combine to customer program

[dirtgirl]

I attended C to C last year and was impressed with the program. I learned lots about the grain industry and met some great farmers, but be prepared for a certain amount of propaganda! The socializing was definitely a highlight.

[railway]

How can you expect to affect change by attending this program? are any decision makers there to listen to you? board members, executives?

I have been invited in the past, but have been so frustrated with board performance I couldn't bring myself to go. I agree the major focus of the program is to brainwash farmers and tell us how difficult and complicated their job is to make us believe we need them.

[jamesb]

Railway,
As a farm manager I learned alot about CIGI and other non wheat board things that made my time there worthwhile.

[bucket]

jamesb

Are you a farm manager as an employee or as an owner? What did you learn specifically about non board issues?

[TOM4CWB]

Bucket,

I learnt how the CGC system works, what is involved in grading and appeals, quality control work, how the grain trade makes money... and how to reduce risk in the trade.

This 'window' on the world of our 'partners' helps me better understand the risks and benefits handlers can share with our family and farm... and what is 'reasonable' to expect them to offer.

Knowing the business is much better that guessing and being wrong... calling wolf does not work... calling the bluff usually works better!

Then it is very good to know when folks are actually bluffing!

[jamesb]

bucket,
I'm owner of our farm along with the rest of my family. I refer to myself as a farm manager vs farmer because I think that accuratly describes what I do. As time goes on I find I spend more time in the office , outside of the growing season because I had been able to atract good farm help and I found the financial rewards in the office to be better than working in the shop . Reading the right article, talking the the right person, or going to the right meeting has many many times rewarded me greatly in the future although sometimes at the time I didnt know it. A marketing year like this tells me I have to stay on the ball as margins have shrunk and a mistep can cost me profit.
As far as combine to customer, I would second Toms comment plus the better understanding I got regarding quality issues of the grain I grow, and the discussion and interaction with other farmers all over the west. I find it is refreshing to talk to farmers outside of my local area at meetings like this as the thinking is sometimes different and it broadens my horizons.

[bucket]

I agree about the value of our quality grain and its importance to the world market.

BUT don't you think it should be worth more?

We pay for all the fine work cigi does and yet, at the end of the day we get nothing more for our grain. The cwb has our high quality grain being sold against black sea values, in a year when there is a shortage of high quality, protein, and gluten wheat. They are giving it away to the very customers they trained on how to make better bread using our wheat.

I was impressed with what I learned at the c to c conference but, quite frankly western canadian farmers are making no premium from providing that service. Its a feel good thing. And a costly one at that.

The buyers are grateful for the research done to make our wheat mill better blended with shitty grain from all over but the long and short of it is - they buy as cheap as they can and laugh about the Canadian service commitment they get for free.

[jamesb]

bucket,
I sure won't disagree with you regarding the performance of the CWB. I think its importantant to keep things like CIGI separate and not lump them in with the CWB. CIGI would have a place even if the CWB is gone. Other countries have similar organizations. It's a cost of doing business.

[parsley]

"Its a feel good thing."

Dead on.

Walmart doesn't sponsor an annual "How to Stock a Store" exhibition for their shareholders and invite all their competitors to learn the tricks,.. gratis.., and then send the bill to the shareholders, do they now?

If you want to feel good, go work in a soup kitchen.

There are entire webpages on CGC grain grading and permit holders don't have to pay for your dinner while you're browsing. Pars

[jamesb]

FYI. the following is taken from web site of our compitition south of the border. The US Wheat Associates:

Technical Assistance. USW provides education and information that helps strengthen milling, storage and handling, and end-product industries in countries. In addition to sponsoring participation in technical courses, workshops and seminars, we help milling and baking schools stay current with necessary equipment and resources. We also provide personalized consulting in milling, baking, biscuit and cracker production, pasta and noodle production, and grain storage and handling.