Flax again, again and again

[wmoebis]

Tom can you/will you, name the minority of seed growers that had something to do with this problem? Or does CSGA or the flax council know?

This way we as commercial producers will know who NOT to deal with. Thereby possably moving some of those thousands of bushels of yours.

By the way we still haven't heard from anyone who has had flax that tested positive. Could it be just one grower?

[oneoff]

Maybe some of the answers have been dug up by "parsleys" sleuthing. Its pretty hard to argue with quotes from the Court of Queen's Bench. Please use links in "parsleys" "Why IP..... thread" or go staight to the "Law Society of Sask" website and read the facts of every Sask court case as accepted by the presiding judge. I've quoted from parsley who links to the full text



"IN THE MATTER OF THE BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY ACT


R.S.C. 1985, c. B.-3 AS AMENDED
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE PROPOSAL
OF FARMPURE SEEDS INC.
[1] FarmPure Seeds Inc. (“FarmPure”) applies for an order approving debtor in possession (“DIP”) financing pertaining to its proposal proceedings under Part III - Division I of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (the “BIA”). The entity agreeable to providing the DIP financing is Pickseed Canada Inc. (“Pickseed”), the purchaser of all the shares owned by FarmPure Inc., FarmPure’s parent company. The share purchase agreement is conditional upon Farm Credit Canada (“FCC”) and Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) compromising FarmPure’s indebtedness to them, and upon the acceptance of the proposal under the BIA by the unsecured creditors with corresponding court approval. Furthermore, the agreement is conditional upon court approval of Pickseed granting FarmPure interim financing.


[2] This somewhat convoluted transaction arises from the following. FarmPure’s core operation is acquiring specific seed varieties under licence from seed development agencies such as Agriculture and Food Canada and the Crop Development Centre of the University of Saskatchewan. It propagates seed under federal inspection, distributes seed and collects levies on certified seed. Approximately 200 growers produce certified seed under contract with FarmPure." end of quote

So 200 seed growers were in business with FarmPure (that came about from a whole line of other companies that controlled the CDC Triffid variety of flax. Have I got that right?

[haveapulse]

This story is much much bigger than the flax market; and may very well be the tipping point for drastic changes in Canadian agriculture. We can only hope!

The thirteenth man in the field is in our field, who put him out there is a billion dollar question in a game that potentially can get replayed for years with the potential scenario that bad sequel have. Therefore, getting the thirteenth man off of our field is not quite as simple as a game clock ending. Getting him off the field, and stopping this clock as quickly as possible in this horrible game we are caught in is essential to restore confidence in our customer: the world grain buyer.

The adage: "Time is money" applies here, and in my opinion better in one year than two or ten.

Therefore,purging the system of Triffid, fast and in the most precise manner we can is our best route to restore the confidence of our customer.


Certified seed is the quickest route to that source. While it may cost a few extra dollars it is essential fee to be paid to isolate that thirteenth man on our flax fields today.

As for long term policy to insure Canadas reputation as credible global suppliers, the tipping point will be in our response to this challenge: the world buys commodities from the best and generally the cheapest supplier, they are not a customer of ours, we are a customer of theres'.

[oneoff]

Good points haveapulse. If it would only take one year to restore this situation; and if there were adequate certified seed supplies; and if this opportunity of limited pedigreed seed were made available at something near actual costs; and if Triffid like problems don't become regular occurances; and if there are real buyer issues (and not some real hidden agenda) then your suggestion certainly should be looked at.
Otherwise we need to look at additional solutions. Given a chance to become involved; farmers could come up with viable solutions. Its just that bigger players will never allow that to happen; and as you know farmers have had a history of not being able to muster a unified front.
Some day that will change. My prediction is that when those left quit competing with their peers for an opportunity to sell at a lower price; then there will be a basis for some market control.
In the meantime; surely we can rally around a specific instance (that everyone should knows will happen again soon) .

