Barley Plebescite Deadline - Midnight, March 13

[charliep]

Interesting comment from Adrian Measner. Remember a comment from Adrian in Western Producer that the CWB could survive in an open barley market. Never could find it in going back over old issues WP so maybe my faulty memory.

I note the CWB has signed 2007/08 contracts with maltsters at what are likely to be some pretty high prices. The CWB can take these contracts forward and offer to farmers in the potential new world. I suspect there is a one year period where the CWB can be very competitive with the open market provided they are creative. The second year will be more of a challenge.

[Burbert]

Hey Guys, What the heck kind of plan do you think that the Alberta Gov't has in place for barley marketing, other than, lets just turn it over to the international grain merchants, the private sector, haul South to the US. Other than trashing the CWB or Ottawa, for that matter, Alberta, has NO PLAN in place for anything. Look at the McMurray fiasco, that has unfolded, look at energy prices province wide, look at medical premiums, look at our crumbling roads and towns, look at the potholes in the capital city, look at how badly the Oilers are playing. Look at the Heritage Trust Fund, Oh I forgot thats a secret, we don't know how its doing, TRUST us, it's invested in the market. No environmental policy, fresh water drying up, pollution on the rise. Forgot about the SPECIAL PLACES, glad I don't live in/near one. The only thing that has been a slight success is the privatizing of Govt Liquor stores, the prices have gone up, but there is now lots of market choice, lots of different brands. What happened to the bullet train from Nisku to Fort Mac, talk about stupid. The last I heard is now there is talk of barging heavy loads down the Northern river system, upstream to Fort Mac, since the railway won't handle the giant oilsands projects. Hell it has been suggested that the barges could back haul grain to Asia, after they off load the equipment. Anybody out there got a 13" auger they aren't using? How's that for a future farming plan?

[winwin]

Burbert;look at this while I lean over.How are my hemeroids doing?

[winwin]

Parsley,Charlie,etc you cannot really expect us to have a PLAN to compete for grain in a free market!

We cannnot command and control without a monopoly.That is our real job.Not to 'serve'the peasantry.

Besides,to formulate a plan for barley would be an admission that it would work.That would actually pave the way for it to happen.Next,it would start everybody thinking it might work for wheat,too.

Our motto here at the CWB is"don't go there girlfriend".

Central Planning means that we have the power to plan everybody else's affairs.We are totally incompetent,comrade,to run our own business.

[charliep]

Burbent

Alberta is a net importer of feed grains and this will not change in an open market. All that is being asked is to provide true market signals about export sales opportunities and the ability for farmers to deal directly with our local maltsters at a price that reflects the sale value of the product which is being delivered. If you choose to use the CWB as your business partner and to pool your payments with others, great. Don't ask all your neighbors to do exactly as you do or force them to use the CWB.

Morning after the deadline. Now the waiting begins.

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

Only 14 sleeps!

We can now start a rational planning process to put together a working alternative to the CWB "single desk". Take the best intrinsic value that can be created through cooperative marketing... and cross this with reliable modern technology to facilitate "designated area" grain growers marketing needs for altenatives that drive value into the grain farmers hands.

The status quo "single desk" system is backwards.

The marketing signal is the PRO. The only mechanism to lower production is to lower the PRO. This then indicates to our customers that we will sell for LESS. A Counter productive marketing system if there ever was one... except if you are the consumer or end user of grain products!

[Burbert]

winwin, So let me get this straight, you are farming, without a PLAN. Maybe, now it's just a suggestion, rub some prep h on your lips, then take a moment and think about the future. What a mor@#$%^%$#@@n you must be a tru blu conservative. No plan, man, get a plan, even you'll do better!

[Burbert]

charliep, So dealing with maltsters was the issue in this pleb. Correct me if I am wrong, but we already had the ability to deal with the malteys, as of about 2 - 3 years ago, get a special deal, some free trucking, etc. The only thing was that none of them were prepared to deal with use upcountry boys. Oh well to bad, so sad, it's, all about location, location and location, now wait that it a real estate slogan. No its an Alberta AFSC slogan, subdivide, your farm, sell some, then you can make your payments on the farm, during bad years. Alberta Ag is one sorry dept these days, cuddled up to the Angribusiness sector, all because of the free meal factor the chemical companies provide. You know, we can all be bought, but not that cheap. REMINDER this is a non-binding barley plebescite. Agrisnore did their bit, posting a phoney/baloney barley price, getteing the peons excited that was truly price discovery.

[TOM4CWB]

Burbert,

The CWB is planning your future for you.

Do you understand what that plan is, and where they are to take your farm in 5 years... 10?

[charliep]

Will only comment you should read the Western Producer more carefully. The CWB provides them the same international feed barley prices that are used in the Agricore United information. I might also note that the Agricore United prices are only available on their customer website so I assume you deal with them/have access to the website or are still talking about the information provided in January. I will also note Agricore United has a strong relationship with a Japanese feed barley buyer so they are very likely to know where business would be completed. Other than that, neither one of us have a clue about where Japanese feed barley business would be done today. The Japanese do buy 25,000 of feed barley every week by the way.

Will let the rest of your comments speak for themselves. My smile is base on being the end of the day and knowing I am going out for supper with a friend.