The wheat war in Italy.

[Klause]

Italy has country of origin labeling for wheat and durum...


However they don't produce enough of their own to fill their needs... About a 3-4mmt shortfall... Which is why there's now a fight going on between the wheat producers and pasta producers.


Durum brings about 19euro/cwt... Or about $8.20/but CAD.


There's also the fact that the law in Italy requires a wheat feedstock of 10.5% protein for pasta as a minimum... Something they can't always achieve... And why they import higher protein durum from here.


While this fight is going on... the producers in Italy are launching another hinderance to Canadian imports... And that's pre harvest glyphosate use, asking their legistlation to ban the importation of any wheat produced with the practice.

They are also pushing for a EU wide ban on pre harvested grains.

[oldjim]

The pre-harvest glyphosate thing is going to bite us in the ass big time. You can argue science and logic 'til you're blue in the face but at the end of the day, if the consumer doesn't buy it, we can't sell it. Even though "free trade" opens a lot of doors for our exports there's always going to be non-tariff barriers such as thrown up by Italy and India lately.

[ajl]

Trouble is the season ain't long enough in Canada to straight cut vast acreages of durum before the winter snow flies especially now with global cooling. They will just get more from the US or black sea.

[Daylate]

agreed. can't push it down their throat. another separate silo at terminal and port. but better than nothing. we grow over a third durum well north of traditional durum acres. spray less than 20% of acres in any year. easily doable. fact is Italy had grwatvquality this year and are telling us what they want with confidence. chances are they will be back next year but let's work towards what they want.

[bgmb]

Bottom line, when grain is a bit scarce it will flow freely and easily. When there is extra grain BS like the India and Italy situations start to happen. Definitely goes in cycles, and when farming is down for a few years it might be a good time to look at expanding. I think over the long haul we will more demand for grains.

[ajl]

There will be higher demand for grain in the future, just not from consumer with any purchasing power left.

[TASFarms]

I think you guys are missing what Klause is saying. The demand is being met by other countries. Not us.

[Daylate]

exactly TASFarms. all these knee jerk reactions from our government go nowhere. we need to steer the ship earlier on every forefront. this head in the sand trick is getting old.

[bucket]

Yup ...gotta feed 10 billion people....

The problem is people like Trudeau like to write cheques to dictators who like to buy their armies food and guns ...not food for their starving people....

And since Canada can't be associated with the nonsense those dictators buy grain from their other buddies ....hint ...the guys currently kicking our ass in exports....

So Trudeau indirectly is funding our competition ....

Keep writing the cheques Trudeau. ...never seen a cheque eaten by a starving person....

Short answer ....Trudeau could take the billions he's spent all over the world acting like a moron ....paid Canadian farmers a fair price.... kept the money at home and sent grain all over the world....he might need the UN armies to distribute it to the starving people but that's their job....

I think the US has a food aid program ...PL480....since 1955.