Made in Canada Trade Retaliation and the CWB

[Deb]

Kernel, since when is co-operation, mutual support and looking out for one another, communism? The CWB provides a buffer in hard times and ensures a top-notch product. Part of western Canada's good reputation for its wheat is thanks to the CWB. Alone, a farmer selling wheat would be like a sheep separated from its flock in coyote country. There is safety in numbers and community and togetherness. That's not socialism, that's having a social conscience. Peace.

[bmj182]

I would have to say that the reason
Canada has such a high quality
product is because of the farmers
that grow it! The grain commision is
the agency responsible for
regulating quality. Why does
everyone think that if the CWB were
to disappear we would have
anarchy? Pulse and oilseed crops
get sold and marketed just fine
without the CWB. Coyotes and
sheep? Give me a break, if the CWB
was gone the only difference would
be that you would get paid when you
should, you'd have to do the risk
management yourself, and you
wouldn't be forced into paying for a
bloated government beauracracy.

[flatbroke]

bmj, I take exeption to "the only difference..." The difference would be that we'd no longer have one crop we could count on delivering part of in the fall when bills are due without getting bent over the barrel by the traders! It seems to me the split in this debate is less by farm size, and more by who has the larger bank accounts and grain in storage from the last several years waiting for such a year as this to cash in. Most of us cannot afford that luxury, which it seems was reflected in the recent CWB elections. Unfortunately, most Canadians have been content with the liberals in power, and most Tory delegates content with Joe Clark at the helm. I, however, am not. That leaves me with 2 choices as I see it; #1 - Deal with it as best I can until most others agree with me, or #2 - Leave the country. I don't cry foul because things aren't just the way I like them to be. I don't break the law to try to get my way. I don't launch court proceedings to overthrow the government. (although it does sound appealing) I'm sure the day is close at hand when a majority will wish the CWB dismantled. I'd like to think I will accept defeat graciously and not throw a very public tantrum. Meanwhile, however, you can grow and market a multitude of other crops, and I as a wheat producer can do just that - PRODUCE! and leave the marketing to the srecialists. Merry x-mas!

[bmj182]

flatbroke,
You quite obviously have a poor
understanding of the way the grain
trade is regulated in this country.
The Canadian Grain Commission is
the agency responsible for
regulating grain quality, varieties,
handling rates. The CWB does
nothing other then sell the grain.
"delivering part of in the fall" tells the
whole story! with anything else I
decide when and how much I sell. I
have waited 3 years for some of my
grain to be sold through the CWB in
the past it is ridiculous!
I like how you assume I have a large
bank account. It is quite flattering! In
reality I've been farming 5 years and
am in debt well over my head!
Whether or not someone is
successful should not be a factor in
such a discussion. Your comments
smack of jealousy and bitterness
because other people are better off
than you.
On your last point, why should an
election be held to get rid of the CWB
when a vote was not required to
impose it?
If selling by "board" were the best
way to go where is the COB
Canadian Oil Board? The Canadian
Tire Board? The Canadian Beef
Board? The Canadian Christmas
Tree Board?
No other industry lives under this
same situation. Are you suggesting
farmers as a group are stupid and
not able to manage their own
affairs? As long as we as a group
act as children are government will
treat us that way.
Once again the agency that should
be defended is the Canadian Grain
Commision, it is the one that
protects farmers from other
interests, not the CWB.

[flatbroke]

bmj; First - ...ever heard of "OPEC"?
Second - "jealosy and bitterness because others are better off..."? Did I say this? Truth be told, I'm probably better off than most, I just don't care to emphasise the fact. By "most of us" I was referring to us as a group of farmers, of any type.
I don't recall, either, the vote to form the CGC, ABC, WCWG, or for that matter, the Ab. cattle commission, all of which with the exception of the first I'd love to see gone. However I don't lose sleep over it. The only point I was making was that in almost any other commodity you can excercise your marketing genius to your heart's content, why must EVERY commodity be treated the same? ...also, Dairy and poultry farms seem to do consistently well... Hmmm... must be some underground "free" market at work there. ;-)

[flatbroke]

Flatbroke: The dairy and poultry boards works on a cost of production calulation. The CWB works on a headlock or a bentover full nelson hold to gain compliance.

[flatbroke]

Are you suggesting you're under the delusion that the dairy and poultry boards are voluntary?

[dnach]

The point is not what is volentary, it was about gaurenteed a cost of production, something the cwb could care less about. Having market choice for grains and oilseeds is esential, most farms in Western Canada make money on non-board grains, oilseeds and special crops not cwb wheat. If it were not for these other non boad commodities most farms would not exist.