Husky, What are we (and the CWB) going to do with them?

[chaffmeister]

Vader – before I do anything else I want to address the issue of personal attacks. I have reviewed what I have written – not just on this thread but others as well – because, believe it on not, I am very careful about what I write here and re-read things before I post because I don’t want to get personal. So I am very concerned when you think I have been. It seems the worst I have done is to call a couple of your ideas “dumb”. In my books, this does not mean I’m calling you dumb. If you indeed took this personally and took offence from this, please accept my sincere apologies.

If there is something else I’ve said here that you deem as personal, I’ve missed it.


As for asking who I “really represent”, I find the question curious. I’m not sure why that matters. If you can indicate why it matters, please do so. In the meantime, I will tell you I represent no one. (I’ve said it before – I don’t work for anyone in the ag business anymore – so don’t worry, I don’t have a vested interest in the demise of the CWB. Whether the CWB is there or not, will make no difference to me.)

I contribute here on Agri-ville as a way of contributing to an industry in which I have spent my whole career. I came up with the name Chaffmeister for a reason:

A couple of definitions of chaff – “trivial or worthless matter”; “material used to distract or confuse as a countermeasure”. (And of course, let’s not forget the connection to grain…)

And the definition for meister is “one with expertise”. (I know – it sounds a little arrogant, but I just like the word.)

Over the years, I have seen so much presented (in particular, but not exclusively, by the CWB) to distract and misrepresent. And for so long have been muzzled (by employers fearing retribution from the CWB). So now that I can, I’d just like to help producers cut through all the crap.

So Vader, I guess that’s who I represent – farmers.

[chaffmeister]

wmoebis:

You asked a question a while ago that deserves an answer.

You asked if AU had an arrangement with Husky, isn't that the same as a single desk without pooling?

The way I see it is when Husky comes on the scene, you will have one new consumer of wheat - one new buyer. If Husky has AU do its origination, then you still only have one new buyer - one new competitor for your wheat.

I assume Husky was looking for someone to provide a steady stream of wheat, take care of the logistics, quality assessment and adjustments, perhaps even blending, hedging, etc. Husky does not have that expertise as they've never been in the wheat business before and it would be a mistake for them to assume they could do it in-house.

For its part, for its service to Husky, AU will make money. But in the end, the price to producers will need to be competitive with other buyers of similar grain.

[cheapskidoo]

Chaffmeister, I think you are bang on the money! Biodiesel and ethanol will not cure the farm crisis overnight, but in an open market the law of supply and demand should prevail. If these plants are taking canola and wheat off the market it should support the upward movement of prices. Look at canola right now, biodiesel in Europe has made all the differnce in the price of canola going up, the same goes with corn in the U.S.A. 30 new ethanol plants are being built right now in the U.S as well as the largest Biodiesel plant which will consume 50 million bushels of Soyabeans annually. The only one benefiting from the Board is the grain companies because they get paid the big bucks from the board. The grain companies make the money by putting thru the tonnes so saying that AU is a single desk seller is ridiculous, they want to handle the TONNES. AU does not set the price for the feed wheat, the market does. I am not sure how the board comes up with their prices, but it is definately not the market. Feed wheat and feed barley are both lower through the board, that is all I have to say. Hats off to the guys that can see the light.

[TOM4CWB]

Vader;

I would like you to answer this question.

After what Minister Strahl said to us yesterday, would you agree that it is "not on" for the CWB to impose the "single desk" upon the domestic ethanol industry supply chain in the "designated area" of Canada?