[oneoff]

Good points haveapulse. If it would only take one year to restore this situation; and if there were adequate certified seed supplies; and if this opportunity of limited pedigreed seed were made available at something near actual costs; and if Triffid like problems don't become regular occurances; and if there are real buyer issues (and not some real hidden agenda) then your suggestion certainly should be looked at.
Otherwise we need to look at additional solutions. Given a chance to become involved; farmers could come up with viable solutions. Its just that bigger players will never allow that to happen; and as you know farmers have had a history of not being able to muster a unified front.
Some day that will change. My prediction is that when those left quit competing with their peers for an opportunity to sell at a lower price; then there will be a basis for some market control.
In the meantime; surely we can rally around a specific instance (that everyone should knows will happen again soon) .

[checking]

"Certified seed is the quickest route to that source."

Bullshit.

You are not listening to what commercial farmers are telling you. Your championed certified seed group has accepted no responsibility for this mess, but insist on being rewarded this year, next year, and likely forever.

The analogy is, simply because it snowed a foot and the ground now looks pure white, doesn't mean there isn't dirt below. Substitute for snow, registered seed growers who failed to turn in their triffid seed for crushing.

They have no credibility. We need to know who they were.

[tipsy]

Tom4cwb when you say, "by far the majority of seed growers had nothing to do with this" that's probably right and I can except that. I think there is lots of blame to go around. Flax council of Canada,provincial flax groups can shoulder some blame if growing Triffid was going to be such a damming issue it should have been better publicized, do not do. Heck let's even throw some blame DuPont's way,they must have known some of their product was going on flax acres,for which there would be no registration. Lets even blame the cwb maybe some of the growers of Triffid want to grow wheat but don't want to go thru the board,so they protest by not growing wheat. But lets face facts,this problem,(and I really question whether it's a ligament concern)wasn't started by a few give away pouches of Triffid at a farm show. In my opinion and limited knowledge one only has to look back when Triffid was put up for public release and see who pick-up the seed for seed multiplication. Do they continue to grow Triffid I don't know. But what I do know is that when there is a problem in the grain industry its always the producer that pays and right now thats me and I don't like the cost,inconvence and bad taste thats been left in my mouth!!!

[parsley]

You are correct oneoff. The full line that began with Fampure. Inc. as the mother had a lot of offshoots created and registered. All used the FarmPure trademark.

Farmpure Seeds Inc.
Farmpure Beverages Inc.
Farmpure Financial Inc.
Farmpure Foods Inc.
Farmpure Global Inc.
There may be some I am not even aware of

FarmPure Genetics Inc. was then established as a holding company and Farmpure Inc., as they say these days, passed i 2009".

FarmPure Genetics Inc. then changed its' name to FP Gentics Inc., the current 2010 model I guess you'd call it, and which I haven't googled yet. Perhaps you would do that and save me time?. And see what you find connected to FP Gentics Inc. ? Thanks

Instead I looked at the issue of rights and responsibilities of property rights.
<p></p>
<p class="EC_style8ptBK"><strong><a href="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/01/biotech-companies-own-property-rights.html">(Property Rights)</a></strong></p>

checking, you will have some good experience concerning property rights with all the lines running across your farm. Could some apply to biotech issues? Pars

[haveapulse]

To the best of my knowledge CDC Bethune and CDC Sorrel has tested clean through to breeder seed, these are SECAN varieties.


As noted in the comments of Parsley the Farm Pure group is now FP Genetics they and the varieties they list can be found in your seed guide, just by checking.

[haveapulse]

But, the thirteeth man on the field indeed could be very simply the seed that did got away at the breeder level. One vagrant seed in a small bag of breeder seed multiplied. The cost of playing with the forbidden fruit theory.

No evil plot, no evil group, simply human error; just that darn 13th man on the field again..

Perhaps?

What ever the reason we need to purge the industry, and begin with as clean a slate we can muster is as quick a time as we can.