Quality counts
Some people just don’t get it.
After many farmers have lost thousands of dollars selling to grain dealers and brokers and never got their money, some are suggesting that the bonding dealers are supposed to have been terminated because it’s too expensive and would result in more dealers to sell to.
They better talk to the ones that have lost money. The next thing they might be pushing is the elimination of the Canadian Grain Commission that sets grade, etc. and is so well regarded by our customers and farmers.
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Art tour great reminder of talent hidden in the countryside
There’s a lot of talent hidden among the canola fields and cattle pastures of Western Canada that isn’t always noticeable from the highway or gravel road.
In that regard, I read that the Canadian Grain Commission wants to screw around our grading system and wants to do away with the current kernel visual distinguishability system we have. They better review a little history.
Just a few years ago there was great talk of some kind of black box that was supposed to tell you what your grade was. … Everyone came to their senses and it was dropped.
I see the (Western Canadian) Wheat Growers welcome the proposal, saying it will allow development of new wheat varieties that can improve the profitability of these farmers. Give me a break. Where have they been?
I see a list of many new varieties every year. The wheat growers better review some of the past speeches they made, (in which) the word was that “we are growing Cadillac wheat. We should be growing Chevrolet wheat.”
Well, I have talked to a large number of our customers over the years…. I can assure you they were not looking for Chevrolet wheat. The world is awash in it. They want good Canadian wheat to mix with their own grain and what they have to buy from other countries.
Our quality wheat and our grading system and the fact the only place they can get it is from the CWB are the things that have kept us in the game in the highly subsidized world we sell in….
I wish these people with all these bright ideas would read a little of the history of the grain industry before making the comments I read in the paper and tell the rest of us just how many farmers they represent.
On second thought, by reading some past history, they may find out something they didn’t want to know.
– Avery Sahl,
Mossbank, Sask.
Gov’t fix
Whatever happened to the term “responsible government”? I still believe that there are politicians in our country that are honest and want the best for our country, but it seems like power and political office change the people that are elected. They lose their prospective and purpose, or so it seems.
There are so many things that are important, such as Canadian lumber exports, wheat exports, milk, eggs, beef, the fishermen’s dilemma east and west coast, the war veterans and so many other important things that are troubling for our country. Yet our government involves itself with gay marriage, legalizing marijuana and such.
Our penal system is a mess and our young people are killing themselves in fast cars and drugs.
Surely there are people in government that can put a real face on some of these problems.
– Otto D. Fonos,
Glenbush, Sask.
Wet issues
The Western Producer of May 26 relating to water is vital. It is for that reason the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration was put into action.
Common sense illiterates know safe water is vital to grow food for healthy domestic livestock and people. Should water contribute toward soil salinity, that water source must be controlled.
When wildlife degrades grain or water quality, common sense demands such wildlife population must be reduced or exterminated to protect the environment.
A few years ago a devoted Wadena, Sask., environmentalist took such action. Our hypocritical legal system sought to penalize the sincere environmentalist.
… In that issue Ducks Unlimited stated that “farmers typically get from $3,000 to $50,000 per acre for their wetlands …” Much of my land is wet. At such prices DU can have all. Having learned their nature, DU will find reasons to refuse.
Crop insurance coverage is based on responsible farming. A dry year ago, pea crops yielded 20 to 25 bushels. Geese left me with five. A reputed unfair adjuster, no longer employed there, said I should have sown the seed deeper; hence no pea compensation.
Considering DU is deeply involved in wildlife promotion, I thought conscience may influence them to compensate a modest-sized farm operator to cover years of wildlife crop losses. Their reply letter was polite but very cold.
The NDP government isn’t always realistic while the opposition dwells on absurdities. If the opposition should decide to demonstrate any agricultural concerns, they can begin by demanding legislation be passed requiring wildlife groups to pay full compensation to cover all wildlife damages without any government assistance. If they fail, open-all-year hunting shall apply in affected areas.
– Stuart Makaroff,
Saskatoon, Sask.
Early warning
I would like to reply to the article by Diane Rogers in the June 16 Producer on ovarian cancer.
