know what the market cap of other ferts are do you?

Of course you do your smart and we should listen right?

POT is around 27 billion.

You knew that right?

Why dont we just start building are own tractors?

John deeres market cap is only 15 billion.

Easy eh?

Economy of scale eh?

YOUR ****IN RETARDED EH?

[haveapulse]

Some of us are so negative that we cannot even imagine what taking the 60 odd million given to Western Grains and redicting into value add could do.

I note the difference; some of us are builders and want to talk about ideas and envision changes and possible ideas for improvement and empowerment of our industry others in this forum prefer to be just destructive and negative.

[haveapulse]

So to go forward in a proactive manner it is fair to say that most producers do not support the government giving away our money to the WGRF. While returning the funds to growers has some appeal the reality of this idea means much of the money would be lost in adminstration,

Investing in value add industry, whereby the farmer investment fund secure shares in value add facilities definately has merit.

I believe a formal process should be embarked upon via the Federal and Provincial governments to have the money returned from the WGRF to beigin this fund Asap.

Very simply:
1. it is our money
2. We want to direct the money into agri value ventures
3. Via a board, established by farmers
4. who will seek the necessary advise they require
5. To direct
6. the railroaded overpayments
7. to value add applicants
8. based upon a criteria
9. and formulas which are reasonable and equitable
10. to reinvest in agri industry across the WEST.

[vvalk]

What I can't figure out is everyone is talking about using this money for capital projects, clubs etc. So since 20% of farmers own about 85% of the 60 million, do they then own 85% of the fert plant or whatever project. Not sure why people here think this money should be spent for a common purpose when not everyone is even CLOSE to owning equal amounts of the $60 million. Why do I need to subsidize other farmers for any reason. Give me a cheque plus interest for the illegal overcharging.

[Hopperbin]

One problem I have is with giving the money back directly to farmers as a check on tonnage delivered is that farmers made marketing decisions based on the best price available or sometimes not on the best price available. If a check is stroked it should be on gross revenue of all grain sales. Gov't could take the money and offer farmers a tax credit. Would be the easiest way to do it.

[gustgd]

Mcfarms how would the investment tax credit work?
Who pays for credits
How to administer given complexities of transactions.

cotton
who would direct your team of 24/7 lawyers I for one don't want to see another farmer election for a board, spending other farmers money given all the nonsense of CWB elections
and voters lists?

[gustgd]

Since its a given that WGRF will almost certainly get the money (unless the railroads lawyers win)
What type of research would all of you like to see.

Should legislation be changed going forward so that different outcomes come out of any future overpayment for freight?

[charliep]

From another project I am involved in, investing in WGRF maybe a good thing (as
long as feed grain is a priority). My understanding WGRF mainly plant breeding.
Also assume oilseeds and pulses are a part of over payments - no money for
them. What about market development/CIGI? Research and development on new
uses/products (barley/ethanol/beta gluten)?

[mcfarms]

OK the way I understand it, the WGRF will get this money under the ACT its the law thats where it goes. If groups or individuals are unhappy I would say your MP is the place to start. Though you open an act don't always like what you get.

The monies will not go into the general research budget of the WGRF but to the endowment fund. I'd suggest a visit to the WGRF site which will explain the purpose and history of the fund. Charlie I've attached a historical list of the projects they have funded and canola has benefitted.
Ggust the numbers for some commodities are easy to accumulate some are a little tougher but as we all have the check off info already from the various commodity groups im our tax data ( if we are tracking these numbers as a seperate line item I am) I would say that the various groups would have the info from the checkoffs and who gives what but I suspect they have no clue at least ABC didn't back a number of years ago under Mike Leslie it might be different but I doubt the pulse growers have individual info. As our main levy to WGRF comes from the final payments administered by the board the CWB would have our tonnage numbers and therefore our wheat and barley levy is trackable. There are issues here that I won't get into becuase I have to get going but I would suggest even that if you divided the amount by the total tonnage shipped by the railways and came up with a full commodity number then used the CWB number for even the Wheat and barley portion and gave the farmers a receipt for their portion of the payment we could then add it to our research tax credit at a rate of around 84 cents on every dollar . I think thats the WGRF number approx. It would be a start. the pulse and oilseeds numbers would be tougher and would require a bit more of a bureaucratic mess so I would leave that to the various commissions to deal with. Agin have thoughts but the feeders are waiting etc.
Final thought under this idea the producers that abstain or request checkoff dollars would be angry but frankly they've been getting a free ride on my check off dollars for years and I wouldn't shed to many tears for them in losing this tax credit.

