Not a April joke, Canola CWB

[Southpaw]

I see today the Manitoba Canola Growers Association has put out a news release. It says that they are actively surveying canola producers across Western Canada to see if farmers would commit tonnes of canola to the CWB. This is a very sad turn of events. I hope every canola farmer in Manitoba that values an open market with the choice of where and when to sell his crop will be asking for their check-off back.

[hlg]

As long as it`s dual market and stays that way, where`s the problem?

[wakopa]

i answered there survey and asked if they were total idiots

[Fransisco]

As soon as we get a dual market in wheat and barley we can start talking about the Board playing with canola. But not before.

[FarmRanger]

One thing it would accomplish, either the Board
would actually compete, using the infrasture they
have access to now, or they would be exposed
as the poor marketer they are. As long as we
have the choice NOT to sell to them.

[fjlip]

All choice is good. We need more not less competition. If CWB can do canola, farmers must get open market wheat and malt barley. Who ever pays the most for our products wins.

As a side note heard yesterday from Prairie Malt Supply Chain manager, Chantelle Donahue, that there are only 4 maltsters in Canada. Not good.

[FarmRanger]

I sincerely doubt the board would market canola
without legislation guaranteeing them a single
desk.  It's a loser for them otherwise, no matter
what happens.  

Without the single desk, their ability to offer
competitive pricing is completely transparent.  
Unlike wheat, you won't have to make
calculations back to the local market from the
international market. You'll be able to directly
compare their price to the competition.  

If the CWB canola pricing is competitive without a
single desk in canola, the question will be, Why
do they need a single desk to compete for
wheat? 

If CWB canola price is lower (the more likely
scenario in my opinion) with their access to all
the current infrastructure, their ability to extract
any kind of a premium for wheat would also have
to be questioned.

Like I said, without being able to obscure the
price relative to the open market, it's a lose - lose
for them; don't expect anything to come out of
this.  

[Southpaw]

I see nothing wrong with this proposal as long as the CWB will allow me to market my wheat to whomever I wish. On the other hand, if this works with the CWB buying canola, then why should not the same choice of marketing be given to Wheat and Barley???

[highwayman]

Will never work unless there is complete transparency in all cwb crops to ensure there is no hidden cross subsidizing of one pool to another in order to fudge the net result so canola would look better then it really is. First step, VOLONTARY CWB.

[wd9]

Maybe FarmRanger can fill in some more but it seems last time Butch and crew tried this the CWB didn't even want to do it. CWB asked for a business plan on this and MCGA didn't have one.

For the big question, is putting canola on the CWB in the policy and strategic plan of MCGA or is it rogue board members. It has to be one or the other.