Saskatchewan?

[ValueChainFX]

We are all talking about the same issues here and yet complex balance issues as well. Part of any system has to be balance. Our industry is fragmented because we do not have that balance. Regular line workers on the fabrication floor in the bigger operations are making around $15.00 an hour and then over time makes their cheques much fatter. When we look at Sask as the land of opportunity, or look at labor as an issue in our operation, then we also have to look at what we have to offer over and above cash incentives. Like a change in education (have seen several people in this forum and other farm forums wanting to get an agriculture experience) or life style (which seems to be the motive for a lot of folks hanging on today) what ever it maybe, SASK, ALBERTA or Timbuktu. Issues of finding people to work the farms and where the farms should be will always be there! The magnitude as to how they touch our business will depend on your innovation.

[cowman]

The thing that looks so good about Sask. is the chance to expand. I can buy 10 sections for the price of one here. And I'm not talking about desert either, but land that is as good as here! I live in an area that is rapidly becoming urbanized. Now there are a lot of advantages to that and a lot of disadvantages. This land is way too expensive to actually farm and especially to run cows on. Eventually guys like me got to go to make room for acreages and horses. I have a good life here and am not starving but I see a big opportunity in Sask. right now.

[ianben]

Hi Cowman
I have looked at Sask too. Found a dream grain farm just north of Battleford. It was a long way from anywhere though and I didn't think my wife and childern could have ajusted to the life.
There was room to expand like you say. We did visit the neighbours,their kids where all in Calagry. Went to college and that was that. Didn't see them much.
They were going to retire after their centinary in 2003 been there since 1903 when his grandfather settled the place.

Very sad and very common I'm sure.

So I'm still living surrounded by millions of people but still close to my childern.I think I made the right choice.

Regards Ian

[cowman]

Ian: What part of England are you from? I ask because both my great-grandfathers came from England. My paternal great grandfather came from Stratford-on-Avon.They had a farm just behind Anne Hathaways cottage. My maternal great grandfather was the head game keeper on Lord Kurzons estate in Sussex. I've never been to the British Isles but hope to make it over there someday.
cowman

[ianben]

Hi Cowman
I farm just outside Liverpool on what we call the urban fringe. Thats when you have a housing estate for a neighbour.
I visited Anne Hathaways cottage last March, my son was doing a project on Shakspear.
Very interesting.It is an old farm house and has been kept as it was 100 yrs ago,people in period clothes show you round and explain it all. So I think it would give you an idea of what your great grand-parents left behind.
Don't leave it till you are too old to walk round.
Book a flight hire a car and you can have a great holiday in the UK.
I would be pleased to show you round our farm if you decided to drop by.
It would be nice to put a face to the name.

Regards Ian

[cowman]

Ian: Well maybe next year. I'm still in the process of getting the boy "educated" in the cattle business as well as running the equipment in my oil lease maitenance thing. He went away to university and got a degree so now I have to "re-educate" him in the real world. But he's getting better!

[cowman]

We moved to Saakatchewan this spring from S. Alberta and are mixed farming in the E. central part of the prov. With lower land prices and more productivity our numbers said to move the capital from Alberta to here but the longer we are here we realize the two years we spent planning this were the most valuable resource we had because its like in AB, if you don't have highly productive land it doesn't work. We were fortunate to land where we did. It took a lot of planning and some good luck but it is looking like this is the place to be. There are some adjustments to be made but our kids love it and I feel like there is a future here. It was a great year not to be in S. Alberta.

[cowman]

Jend: One thing that I was wondering about is the water supply. Where I live you can drill a well to 100/150 ft. and get all you need. What's it like where you are? Also how about land taxes and roads? We hear horror stories about the poor roads...are they true? How big of a difference is the govt. and input prices(fuel, fert., parts etc.)?

[cowman]

We have a well 50' deep with 30' of water (normally 40' but it dropped with the dry summer) that we use for some livestock (right now 60 cattle and 5 horses) and 5 people with no trouble and we will develop this fall a spring that surfaces into a slough. We dug down 15 or 20' and the water is now 3.5' from the surface of the ground. The paved roads are terrible for the most part, the gravel is good and we just have to figure on keeping good undercoating and using an extra set of shocks over the life of a vehicle. Taxes (property) are higher, maybe 20%, but it is better land. The SK gov't is really what is holding this province back. It wants to control and participate in everything and turn it into a Gong show but we just pick our way through. It certainly costs less to live here and we don't have the hassle of the urbanization and crowds. The increase in our land values in S. AB only helped us when we sold and it will make for a better operation out here.

[Muttley]

I see people wanting to move to SK. writing in this topic. You appear to see the land of opportunity. I see the land of government ownership, no competition in many areas relating to utilities. The reason land is cheaper here is because we are not staying in the province. We have a small population that is getting smaller. Alot of big business is not moving here and the ones that are, are trying to capitilize on our misfortunes. There is plenty of opportunities here but grass is not allways greener on this side of the fence.