Current Projects (2004 - Present)
2009
Controlling the Cereal Leaf Beetle with Natural Enemies

Lead Researcher: Lloyd Dosdall

Funding:$47,725 (per annum)

Years: 2009-2011

Goal: To identify fields in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan with high population densities of cereal leaf beetle to validate that populations are non-parasitized prior to release, to release parasitoids in those areas, and to monitor establishment success of the natural enemies so they become permanently established and provide ongoing pest control with little or no additional human intervention.



Enhancing Nitrogen Management through genetics in cereal-legume crop rotations

Lead Researcher: Pierre Hucl

Funding: $50,000 (per annum)

Years: 2009-2011

Goal: A) Develop a method for identifying varieties of spring and durum wheat that are better suited for production on lentil and pea stubble. B) Identify superior nitrogen fixing pea and lentil varieties that can be selected for greater nitrogen fixation and N contribution in stubble to the cropping system based on indirect effects on spring wheat and durum. C) Identify varietal combinations of cereal-legume cultivators that will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.



FHB Resistant Oat for the FHB prone Eastern Prairie Region

Lead Researcher: Brian Rossnagel

Funding:$50,000 (per annum)

Years: 2009-2011

Goal: To evaluate FHB severity and mycototoxins prevalence in Saskatchewan commercial oat fields; evaluate variability of Fusarium resistance/susceptibility in a wide array of oat germplasm; develop PCR based screening techniques to detect, identify and quantify Fusarium species; study the inheritance of resistance and map QTL associated with DON resistance using the diversity Array Technology (DArT) marker system and development of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS).



Meeting the challenges posed by virulent new forms of Wheat Diseases on the Prairies

Lead Researcher: Steve Haber

Funding: $20,000 (per annum)

Years: 2009-2011

Goal: To deliver adapted high quality spring wheat germplasm that combines genetic resistance to three current or potential serious disease threats to wheat: a) stem rust race Ug99 b) changing chemotypes of Fusarium species, the agent(s) of fusarium head blight (FHB); and c) the virus that causes wheat streak mosaic (WSM) disease. This germplasam will enable breeders to develop superior wheat cultivars relatively rapidly and inexpensively.



2008
Designer Wheat for the Biofuels Industry

Lead Researcher: Curtis Pozniak, University of Saskatchewan

Funding: $139,623

Years: 2008-2010

Goal: The ethanol industry is developing rapidly and there is a need to develop high yielding wheat varieties tailored to meet the demands of that industry. The following objectives were established during meetings between breeders and industry stakeholders, and will be the focus (objectives) of this research: a) breed for high starch concentration, b) reduce fermentation time, c) breed for reduced non-starch polysaccharides to limit "sluggish" fermentation, and d) reduce phytate levels.



Unraveling KVD using RIDT

Lead Researcher: James D. Procunier, AAFC, Winnipeg

Funding: $120,000

Years: 2008-2010

Goal: Kernel Visual Distinguishability (KVD) is used in the Canadian wheat industry to phenotypically segregate wheat into eight functionally different market classes. Rapid ID Technology (RIDT) has the potential to reduce or eliminate KVD and allow for new varieties to be registered & sold without the KVD drag.



The genetics of early maturity in Canadian spring wheat

Lead Researcher: Dean Spaner, University of Alberta

Funding: $103,500

Years: 2008-2010

Goal: To investigate the genetic basis of earliness in Canadian spring wheat cultivars Understanding the basis of early maturity in wheat may lessen the use of herbicides and may also improve the quality of harvested wheat.



Coordinated monitoring, forecasting and risk warning systems for insect pests of field crops

Lead Researcher: Owen Olfert, AAFC, Saskatoon

Funding: $30,000

Years: 2008-2010

Goal: Develop a coordinated system across the western Canadian provinces that evaluates the insect pest data being collected from a regional perspective to help better equip producers in making their farming decisions.



