Agristability

[bombay_43]

Wow, the exact answer I would expect from you hadenuf. I was going to reply something else, but I am not going to and I retract my slander expressed to you.

Yes I am a farmer, a partner of a farm of over 10000 acres. We have no livestock therefore we don't experience the same factors you do with a mixed farm.

There is no quick answer because I have no financial information or data about you or frustrated's farm. If someone claims they have a quick solution there lying, there is way more to the equation.

Yes I offered to help and it would most likely be a lengthy process. I never guaranteed a payout from any program.

You love turning comments around and slamming back in someone's face. I never implied anyone was stupid and because you may have managed your farm different that the rest doesn't make you stupid either. - You are the one that is saying that!

Why is it so hard for you to believe that your financial success, the management of your operation has been the best that it can be or that it could have been better or worse than someone else.

A slight ray of light when you said you should be more concerned about managing your farm. That is your number 1 priority and I wouldn't want to change that. For someone to help, you need to accept that the possibility exists that you maybe can improve numerous area's of your business.

If you can't accept that then maybe like Bombay says, quit the program, quit all programs. If you think the government is going to bail you out you may as forget it. Even if they change the program, the replacement will not solve the problems you express. If you cannot make it on your own, something needs to change and maybe getting out is the solution.

I give up, sorry I ever offered or gave my 2 cents.

[burnt]

It seems almost logical that if one needs "inside" information to make a program do that for which it created, it is not really meant to help at all.

frustrated1, your situation is the epitome of what is wrong with these types of stabilization programs - you are too stable!

You might be slowly losing equity every year, as many of us are, but the outcome of spreading your risks camouflages the real and harmful effect of steadily and perennially declining markets.

Same as in our situation.

Too many times, the money goes to the mega outfits who can conveniently move stuff around to their own benefit.

For instance, one operator near here was basically a mega cattle dealer and lost big bucks one year only to receive 2 CAIS payments of over $1,000,000 the next year, one for him and one for his son/partner. Lots of new equipment in his yard now. After crying "broke" the year before.

But his numbers were sound.

Yeah, there's some bitterness about that . . .

[frustrated1]

Motorhomes and boats and escalade's are not the items purchased by dire straights, need the payments, people. Yet that's where the CAIS cheques are going. Hmm... I realize our diversity works against us for these programs, yes, we manage our own risk. And when cattle are involved for the most part you are "stable". One calf per cow, plus or minus a bit. Grain on the other hand can make the large swings required for a payout. You can have 15 bushels of canola one year, 50 bushels the next. Part of my grievance is that I work as hard on my 3000acres of grain as the guy across the fence. We both have the same yields, assume roughly the same margins for CAIS. If there's a payout, he gets his. Mine: wait! you've got a feed stack we'll put an overpriced value on, you've got inventory. We'll put a value on those calves too, more inventory. Oh well, no $$$$ for you. I can't seperate my livestock and grain operations, CAIS will tie them together. So, I'm penalized for diversifying and protecting myself. Govt cheque across the fence and a trip to Arizona. Ticked off old guy feeding cows on this side with old pickup. When working hard to help yourself is penalized this badly, maybe the program needs to change. Yes, I should just quit the cows. Again, one should not have to change the entire operation to make a program work but why should I not be entitled to the same payout on the grain operations the others have recieved?

[bombay_43]

Frustrated, I don't want you to misunderstand what I was trying to say in my post. It is not you that I think should quit. It is all these ridiculous government programs! They are not hitting the farmers who clearly need them.

Outrageous payouts to some, and nothing for others! It seems 95% of the money hits 5% of the farmers, while 5% of the money hits 95% of the farmers! QUIT giving us these programs, so we don't have to compete with subsidized neighbors! At least we would all be on equal footing.
We have grain and cattle also, and no payouts!

[frustrated1]

No misunderstanding bombay, wasn't thinking you were telling me to quit. Been thinking that myself. Just frustrated, CAIS is what triggered my moniker in the first place. Not that it helps the bottom line but it's good to know my frustration with the program is not only mine.

[silverback]

How many smaller, diversified farmers do you know that have ever been invited to attend these policy setup sessions in the first place?

How many smaller, diversified farmers do you know that ever get invited to the chemical and grain company junkets?