Foreign Ownership and Canada

[SASKFARMER3]

Today's headlines in Saskatchewan papers talk about the big sale but Richie Bros comments on Foreign ownership got my goat.
They are saying that we should drop the Foreign ownership rules on farmland and have the Americans come up and be able to buy our land.
1. Let highly subsidised farmers come in and pay yes double the price for land. So locals cant compete since we have no protection here. Then the Chinese buy it all up and us dumb schmucks work for them.
2. Richie Bros will make their commission from Canadian farm sales like the states. Ex Gillen got 3500000 Richie got 350000 if Americans were allowed in 6000000 and Richie Bros gets 600000. Then the Americans rent it back to locals who wins here yes the speculator who bought but the locals who did all the work built up the area are creamed by Americans who get subsidised from their government.
3. On a Accounts basis Canada is in a stronger position to help its farmers that any other country in the World, Yet we do nothing but lip service for our farmers. The US is in Debt up to their eye balls and they keep their rural areas prosperous.
4. Let more foreigners come in from Europe this one is OK because usually in a couple years their going home broke or getting out with the shirt on their back.
I am sick of whats happening and every one who makes money off of us is giving ideas that help them in the short term but Canadian farmers loose in the long term.
Food is Food and the world will need us one day soon.

[cropduster]

NDPFARMER(lyle)......where`s your answer to my other post.(About Sk. gov`t)How much do you think being born and raised in a "social gospel" envoirnment has clouded your thinking?It`s permeated rural Alberta also so I`m not trying to preach or talk down to you!!At 500 to 800 taxes per quarter the Ab cowboy(if that`s the case)will be squealing also!!I don`t think it`s the Liberal experiment it`s the culmination of the NDP experiment!!!Could we call it Canuckistan?????

[SASKFARMER3]

What the heck are you talking about NDPfarmer Lyle who the heck is that.
Richie bros etc is looking at all this for their behalf not farmes.

[SASKFARMER3]

God if your that crazy that you think I vote NDP my god you have got the wrong man.
Yes the NDP and the Liberals destroyed rural canada the same as the East coast fishery.
12 years of crappy gov got us to where we are today.

[northfarmer]

what the hell is RB thinking, if we let unregulated acces to ownership in farmland in Canada, it might be great for auction houses and landowners wanting to sell out, but would totally screw those of us who have been fighting for the survival of our farms....i would expect they may have to make a retraction or face the wrath of their ag customers, myself included...

[SASKFARMER3]

I for one was going to go to one more Sale in Estevan on Saturday and buy a trailer but the heck with them Ill stay at home instead.
There looking after themselves and that's all.
Also their getting sloppy at doing sales this spring the big one at Stockholm we were interested in one of the trucks and a cat. They started nothing just stood in front of it and cried that no one was bidding.

[WoolyBear]

why wouldn't the goverments encourage foreign ownership of farmland (well maybe not this current government I hope)?

Look what has happened to every other industry. Look how much control is beig exerted by the likes of Cargill, ADM, Bunge, Louis D, Smithfields, Tyson, Walmart, Monsanto, Bayer, BASF, major banks in the world,

Our commodities are priced on weather conditions 1/2 way around the world, and speculated on the markets in the UsA. Our oil is priced on a world price, our currency on the US$. Our marketing agencies can't establish a price during American holidays, yet the world goes on during our thanksgiving and July 1st.

Its a discouraging to what our farms and friends leave the land, but really can anyone stop it?

[WoolyBear]

sorry...... sticky keys. Its discouraging to watch our farms close, our friends leave the land, and our communities suffer.

[SASKFARMER3]

It is sad its like going to a funeral and you know that some day your going to die to.

[JACKFLASH]

I agree with the above I know some of those guys that work for Ritchie Bros. All they care for is their bottom line. And if they know what is good for them is to stop running their mouths off. It may backfire on them.

[JACKFLASH]

I agree with what you guys are saying, but is it a real big suprise?? Ritchie Bros are in buisiness. In buisiness you look out for number 1 only, so not a big shocker in them saying what they said.

Saskfarmer, I am on board usually with what you post. But the one thing I find interesting is that you say in other posts how much money your farm has lost in past years, no CAISP, farming is dying no money to be made, etc, etc. But then you go on to say your looking to buy a trailer, Semi, cat, etc. Why would you be spending money if there is no future in farming. Things can't be to bad if your willing to do all this spending?? Is it??

[SASKFARMER3]

In 2006 its time to replace our 1987 Louisville as it is in need of a new cat engine. 17,000 for engine do the math.
Also we have a buyer for our HD 11 and it a good price so if we could get a Cat D7 G for a thousand or two more we have cash for that.
Yes its rough this is just maintenance
Also dropped Our custom trucker by doing this and having one of us drive is a huge savings yes theirs were and tear on the truck and trailer but we live less that 10 Km To a Terminal and less that 100 KM to a Crushing plant.

[wmoebis]

I think RB should be told what we think of such statements. I think that if someone wants to come here to farm they should be allowed. If they become Canadian citizens like the rest of us.

I would hate to see the guys that are having thier auctions suffer because of this but I think that RB should know that if we were to have a sale they would be way down the list for choise of auctioneers.

A simple E Mail to them might make them wake up. But, they are in 21 countries with over 100 offices so what are a few broke Canadian farmers to them?

[ghan]

Well said RB. It's about time someone supported the changes needed for foreign ownership.Ger rid of the damed socialist attitude here in Saskatchewan and move forward.What the hell does it matter who owns the land as long as someone is farming it.Wouldn't it be terrible if our land value was to increase but then we cannot possibly be succesfull in a socialist system.

[WoolyBear]

there is a HUGE difference between foreign ownership of farmland, and encouraging immigration.

IN MY OPINION, there should be NO foreign ownership, without the owner physically coming to "work in the trenches". What would stop characters like those that bought The Bay from buying and raping the land, to take any profits out of the country? Real immigration is MUCH more desireable, (again in my opinion). The ones that I know are generally hardworking, generous individuals (and families) that are will ing to contriute to their new Canadian communities. Just like our own families that came to Canada in past generations, these folks are giving up it all to come to work along side those of us that choose to remain farming in Canada.

If you aren't willing to do the time...... then theres no need to whine for foreign (ABSENTEE) landowners.