2007
Genetic changes in the Canadian Fusarium graminearum populations and their effect on pathogenicity, toxin production, fungicide sensitivity, and disease spread
Lead Researcher: Dr. Kelly Turkington, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe
Funding: $112,767 over two years (2007 to 2009)
Target: This project will have a direct and significant impact on FHB management efforts by revealing the distribution and movement of highly toxigenic 3ADON isolates, and by determining the basis for their rapid spread and apparent selective advantage. This information will also be critical to the formulation of informed regulatory policy, potential fungicide resistance strategies and the development of cereal cultivars with broad-based resistance to toxin-producing fusaria.



2006
Long-term control of blackleg in canola
Lead Researcher: Dr. Roger Rimmer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon
Funding: $75,000 over two years (2006 to 2008)
Target: Improve Western Canada's ability to define and monitor different types of L. maculans, the pathogen that causes blackleg. This will help producers select the best resistant varieties for their location and help researchers develop new resistant varieties that keep up to changes in the ever-evolving pathogen population.



2005
Targeting the yellow pigment genes for durum
Lead Researcher: Dr. Curtis Pozniak, University of Saskatchewan
Funding: $121,500 over two years (2005 to 2007)
Target: To identify the genes contributing to high levels of yellow pigment in durum so breeders can efficiently produce durum varieties with the specific color profile demanded by markets.



Researchers take aim at Fusarium in oats
Lead Researcher: Dr. Andy Tekauz, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg
Funding: $127,500 over three years (2005 to 2008)
Target: To identify and incorporate resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) in oats.

New 'hairy' canola to fend off flea beetles
Lead Researcher: Dr. Margaret Gruber, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon
Funding: $79,950 over two years (2005 to 2007)
Target: To develop canola varieties that are less appetizing to flea beetles, a major pest of the crop, and to combine this trait with improved drought tolerance.

Intellectual property rights and future of public crop breeding in Canada
Lead Researcher: Richard Gray, University of Saskatchewan
Funding: $60,000 over three years (2005 to 2007)
Target: To conduct an economic analysis on wheat breeding in Western Canada and determine how Intellectual Property Rights (IRP) have impacted breeding programs, their freedom to operate and the distribution of research benefits.



2004
Innovative database to boost delivery of superior wheat varieties
Lead Researcher: Dr. Daryl Somers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg
Funding: $201,000 over three years (2004-2007)
Target: To introduce a new genotype-based informatics system into western Canadian wheat breeding programs that will increase efficiencies in cross success and progeny line selection.



Improving integrated crop management by reducing herbicide application rates
Lead Researcher: Dr. Lloyd Dosdall, University of Alberta
Funding: $135,000 over three years (2004-2007)
Target: It's a simple management step that could pay large dividends for Canadian canola producers. Researchers at the University of Alberta and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are pinpointing strategies for farmers to lower their risk of pest infestation by reducing herbicide application rates.

[mcfarms]

OK the way I understand it, the WGRF will get this money under the ACT its the law thats where it goes. If groups or individuals are unhappy I would say your MP is the place to start. Though you open an act don't always like what you get.

The monies will not go into the general research budget of the WGRF but to the endowment fund. I'd suggest a visit to the WGRF site which will explain the purpose and history of the fund. Charlie I've attached a historical list of the projects they have funded and canola has benefitted.
Ggust the numbers for some commodities are easy to accumulate some are a little tougher but as we all have the check off info already from the various commodity groups im our tax data ( if we are tracking these numbers as a seperate line item I am) I would say that the various groups would have the info from the checkoffs and who gives what but I suspect they have no clue at least ABC didn't back a number of years ago under Mike Leslie it might be different but I doubt the pulse growers have individual info. As our main levy to WGRF comes from the final payments administered by the board the CWB would have our tonnage numbers and therefore our wheat and barley levy is trackable. There are issues here that I won't get into becuase I have to get going but I would suggest even that if you divided the amount by the total tonnage shipped by the railways and came up with a full commodity number then used the CWB number for even the Wheat and barley portion and gave the farmers a receipt for their portion of the payment we could then add it to our research tax credit at a rate of around 84 cents on every dollar . I think thats the WGRF number approx. It would be a start. the pulse and oilseeds numbers would be tougher and would require a bit more of a bureaucratic mess so I would leave that to the various commissions to deal with. Agin have thoughts but the feeders are waiting etc.
Final thought under this idea the producers that abstain or request checkoff dollars would be angry but frankly they've been getting a free ride on my check off dollars for years and I wouldn't shed to many tears for them in losing this tax credit.

