CWB Director Henry Vos -Why we need CWB election reform

[gustgd]

great rant Frisco

I'd like to focus on the last part of Henry's letter,
the part where he talks about the

"organization moves on a track that is not in a direction that meets the needs of current and future producers". end quote

they are setting themselves up for failure by not focusing on the needs of those that do 80% of their business.
I'm not saying that we have to abandon the other 20%, just admit that they do have a cost to maintain membership.
For example in my local credit union their is a cost of about $5.00 a month to have an account.
There is no real need for this amount it probably only cost's a dollar but the other $4 is to clean up dead accounts.
As long as everything is rolled into the "all revenue minus administration column" we will never see changes in this organization

[gustgd]

Parsley

I don't get your wanting to have a catch all, lets call everyone farmers attitude (my words not yours)

Do you want to know how most 17 year old riggers I know make marketing decisions?
"Dad what would you do?"


The only way to get an accurate reading of opinion is by deliveries, and since many agree that the current CPC will never do that I propose minimum thresholds. Lets use the tax system if you gross more dollars on your school bus route than you do selling Wheat I would call you a bus driver not a farmer.
I pull my kids teeth yet I'm not a dentist, I cut my girls bangs yet if I call myself a barber I would get fined.
Why are you so anxious to call everyone who could plant a seed a farmer?

[chaffmeister]

How many definition of "farmer" do you need?

Governments already recognize farmers in order to allow them to use purple gas. I think the criterion is that you have to have $10,000 in annual farm commodity sales to qualify for purple gas.

If I'm not mistaken, each provincial government has a record of who qualifies.

My view is this: if you're a purple gas farmer, you should get to decide about the CWB. If you're not, you don't.

[Fransisco]

So then curling doesn't qualify you?

[parsley]

Bottom Line:

1. You don't make up voting rules figuring out how I will market my grain. It's my grain. If I am the election co-ordinator, I will make it compulsory for a farmer to have purple hair befors he can can get a ballot.That's about as stupid as the y will eventually get.

2. gusty, my point is this: presently all farmers have to sell through the Board one way or another. Until I can bypass them, I want a say in the process that forces me to deal with them.

3. Don't laugh cisco, the way the Board is run curling COULD become a voting prerequisite. After all, the election co-ordinator DEFERS to the Wheat Board. Pars

[parsley]

An overlooked voting base is this...

Seed growers can bypass the Wheat Board.

They get their interprovincial and export liceses directly from the Board. Too many of them vote for maintaining the single desk...making non seed growers captive.

We need liceses....all of us do. They free us up from association with those we do not wish to do business with, including each other.

Only THEN you can shore up your private CWB marketing club, with every silly little rule you can think of. Pars

[bluefargo]

Parsley

How do you know how seed growers vote?

[Hopperbin]

Parsley what is involved with getting an export liscence from the CWB? Do you have to give the buyers name and price?
What good is that if the CWB would just undercut you anyway.

[parsley]

I qsaid "too many f them"/ I have spoken to seed growers who are Board supporters. Moreso from the point of view that they have their licenses, so they don't care. Much the same as a lot cattlemmen say they don't grow much but barley, so they don't apply to vote, bUT captive CWB feed grain to feed cows is not exactly an undesirable commodity either.

Blue fargo, I realize some seed growers are adamant in their support of marketing choice, but too many are satisfied with the status quo. Pars

[parsley]

Interesting story there. Ontario used to have to give the name of their buyer to the CWB, but no more. They fought with the Board over it, and won.

We apply to the Board for a license, phone or fax or email with tonnage and destination

The Board sends back a fax which we must sign and fax back. We've also had to send a sample in.

TYhe export licesne is presented at the border with the commercial trucker.
No buybacl. No cost.
Pars

[Choice2U]

Stubblejumber - well thought out, intelligent response to Cisco's rant. He presented logical arguments and you're response "same old BS". Here's an equally intelligent response to you're comment..."you're a fatty". How about ripping his comments apart with some logical rebuttal....ever thought of that?

[Choice2U]

Regarding cattle guys/vote, about 5 years ago I sat beside a cattle guy on a plane that was selling embryo's into Europe and discussed the CWB election. He was voting in favor of the board (status quo) because he didn't have time to market the little bit of wheat that he grew. I asked him if he would appreciate being forced to pool or lose control of his embryo sales and he said "no way". He had never thought about how his decision affected someone who wants the same freedom as he enjoys and who's primary revenue is from board crops. I'm sure he still votes for the status quo but it does show you the hypocrisy of a vote.

[northfarmer]

GO Henry GO!!!!

As I guy who voted for change in Henry's district it is encouraging that he is starting to take a stand and likey a leadership role.

He has very strong support in the ditrict and it should be noted again that he kicked single desk talking head Macklin out on his butt.

back to the drill

[Fransisco]

Choice, I ran into a corn grower last year with the same attitude. Corn was his thing and he spent all of his energy on it. Said he couldn't be bothered to sell the little bit of wheat he grows for rotation, he's too busy marketing his corn.

Some folks just can't see it until the boot comes down on their own neck.

[Hopperbin]

Parsley It should be normal in the export license to list product, variety, quantity, grade, destination, price. I don't think it should be the
CWB's responsibility to give out export licenses. Also why should they be free? Think about it, they export grain and give themselves a license to do it. Is there anyone else that is allowed to give themselves their own export licenses? I take it there must some sort of confirmation acceptance in the importing country.