CWB slow to pay...farmers and CEO

[Burbert]

I think that everyone at the CWB should work for FREE, after all, apparently they do such a lousy job, according to the guys on Commodity Marketing. The only ones that deserve good pay are us hard working farmers, who will take over marketing our grain and make billions, then we can get bigger and bigger, until we become Brazilian land barons. Yeah we are all experts, never make mistakes and never will, when it comes to selling our product,worldwide. We know what is going on out there, after all we have access to the misinformation highway on our home PC's. Guess everyone is a lot brighter than little old me!

[cowman]

Burbert: I suspect the "third option" will get a good reception from producers? Where you have the option to either market your barley/wheat through the board or go on your own?
I suspect the CWB has some very competent people working for it who know quite a bit about marketing grain! I also suspect they will be able to function quite well in a dual market...despite all the rhetoric about how they won't be able to?
What really bugs me about this whole debate is how the "far side" on both pro and con, try to frighten everyone into taking their sides?
So we get a Ken Ritter saying vote for the single desk...or that is the end of the board! And on the other side we get this "your stealing my grain" and we need to completely dismantle the board? No compromise...its my way or the highway! And then to top it off certain people try to portray it as a "peasants versus the entrepreneur" or "old backwards farmer versus progressive young farmer"?
I find it particularily foolish when some anti-board farmers suggest they should have a greater say because they grow more grain? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! They come across as autocrats! They chase more votes into the single desk camp everytime they open their mouths?

[ivbinconned]

Cowman...the Americans will not be seeing those ads. They are for the "Canadian" broadcast of the game. Don't forget the CRTC...our great kanadian protector that governs every thing we see and hear stears the proletariat mind...keeping them obediant, insecure and humble.

Did you first hear of the Quebec ag subsidies here on this site...or in the "Western Seducer"??

I have survived these past 15 years NOT growing CWB grain!! Do I get to vote?

I rest my case.

[cowman]

Ivebinconned: Thank you for that info. I did not know that it would be only advertized in Canada?
In regards to your situation of not growing any CWB grains: Neither have I or neither has my father. However the option should be available for both of us? If the malsters would be willing to pay a decent upfront price(or the milling co.)...without the necessity of going through the CWB...then I would sure be willing to look at it? I really don't care who buys it...just if their money is good, in my pocket, and I can deliver it?...Pretty simple isn't it?

[ivbinconned]

I agree. The CWB has been giving sweet heart deals to Canadian Maltsters for decades. Often selling my malt to Canada Malt Corp for a third the U.S. price.

Now am I supposed to be comforted knowing that I am beeing screwed by a "Canadian" corporation as opposed to an American one?? All the while being assisted by my (what a joke) CWB!!

[Burbert]

They say that the only constant in life is change itself. I for one, hate the changes that have occurred on the farm during the past few years. SLOW DOWN boys and smell the roses, once in a while. We all have a right to exist and make a decent living. We all don't aspire to be billionaire land barons...

[cropduster]

Yes I agree Burpit,but to slow down to the 1950`s is unacceptable for the rest of us.You can do what YOU want.You have NO right to dictate that to others!

[cowman]

Burburt: Unfortunately it is pretty hard to slow down and smell the roses? If you want to stay farming...in any sort of way?
Inputs just keep going up and no way has any commodity kept pace? I could cite you barley prices or cattle prices, I could cite you fuel costs or machinery costs, or taxes,or utilities or a million other things?
In 1988, when I took over the farm, I probably could have looked forward to a fairly comfortable existance. Soon afterwards, I "diversified"...not into more agriculture, but the oil patch? Greedy thing that I was, I saw a real potential to make a better living for my family while still retaining the farm. I've never regretted that decision.
Today my son,my spouse, daughter in law, grandson and soon a new edition
are able to live here and make a very decent living. I don't think that would be possible if dear old Dad(me) hadn't decided he wanted more out of life?
I don't quite get this "CWB debate"? Mr. Strahl has clearly stated the CWB isn't going anywhere? You will still be able to market your grain through the CWB?
Will they have to do a better job and be more accountable? Well...yes they will! But that is a good thing?

[Burbert]

Cowman, I took over the family farm too. I have seen and supported most of the changes that have occurred at the CWB. I do not and have not supported many of the changes withing the grain farming industry. In other words, railways and grain companies are not on my list of friends. In fact I hate what they have done and the way the industry has changed. I believe that they are behind the current effort, to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Divide and conquer, the market will set the price for commodities. We will have price discovery at last, but it will be the lowest price that will prevail.

[FarmRanger]

"We will have price discovery at last, but it will be the lowest price that will prevail."

As opposed to what we have now - lower than market prices and no accountability?