Current Projects (2004 - Present)
2009
Controlling the Cereal Leaf Beetle with Natural Enemies

Lead Researcher: Lloyd Dosdall

Funding:$47,725 (per annum)

Years: 2009-2011

Goal: To identify fields in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan with high population densities of cereal leaf beetle to validate that populations are non-parasitized prior to release, to release parasitoids in those areas, and to monitor establishment success of the natural enemies so they become permanently established and provide ongoing pest control with little or no additional human intervention.



Enhancing Nitrogen Management through genetics in cereal-legume crop rotations

Lead Researcher: Pierre Hucl

Funding: $50,000 (per annum)

Years: 2009-2011

Goal: A) Develop a method for identifying varieties of spring and durum wheat that are better suited for production on lentil and pea stubble. B) Identify superior nitrogen fixing pea and lentil varieties that can be selected for greater nitrogen fixation and N contribution in stubble to the cropping system based on indirect effects on spring wheat and durum. C) Identify varietal combinations of cereal-legume cultivators that will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.



FHB Resistant Oat for the FHB prone Eastern Prairie Region

Lead Researcher: Brian Rossnagel

Funding:$50,000 (per annum)

Years: 2009-2011

Goal: To evaluate FHB severity and mycototoxins prevalence in Saskatchewan commercial oat fields; evaluate variability of Fusarium resistance/susceptibility in a wide array of oat germplasm; develop PCR based screening techniques to detect, identify and quantify Fusarium species; study the inheritance of resistance and map QTL associated with DON resistance using the diversity Array Technology (DArT) marker system and development of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS).



Meeting the challenges posed by virulent new forms of Wheat Diseases on the Prairies

Lead Researcher: Steve Haber

Funding: $20,000 (per annum)

Years: 2009-2011

Goal: To deliver adapted high quality spring wheat germplasm that combines genetic resistance to three current or potential serious disease threats to wheat: a) stem rust race Ug99 b) changing chemotypes of Fusarium species, the agent(s) of fusarium head blight (FHB); and c) the virus that causes wheat streak mosaic (WSM) disease. This germplasam will enable breeders to develop superior wheat cultivars relatively rapidly and inexpensively.



2008
Designer Wheat for the Biofuels Industry

Lead Researcher: Curtis Pozniak, University of Saskatchewan

Funding: $139,623

Years: 2008-2010

Goal: The ethanol industry is developing rapidly and there is a need to develop high yielding wheat varieties tailored to meet the demands of that industry. The following objectives were established during meetings between breeders and industry stakeholders, and will be the focus (objectives) of this research: a) breed for high starch concentration, b) reduce fermentation time, c) breed for reduced non-starch polysaccharides to limit "sluggish" fermentation, and d) reduce phytate levels.



Unraveling KVD using RIDT

Lead Researcher: James D. Procunier, AAFC, Winnipeg

Funding: $120,000

Years: 2008-2010

Goal: Kernel Visual Distinguishability (KVD) is used in the Canadian wheat industry to phenotypically segregate wheat into eight functionally different market classes. Rapid ID Technology (RIDT) has the potential to reduce or eliminate KVD and allow for new varieties to be registered & sold without the KVD drag.



The genetics of early maturity in Canadian spring wheat

Lead Researcher: Dean Spaner, University of Alberta

Funding: $103,500

Years: 2008-2010

Goal: To investigate the genetic basis of earliness in Canadian spring wheat cultivars Understanding the basis of early maturity in wheat may lessen the use of herbicides and may also improve the quality of harvested wheat.



