Alberta Ag minister?

[stubblejumper]

If the vote ended up 63% in favour would you support it

[cowman]

Well no I wouldn't because I don't believe it is a "voteable subject"? It is a matter of "rights"?
But then it doesn't concern me as I don't grow any grain. My cousin crop share rents the 240 acres I still have in cultivation and he refuses to grow anything that he has to sell through the board. I agree totally with his attitude!
In this area barley and canola work really well and the barley all goes to either a hog barn or feedlot. He's often grown Metcalfe or Copeland and they recieve a good market as feed.
I suppose if possible he would grow canola every year, but likes to keep a rotation? Grew CPS wheat one year that went to a local hog barn.
I guess he votes with his seed drill!

[cakadu]

And therein lies our greatest problem in ag production. We continue to grow what we cannot sell for any kind of profit and wonder why we can't get ahead. We want to be the lowest cost producer, which relegates us to being price-takers, not price setters.

For the record, I support producers having a choice on where and how to market what they produce. Notice I said market, which is much different and more difficult than just selling it.

[cowman]

Well Linda, glad you have joined us old rightwingers! I think it is important that we all as human beings stand up and demand our rights not to be involved in the "collective" way of thinking?
If I want to be involved in some "grand design"...then that is my right... and if I don't...then that is my right? I find it toatally unacceptable that I have to give up my rights for the good of the "collective"?
Quite frankly, TO HELL WITH THE COLLECTIVE! They can sink or die on their own dime!
Don't want anything from them, don't want to be involved with them, don't want to be forced to knuckle under them, don't want my taxes going to them!

[grassfarmer]

But Cowman you are happy to give up your rights to a right wing almost fascist collective known as Corporate America. Different name, different politics - same result.
What do you think of the group described in a recent Grainnews article, I think it was NorthWest Cattlemans Alliance? Members paid to join the group and market their fat cattle collectively ensuring that they could force the hand of the packers and return extra money to producers pockets. They quoted their cattle that week as having sold into the US at 87c/lb versus the 82c/lb they would have got in the captive supply market of Alberta.
My prediction is if the short term thinkers have their way and get rid of the Wheat board they will be back with their tail between their legs wanting protection from their supposed free market friends the mega-corporations. It's happened before and it will happen again. In unity their is strength - always.

[cowman]

Well a little bit of difference if you voluntarily join something, or if it is forced on you? Sort of like the ABP?
Before Cargill and Tyson there were other packers in Canada...and they knew every dirty trick in the book! In fact it was back in the 1970s they actually were charged with colluding to fix prices, were found guilty, and paid fines! They owned feedlot cattle and used those to influence the market! In fact they operated just like the boys today? But of course they weren't Americans...so I guess that was alright?
Lets see: Canada Packers(which was a lot bigger than either Tyson in Canada or Cargill in Canada)was British owned and Lakeside was Japanese owned! A lot of the staff at Tyson and Cargill came from the management of the "Canadian packers"? In fact the head of AMI in the USA is a good old Canadian boy, Bill Buckner! Manager at Canada Packers Red Deer in the 1980s! Also first manager at Cargill HighRiver.

[coppertop]

good points cowman, a reminder of some of the history for those who either can't remember or weren't here at the time.

[grassfarmer]

Interesting? maybe - relevance? none. What about addressing the point - that collective marketing brings better returns?

[coppertop]

grassfarmer, you may feel that cowman's comments aren't revelant, but I don't agree. We have read numerous comments on this site about Cargill and Tyson, so perhaps a history lesson is relevant information.

[northfarmer]

in our cwb district. one that is IN alberta and Not sk and MB, we bounced out the pro monopolist, collective marketing socialist and elected, by clear majority, a new director who wants to give farmers a choice in marketing of their commodities....

....i raise both beef and crops and all i want is the freedom to sell my wheat production in the same unfetterd manner as my cattle, peas, oats, and canola....

in the end it is not about democracy, or opinions, it is about rights and freedoms .........

I will reserve my opinion on the new ag mininster till I see what he says and does....as for Ed...i knew him when he was the ag minister....and I am sure he will serve us well as premier....