US Co-operative

[TOM4CWB]

Dear Charlie,

I am somewhat confused about why we as grain growers in western Canada... have given up.

Here is a US Coop... that is making a difference, and returning the profits to farmers!

'CHS Inc. ( http://www.chsinc.com/ ) is a diversified energy, grains and foods company committed to providing the essential resources that enrich lives. A Fortune 500 company, CHS is owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest and from the Canadian border to Texas, along with thousands of preferred stockholders. CHS provides products and services ranging from grain marketing to food processing to meet the needs of customers around the world. It also operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and, through a broad range of working partnerships, markets and distributes Cenex® brand energy products and renewable fuels, along with agronomic inputs and livestock feed to rural America. CHS is listed on the NASDAQ at CHSCP.'

'ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, U.S. — CHS Inc. shareholders are sharing in an unprecedented $343 million disbursement as a result of the energy and grain-based foods company's record fiscal 2008 earnings, the company said on Feb. 13. It marks the fifth consecutive record return to shareholders by CHS and is the largest ever made by a U.S. cooperative.

A $231 million distribution currently underway consists of cash patronage, equity redemption and CHS preferred stock issued as equity redemption. Distributions of equity and preferred stock dividends later this year are expected to bring the fiscal 2009 total to $343 million.

"Once again, CHS has demonstrated one of the most important ways we can deliver on our mission of adding value for all of our stakeholders," said Michael Toelle, CHS board chairman. "The strong performance the company achieved during fiscal 2008 has enabled CHS to continue to grow, to be financially sound and to provide a return on our owners' investment in diverse businesses ranging from energy to grain marketing to food processing."

CHS net income for its fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2008, was $803 million.'
http://www.world-grain.com/

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

AND US growers/farmers... export 60 % of their grain through this co-op, make a billion $$$... in 2008... and the CWB did... WHAT?

[agstar77]

Where did our pools go T4? Did you speak up when they sold out?

[TOM4CWB]

Agstar77,

Who sent them into oblivion?

Farmers.

So now we manage the CWB... the same way we managed them.

Is anyone surprised Agstar77?

For ONE:

Ask CWB Director Allan Oberg... he 'helped' Alberta Wheat Pool and Agricore United! NOW the CWB.

Sooo... now that we have been totally consistant... what other result did you expect Agstar77?

[furrowtickler]

Let me guess, CHS is a volentary system?
One where you do not get thrown in jail or charged outrageous fees to sell outside their system. And I would imagine CHS is transparent thus a successfull business.

[agstar77]

Who runs the U.S. co-op? Wouldn't they have a board of directors from the farmer members?

[Zaphod]

Yes, and farmer members can opt out if they don't see value. They can vote with their feet.

[charliep]

As a reminder Agstar, the pools as you call them were effectively
bankrupt in the 1990's with limited capability to re-invest and a
culture of being a social program/not a business. Commercial
farmers were making the decision to take their business to the private
companies who embraced change.

The organizations you appreciate are being set up again in the farmer
owned terminals but their focus is very much on satisfying customer
needs (including the shareholders) as a profitable/innovative
business.

[agstar77]

T4 was trying to point out that a co-op was doing well. So can you say that some farmer directed business does well while others fail. Really no different than private business.

[agstar77]

By the way CL, what do you mean by commercial farmer? Which farmers are not commercial in your opinion?

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

Good points.

We have a good base of well managed producer owned terminals.

The CWB is a political organisation... governed by politics and power plays... the exact way Ralph Goodale set it up as.

To expect anything else from it... without real leadership from Ottawa (GOC)is unrealistic.

Personal responsibility for local decisions... with coordination for good information flow... will be the most responsive and allow change to best be implemented.

The CWB often fails in its' command and control management... to meet the needs of the commercial grain growers who it actually must exist to serve... to survive.

Obviously the CWB Elected Directors... on the whole... have not figured this out. President Ian White is a follower... not a leader that will stick his neck out on principal.

[TOM4CWB]

Agstar77,

'what do you mean by commercial farmer'?

GRAIN Farms that actually produce a sustainable profit... and have a long term focus to exist, 10 or 20years/to next farm generations, ... without planned outside jobs or Governemnt bailouts to keep them viable.

[agstar77]

So how many commercial farmers are there? Which ones have never taken government subsidies or supported their farm income with other sources of revenue?

[silverback]

Can you please just try and make your point as.

Have you got nothing to say other than to try and debate the definition of "commercial farmer" ?

[parsley]

One thing I do know.

The Canadian Wheat Board will not fix or improve any of their hedging or contingency fund or financial activities until they are forced to make changes by farmers themselves.

In my humble opinion, they will avoid change because change indicates something NEEDED changing.

NO ONE else is going to do it for us folks. No one. And few that you depend upon to help farmers or seek advice from, will help either. Period.

So demand some action. I am speaking to an MP's office tommorow.

What shall I say? Pars