The EU and CWB...

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

I see the US and Canada have reached a agreement on EU exports...


News releases
2002 CWB News Releases
November 13, 2002

CWB welcomes modification of EU grain import system

Winnipeg -- The European Union (EU) will remain an important market for western Canadian wheat and durum wheat following the EU announcement yesterday that it is modifying its grain import system. The modifications are designed to control the flow of cheaper, low-quality wheat imports arriving primarily from the Ukraine and Russia, but will not change the structure of the import duty system for high quality wheat and durum.

“Western Canadian farmers will continue to enjoy relatively unrestricted access to the important EU market for our high quality products,” said Larry Hill, a farmer-elected director and chair of the board of directors’ trade committee.

CWB wheat sales to the EU consist primarily of high quality milling wheat and durum. Canada exported 870 000 tonnes of milling wheat and 378 000 tonnes of durum to the EU in 2001.

The EU consulted with its major trading partners, in particular Canada and the United States, in drawing up the modified import system. “Throughout this process, the CWB worked successfully with the Government of Canada to ensure continued unrestricted market access for Canadian wheat and durum,” said Hill.

The EU modifications do include the imposition of a flat duty of 12 Euros per tonne on the first three million tonnes of low and mid-quality wheat. Volumes over this amount will be assessed a flat duty of over 95 Euros per tonne. Given that Canadian sales to the EU consist primarily of high quality wheat and durum, the CWB does not expect our exports to be affected by the modifications. The EU has announced its new system will be in place by January 1, 2003.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world.

As one of Canada’s biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less the costs of marketing, to Prairie farmers.


Is it just me... or is it not suspicious that Chairman Ritter and Director Flaman did not announce this positive news!

Somehow Director Hill (who obviously needs a good PR boost) now is getting the news headlines!

Sure looks like a conflict of interest to me!

Another strange one was that Art Macklin's slick mail out letter came the same day as the CWB Ballots in District 1... how could this happen???

I have heard this comment from Edm. to the North Peace... how could this be JUST coincidence?

Did this happen with any other encumbent directors?

[charliep]

I will let others comment.

The issue in my mind (as many in thread have highlighted/beat me on) is market choice - the ability to deal with any company a farmer wants including the CWB based on the merits of the services/value they offer. The drive should be to have individual discussions with neighbors (including the local coffee shop/elevator) and to encourage them to become engaged/actively gathering information, make a decision and vote.

There are so many other issues farmers should be paying attention to/have input into decision making: Agricultural Policy Framework (APF)generally, safety net proposals under the APF, crop insurance issues/future direction, licencing and bonding issues for brokers/grain companies, needs around agronomic issues to improve quality/quantity, achieving a better understanding of consumer needs, value adding opportunities, etc. The list is a long one.

The concerns have to be around vission for the future.

[charliep]

The CWB doesn't allow you to see past the hood of your truck let alone some vision into the future.

Sorry Charliep I'am trying to stay unemotional about the CWB but I run into a board supporter the other day and he was nearly totally out of control emotionally protecting his socialist marketing agency.

Alot of farmers in my area who support the board do not understand marketing at all. They depend on their elevator agent and the CWB to make their marketing decisions. The good business managers and the farmers who are producing most of the product in this area do know the benefits of marketing choice and relish the opertuntity to open market.

Most CWB supports don't relize that they missed a golden opertuntity to obtain a $1.00 to $2,00 a bushel more for their wheat this fall on the open market compared to what the CWB final payments will end for in Jan. 2004.

In my operation this means I will lose $20,000 or more, even in this bad year, dealing with the CWB.

Their so called premium could be a premium on any given days price but when it is put in the pool with alot of other so so sales over the year, it makes for a poor average that all good managers could beat all the time.

Supporters keep saying that the muti-nationals are out to break us farmers. I wish they would tell me then why the CWB deals with muti-nationals. If you stop and think about it, we wouldn't have anything in this world if it wasn
't for multi- national corportations.