Coordinated monitoring, forecasting and risk warning systems for insect pests of field crops

Lead Researcher: Owen Olfert, AAFC, Saskatoon

Funding: $30,000

Years: 2008-2010

Goal: Develop a coordinated system across the western Canadian provinces that evaluates the insect pest data being collected from a regional perspective to help better equip producers in making their farming decisions.



2007
Genetic changes in the Canadian Fusarium graminearum populations and their effect on pathogenicity, toxin production, fungicide sensitivity, and disease spread
Lead Researcher: Dr. Kelly Turkington, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe
Funding: $112,767 over two years (2007 to 2009)
Target: This project will have a direct and significant impact on FHB management efforts by revealing the distribution and movement of highly toxigenic 3ADON isolates, and by determining the basis for their rapid spread and apparent selective advantage. This information will also be critical to the formulation of informed regulatory policy, potential fungicide resistance strategies and the development of cereal cultivars with broad-based resistance to toxin-producing fusaria.



2006
Long-term control of blackleg in canola
Lead Researcher: Dr. Roger Rimmer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon
Funding: $75,000 over two years (2006 to 2008)
Target: Improve Western Canada's ability to define and monitor different types of L. maculans, the pathogen that causes blackleg. This will help producers select the best resistant varieties for their location and help researchers develop new resistant varieties that keep up to changes in the ever-evolving pathogen population.



2005
Targeting the yellow pigment genes for durum
Lead Researcher: Dr. Curtis Pozniak, University of Saskatchewan
Funding: $121,500 over two years (2005 to 2007)
Target: To identify the genes contributing to high levels of yellow pigment in durum so breeders can efficiently produce durum varieties with the specific color profile demanded by markets.



Researchers take aim at Fusarium in oats
Lead Researcher: Dr. Andy Tekauz, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg
Funding: $127,500 over three years (2005 to 2008)
Target: To identify and incorporate resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) in oats.

New 'hairy' canola to fend off flea beetles
Lead Researcher: Dr. Margaret Gruber, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon
Funding: $79,950 over two years (2005 to 2007)
Target: To develop canola varieties that are less appetizing to flea beetles, a major pest of the crop, and to combine this trait with improved drought tolerance.

Intellectual property rights and future of public crop breeding in Canada
Lead Researcher: Richard Gray, University of Saskatchewan
Funding: $60,000 over three years (2005 to 2007)
Target: To conduct an economic analysis on wheat breeding in Western Canada and determine how Intellectual Property Rights (IRP) have impacted breeding programs, their freedom to operate and the distribution of research benefits.



2004
Innovative database to boost delivery of superior wheat varieties
Lead Researcher: Dr. Daryl Somers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg
Funding: $201,000 over three years (2004-2007)
Target: To introduce a new genotype-based informatics system into western Canadian wheat breeding programs that will increase efficiencies in cross success and progeny line selection.



Improving integrated crop management by reducing herbicide application rates
Lead Researcher: Dr. Lloyd Dosdall, University of Alberta
Funding: $135,000 over three years (2004-2007)
Target: It's a simple management step that could pay large dividends for Canadian canola producers. Researchers at the University of Alberta and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are pinpointing strategies for farmers to lower their risk of pest infestation by reducing herbicide application rates.

[charliep]

Mcfarms - Thanks for updating me. Will leave discussion go from here as is farmer money.

[checking]

Navigator durum - developed with WGRF funds - sold rights to now Viterra, so farmers get to pay again and again.Free ride, hardly mcfarms. Who's mistake was this over payment? If the 15% penalty to the railways isn't enough to cover administrating its return to farmers, send them the rest of the bill. I want my money back with no deductions.

[skhadenuf]

I agree with Walk, give me my money, looks as close to a fraud with my money stolen as it gets, why isn't that being persued? If I want to donate to research etc. I will, the guilty party should pay for the cost of sorting out who recieves the money as far as grain deliveries made why are we even considering to pay that cost?
On another note sopposedly "big money going to farmers in budget for research". That money for research does nothing for farmer bottom line we end up producing more meaning less price the only one benefiting is the distributors and consumers who continue to have cheap food. They should be the ones said to be getting the money becuase they are the ones getting the benefit not us.