Alberta Ag minister?

[cowman]

The western producer had an article on Groenveld(new Alberta Ag minister)? With their usual socialist slant they implied the guy was basically an idiot whose only claim to fame was he wanted to trash the Canadian Wheat board! They had a few choice quotes from NDP and Liberal politicians about what a poor choice he was...a Stelmach blunder?
Well sounds good to me! If the Liberals and Dippers think he is no good...the boy has possibilities!

[coppertop]

cowman, my impression of George, is that he is a quiet, thinker, not flashy and always wanting to be 'on stage' like Horner was. He has indicated that his first priority is to deal with the BSE issue.

[grassfarmer]

Oh good another one wanting to "trash the CWB." Proof if we ever needed it that the Alberta government will continue with it's policy of selling out it's producer's futures to transnational corporations. Just like Shirley, just like Horner - what a surprise. Well actually it doesn't surprise me, the fact that Stelmach is a farm boy didn't instill a lot of confidence in me regarding farm policy. Lets face it all these guys are career politicians not farmers/ranchers. I have always found ag producers interests to be better served by an inner city politician. They don't know anything but at least they come without the predjudices of the "farm boys" and usually lack the desire to be on Cargill's board when they retire. Comes from being more in contact with consumers rather than producers.

[coppertop]

I have no intention of forming my opinion of the Minister until I have given him a chance to do his job. As far as the Western Producer goes, I highly doubt that they speak for the average Albertan.

[cowman]

Whoa! Grassfarmer give old Ed a chance? Come on...he's a fifth generation farmer in this country....not a career politician? Hey, the guy even looks like a farmer!
You really should try to understand both sides of the story on some of these things? I really think your average Alberta farmer does not want the CWB single desk monopoly? Do you believe in any form of democracy? ...Or is it your way, or the highway? Do you believe Alberta farmers should have the right to market their grain however they see fit?....How about cattle?

[farmers_son]

Re market their livestock and grain however they see fit...

In another thread I tried to point out that farmers do not market their production, they sell it. The marketer is the packing plant or grain company. It is my impression that we tend to sell at a price that others see fit. Cash flow needs force us to be price takers.

Regarding dealing with the BSE issue...BSE is a national and international issue. I would think there is little a provincial ag minister can do to speed up that process unless our government is willing to turn off the tap and that does not seem to be the case.

Where our province could make a difference is to financially support our producers who continue to lose equity due to restsrictions on international trade. Allowing provincially inspected packers to sell interprovincially or even internationally would be a help.

[grassfarmer]

Cowman, "Do you believe in any form of democracy" I most certainly do - wasn't there a little vote recently that proved producers wanted to retain single desk selling?

[coppertop]

It seems to me that it is Chuck Strahl that you should be upset with grassfarmer, not George Groeneveld...

[coppertop]

grassfarmer, I try not to comment on some of the negative stuff on this site but your comment about career politicians deserves a response.
Ed Stelmach was in his third year of law school when his older brother was killed, Ed left university and went home to the farm with his young wife and family to farm alongside his father. He and Marie eventually bought the farm which was homesteaded by his grandfather in 1898.

Ed and Marie raised their family of four, also raised grain, cattle and hogs. They faced the same ups and downs of commodity prices and interest rates that most of us have. They both were very involved in their community, their church and after a time Ed was asked by his neighbours to run for the local county council. From there he was appointed as the county representative on the local hospital and school board. Now, if you think that a county councillor is a career politician, then you obviously haven't been one. Ed, as with most municipal councillors that farm, continued to run his farm, plant the crops, look after the animals etc.

One thing I am very sure of is that we finally have a Premier that understands the agricultural industry, and rural Alberta...I am disappointed that some folks seem to think that is a negative !!

[cowman]

Grassfarmer: Well in Alberta didn't they vote in the anti-CWB guy? In my CWB constituency(probably yours too?) we've had an Anti-CWB guy for several years? Do you think Alberta should be able to join Ontario, Quebec and BC outside the designated area? Do you think it is democratic to throw a farmer in jail for donating a bag of grain to a 4H club in Montana? Which is exactly what happened with my(our) CWB director, Jim Chatenay?
In the new year there is going to be a barley plebicite? Now I can't predict the vote but I am pretty sure Alberta farmers will vote overwhelmingly to end the single desk for barley? Not sure about Sask. or Manitoba? If Alberta farmers vote over 60% to end the barley monopoly would you support their democratic right to be excempt?

[stubblejumper]

If the vote ended up 63% in favour would you support it

[cowman]

Well no I wouldn't because I don't believe it is a "voteable subject"? It is a matter of "rights"?
But then it doesn't concern me as I don't grow any grain. My cousin crop share rents the 240 acres I still have in cultivation and he refuses to grow anything that he has to sell through the board. I agree totally with his attitude!
In this area barley and canola work really well and the barley all goes to either a hog barn or feedlot. He's often grown Metcalfe or Copeland and they recieve a good market as feed.
I suppose if possible he would grow canola every year, but likes to keep a rotation? Grew CPS wheat one year that went to a local hog barn.
I guess he votes with his seed drill!

[cakadu]

And therein lies our greatest problem in ag production. We continue to grow what we cannot sell for any kind of profit and wonder why we can't get ahead. We want to be the lowest cost producer, which relegates us to being price-takers, not price setters.

For the record, I support producers having a choice on where and how to market what they produce. Notice I said market, which is much different and more difficult than just selling it.

[cowman]

Well Linda, glad you have joined us old rightwingers! I think it is important that we all as human beings stand up and demand our rights not to be involved in the "collective" way of thinking?
If I want to be involved in some "grand design"...then that is my right... and if I don't...then that is my right? I find it toatally unacceptable that I have to give up my rights for the good of the "collective"?
Quite frankly, TO HELL WITH THE COLLECTIVE! They can sink or die on their own dime!
Don't want anything from them, don't want to be involved with them, don't want to be forced to knuckle under them, don't want my taxes going to them!

[grassfarmer]

But Cowman you are happy to give up your rights to a right wing almost fascist collective known as Corporate America. Different name, different politics - same result.
What do you think of the group described in a recent Grainnews article, I think it was NorthWest Cattlemans Alliance? Members paid to join the group and market their fat cattle collectively ensuring that they could force the hand of the packers and return extra money to producers pockets. They quoted their cattle that week as having sold into the US at 87c/lb versus the 82c/lb they would have got in the captive supply market of Alberta.
My prediction is if the short term thinkers have their way and get rid of the Wheat board they will be back with their tail between their legs wanting protection from their supposed free market friends the mega-corporations. It's happened before and it will happen again. In unity their is strength - always.