Malt Barley?

[Burbert]

Charlie P. I am in the malt barley game, sitting on old crop, cause my friends at Car--l lost my submitted samples last Fall, hence our grain wasn't selected. Resubmitted samples in Dec, met with comments, such way too much grain in the world, nobody wants or needs malt barley. Malties are backing out of contracts, refusing to honour signed contract. Cash Plus is the only way to go, contact a Maltie yourself, make them happy, buy them a jug, maybe they'll take your grain. Perhaps, that should be written into Malt contracts, kickbacks and booze always make for good friends, fine print of course, or invisible ink would work even better. Yup, thats the new way of doing business.
Charlie, question, for you. Do you think that I'm PO'ed or just a crack pot? Reality check, most contracts aren't worth the paper, they are written on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only recourse is to sue the living s--t out of the parties involved, but a course farmers, will never ever do that...

[charliep]

Others have made the same point you have over the winter. Western Canada is headed into a whole new situation starting this fall.

Other than complaining what is the solution?

Actually agree with both you and dmlfarmer the CWB is not the issue here except as relates to price signals. The CWB has zero responsibility for grading and contract enforcement except for as applies their contracts (which by the way have the same terms as a typical grain company contract).

In the menage a trois that appears to best describe the malt barley situation, what needs to be done? What is the CWB role in this relationship?

[LWeber]

Just curious:

When is the last time anyone has ever had a drink in a grain elevator or grain terminal?

[ianben]

Here in UK we have a three year contract with Coors to supply with malt barley.

This is a new deal just starting this harvest special terms and supposed farmer friendly terms including farmer assured ie will take sample on farm and not test on delivery. We will see how it goes.

Main thing Coors get is an advertising campaign which focuses on the fact their beer is produced useing 100% British barley. Their aim is to get our flag on the can for the 2012 olympics Budget of £10,000,000 for this.

[Hopperbin]

Interesting Ianbin. Hope you can stay in touch and answer some questions about how your malt contract works? Can you give any price details? Speck details? What if it don't meet speck then what happens? Do you take a pre determined discount or a discount decided later upon delivery? does your malt price change over the 3 year period? How are your delivery dates decided? Anything like more money for less protien for example? You could provide some valuable information here, I promise the CWB won't but into your business, hehe.

[Hopperbin]

Burbert if you buy me a jug sure I will take your malt off your hands. I will pay 50 percent on delivery, actually I will hire the trucker. Then make an after payment after I talk it over with my wife in a few months since she is the boss she must approve. Then if anything left over at the end of the year you get that. But be carefull I may have over paid you in the first place so you may actually get a bill at around Christmass time, sorry that is the way it works so suck it up.

[Hopperbin]

I am extremely sorry Burbert I am being totally unfair here. I will guarantee the 1.50 per bushel initial payment. No bill at Christmas time.

[Hopperbin]

Ianbin just wondering about another thing is that sample taken when loading the truck on farm to go to malt plant? Are you responsible for storing the barley?

[charliep]

To the price, heard the maltster cash plus bid $5/bu delvievered plant Alberta for a select 2 row. Farmer was in the Peace/worked back to $4/bu at the bin.

Is this consistent with the price/cashplus bids you are hearing?

[charliep]

The new crop malt barley PRO (select 2 row) is $4/bu.

How much business has been done with the CWB? If a maltster or exporter were to do business today, would they deal directly with the CWB or use the more visible pricing cash plus? If the CWB used the reasoning this past winter of shutting down the malt barley pricing pool because of risk, shouldn't they be doing the same thing now - i.e. any business maltsters exporter do during the summer has to be direct with farmers via the cash plus program?