Farmer organizations

[ValueChainFX]

Well, at least the discussion is alive. I have tried to organize groups of producers for years on one issue or another. I finally figured it out that when you look at one issue they all have a hundred others attached to them.

My solution is that the only way to beat the issues is to join them. Our approach now, is that we put ourselves in the middle of the value chain. Each member or component of the value chain is their own profit center. We supply each component with the tools they need to strengthen their own operations, be those tools, education, communication, access to marketing, coordination with long term customers, acting as Quality Assurance in the stream, whatever it takes. The fee for service actually comes out of the profit center where these services should be offered in the first place so really there is no extra costs involved just people placed in the right places to ensure proper distribution of costs and profits.

To date this system has been implemented in seperate components to test the solutions integrity in real time situations. But we are now ready to take the big plunge, buy the brick and morter and take our place in the supply chain.

Oh I must add, this is the first time I have ever worked with producers when they have agreed (at least 80% of them) that we are going in the right direction here! As usual will keep you all updated

[pandiana]

Every time I think that just maybe I am getting the big picture, some farmer or another gets up as says that there is really not a problem. They are doing just find and that if marginal or poor farmers aren't making money then, in this free market system, their demise is merely normal attrition. Just how many farmers would be considered to be profitable? How many of these are primary producers? In other words, how many farmers are desperate enough to get motivated towards change or will be just wait for the waves to crash over us? Now that grains seems to be increasing, would we lost their support?

[cowman]

Pandiana: Some farmers are very profitable. Pig farmers for example. My Dutch neighbor makes big bucks and he rents his whole farm!!! $14,000/month net! Mind you he is young and agressive and works hard. Which is a good thing! Also a very nice fellow. Of course we have to consider what he is doing...PIGS...not exactly the most acceptable way of making money? Sort of a toss up between pigs or selling crack? Which is more acceptable??
I don't believe grain has solved any of its problems. Drought drove up the price but for the majority of grain producers it has not helped the bottom line. Believe me grain producers are not doing any better than anyone else. I don't care if the price of barley is $8/bu.;if I have zero bushels in the bin!
What we need right now(and this is a short term reprieve) is 4-5 inches of rain!

[rodbradshaw]

Unfortunately the market is down playing the possiblility of another drought. Prices for barley and feed wheat are declining from the previous highs and unless there is major problems in the US corn belt they will head back to 2000 price levels or lower.
We simply have to much production capability for most producers to return a postive figure to the bottom line.

Whether any farm organization could stir up enough emotion or desire to create any significant change remains to be seen.

[Steve]

Cowman ; Thanks for all the info on the bad Government guy, but I already knew what you pointed out. The real problem is some people don’t seem to understand that Canada is a big country and we have the rich, the poor, the good, the bad and the ugly and the Governments job is to try and satisfy all. So it all means you don’t really understand the problem if you don’t have a sustainable solution. If one wants to become a leader you first learn to listen and then talk, because you have to understand the problem before you can suggest a solution.

[cowman]

Oh I understand the problem very well. The problem is the same problem we've had in this province since day one. We need to LEAVE this country. Canada is a rotten and corrupt nation. I am a citizen of Alberta,not Kanada!

[pandiana]

Once again I find myself agreeing with Steve, ..I think. I do not believe government is rotten and out to destroy any particular sector of our economy. Inept maybe! The nature of government is to respond to the majority of the people; you know 'the squeaky wheel'. Farmers have little political type 'squeaky wheels' when compared with professional lobbyists, union leaders and/or corporate dollars. What have farmers got to leverage with? Even their numbers (votes) are declining rapidly. Corporate agriculture on the other hand is increasingly speaking for all other sectors of the industry. They have the clout to be heard.

And cowman, having had the opportunity to sample life in many countries, I always come home with a renewed euphoria on how great this country is and how lucky we are. No, its not perfect and probably won't get better as we begin to experience the problems that come along with increases in population density and industrialization, but ... it could be so much worse!