Co ops

[bucket]

Went to a public coop meeting last night .....there were more board and employees than other members....

Matter of fact.... I was the only person there that could ask a question because they were either board or employee.


What are others seeing....

I am thinking another consolidation of coops when members are not interested ....especially when the price of gas and diesel is where it is...

Pure ripoff and members don't care.

[shtferbrains]

Consolidation of Coops, Health, School divisions, RM's, etc, means all the highest paying and office jobs move on to the bigger centers leaving less money in the pot for the locals to profit from.

Soon a few marginal businesses are shutting down for lack of profits and the snowball keeps rolling down hill.

We watch too many of those higher paying jobs leave due to supposed efficiencies only to end up with a bunch of underutilized infrastructure.

Grant Devine saw that and moved some of those Ag supported jobs back to the rural areas.

Socialist centralize everthing as the "one big plant" is more efficient.

Sask Party has been buying in on that.

Next time your MLA comes backslapping and glad handing rip him a new asshole.

[Hopalong]

Fifty years ago, who’da thunk that co-operatives would be reduced to present status?
Federated about the only one left with any momentum.
In spite of all the complaining about exploitation of farmers, we still support private enterprise and big business. Maybe proves that most complaining is just that.

[bucket]

I left the meeting the other night thinking about getting a new fuel supplier to the farm.

Federated and the local pulled the bulk plant out and now they drive over an hour to get their fuel delivery trucks filled.

Added a pup to the one tridem......good for federated not so good for the local ....tires fuel and labour wasting time empty for refill.

For 3.5 percent back on equity?

Federated is making a killing with discounted western canadian oil and heavy oil....

Owned by members and the members are getting ****ed.

[blackpowder]

I've often wondered how CHS does it?

[helmsdale]

I left the meeting the other night thinking about getting a new fuel supplier to the farm.

Federated and the local pulled the bulk plant out and now they drive over an hour to get their fuel delivery trucks filled.

Added a pup to the one tridem......good for federated not so good for the local ....tires fuel and labour wasting time empty for refill.

For 3.5 percent back on equity?

Federated is making a killing with discounted western canadian oil and heavy oil....

Owned by members and the members are getting ****ed.

Medicine Hat merged with South Country... we used to have some of the most competitively priced fuel anywhere in western canada. That's gone.

Used to have a max retained equity of $1500, now its $35,000. Which means they can go on an absolute spending spree renovating offices, building tank farms, new fully paved cardlocks, and crop input facilities.

Equity payout rates used to be very enviable. Near 10% on fuel, 15+% on oil and filters. Now 5% on fuel of which you only get half until your equity is maxed at $35,000, and whos to say they won't adjust that upward going forward. 3 or less % on crop inputs that they charge too damned much for in the first place, and near 0% on fertilizer.

My crop inputs and fuel are now being bought elsewhere. I refuse to pay too damned much in the first place to get a pittance back 12+ months later...

Medicine Hat coop used to run a pretty lean and competitive business. Now they're no different than everyone else after the merger. Expensive facelifts and purchases of properties. An expansive number of employees. And they've ran any employee with an ounce of ambition out the door.

Until I see a change my $ will be going elsewhere. Christ even UFA is beating them on fuel prices! Used to be 3-5 cents under UFA always.

[WiltonRanch]

Local coop has cut their own throat numerous times. Pretty much was broke because of poor management and really bad ventures. If it wasn’t for healthy sales of fuel and propane for the oilfield, and a good grocery store, as well as federated footing the bill for all their fuel stations, they’d be long gone. Latest blunder they renovated the agro but forgot to put back half the inventory and knowledgeable staff. Business has fallen 80%. I had shifted a lot of my business to them because they seemed to want mine but after threatening to close my local fertilizer plant (later changed their mind), letting go anyone who knew anything and hiring low paid unknowledgable instead; I’ll probably move on as I feel they don’t give a shit. I’m not the only one neither.

[farmaholic]

Federated Co-op....

A bloated bureaucracy with all its "franchise" stores.