In our case, my wife had a hysterectomy and the ovaries were not removed. On Jan. 6, 1987 she had her hysterectomy and 13 years, six months later, had her cancer operation. Before her cancer operation she had all the symptoms – bloating of the abdomen, fatigue and much more, but no tests were done until it was too late.
After suffering for three years in great pain and discomfort and the last five months in the hospital, she passed away, all the while waiting to die.
What I think should be done is the hospital or the doctor notify the Ovarian Cancer Association if a patient has had a hysterectomy and the ovaries not removed (so she can) be sent a letter.
In the letter, the patient would be told the early symptoms of cancer and the medical tests that should be done. If that had been done in our case, my wife would probably be here today.
– Jack Zulkoskey,
Prince Albert, Sask.
Stark reality
In keeping the open forum section of the paper alive and allotting sufficient space for individual expressions of frustrations or convictions, is to be commendable to the present owners ….
She’s not very good back here on the back 40. Heavy schedules of auction sales of medium and smaller farmers are pointing to a dangerous denuding of humanity on our rural landscape. On a lot of auction farm sites that I attended, there will be no one that will be living there. The tilling of the land has been taken over by the more aggressive of farmers that are making full use of large machinery and technology, operating on razor-thin margins that were previously reserved only for the corporate world of the economic chess game.
Farming, as a way of life, is not sustainable with the present attitudes of both governments, as well as the restrictive trade agreements that were signed by our guys, whom I consider idiots.
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan may be a swell group that are supposed to represent the farmer and they are wishing to seek 100 percent support of the municipalities for their financial support. To garner this support, they try to appease all classes of farmers and their vision of problem solutions.
That creates a crossroads of thought, a divisiveness becoming of the rugged individual that a farmer has long been known for….
In defence of the smaller farmer, his cost of production is very much higher than the bigger operator. Current aid programs are not reflective of this at all. Seems to me that there is a subtle effort of governments to get rid of the small guy, who in their eyes, is a problematic wart. …
It is a stark reality that the smaller farmers have been the backbone of any community. The larger ones contribute very little…
So why should government give out sizable chunks of money so that the already big can get even bigger? Given that scenario, APAS and other organizations have so far failed to grasp at the obvious solutions.
– Harry Beskorovayny,
Gronlid, Sask.
CWB sales
It is becoming increasingly difficult to remain a supporter of the Canadian Wheat Board.
I keep hearing from a variety of sources that there is a shortage of high quality wheat and durum. I consider No. 2 and No. 3 durum to be high quality and yet the CWB has only called 68 percent – the original 60 percent plus 20 percent of the remaining 40 percent – of our No. 2 and No. 3 durum.
As the sole marketing agency for western Canadian farmers, the CWB has a responsibility to sell our grain. All of our grain. How do you sell more grain? You lower the price. This begs the question: why is the CWB not lowering the price in order to sell more durum?
My suspicion is the new marketing options that the CWB has introduced have something to do with it. Whether it’s the early payment option or the fixed price contract or some other option, maybe the CWB is not willing to sell below these prices because then there will be those who will say “see, price-pooling no longer works.”…
I believe we still need the CWB but if they are unwilling to make sales because they may have to lower the PRO or sell grain at a price below some of the marketing options, then maybe there is a need for a change. It’s hard enough to grow a good crop but it’s even harder to have it sitting in the bin at the end of the year.
– Glen Nunweiler,
Kindersley, Sask.
CAIS issue
Re: CAIS deposits to be returned, June 16 WP. Federal and provincial governments agreed CAIS deposits should be able to be withdrawn. Very wise decision considering tough financial times on the farm.
But a quote from a senior Agriculture Canada official made it quite clear again that farmers wishing to benefit from the CAIS program will have to make an up-front financial commitment.
Who is making the decision in this country, the elected officials or some old moron that thinks it is their duty and privilege to dictate their outdated theories on the people of Canada?
This country would be a lot better off if a lot of these old bureaucrats would be put out to pasture.
– Ron Ulrich,
Regina, Sask.
