Farmers’ money; Methane purpose; Dairy observed; Excess parasites; Same diesel; Auto parts; Stranded horses; Triple E
Farmers’ money
These comments are in response to the article on the front page of The Western Producer, Jan. 8, concerning the overcharge by the railways to ship farmers’ grain by rail in the 2007-08 crop year.
The article states that the overcharge in the amount of $2.23 per tonne is in fact the farmers’ money. I am a farmer, and I feel that money belongs to us. So why don’t they send it to us? Call it whatever payment that you want to, but send what is rightfully ours, to us, ASAP.
Read Also
Late season rainfall creates concern about Prairie crop quality
Praying for rain is being replaced with the hope that rain can stop for harvest. Rainfall in July and early August has been much greater than normal.
Some farmers choose to deduct a levy on their final payments to be sent to the Western Grains Research Foundation, but some farmers choose not to deduct the levy. Let farmers make their decisions, whether to deduct the levy or not. At present, it is still voluntary.
If the Western Grains Research Foundation feels so strong about their possible windfall to the tune of almost $69 million, then they should at least send each of us farmers a tax receipt for a farming expense for our share of the money owing us.
– Richard Andreas,
Leader, Sask.
Methane purpose
I read with interest Barb Glen’s column on methane gas produced by farm livestock (WP, Jan. 8/09).
Typically, environmentalists paint a gloomy and distorted picture. The volume of methane gas produced by tropical forests and peat bogs which circle the world is massive. These plumes of gas can be observed by satellite. Actually, the methane gas produced daily is beyond calculation.
Obviously, then, the volume of methane gas emitted by farm livestock is insignificant. To tax farmers for the gasses produced by their livestock is inane.
The question should be asked, what is the function and purpose of this gas? Maybe its design is to provide atmospheric conditioning. Now wouldn’t that throw a wrench into the works of the environmental industry!
It seems to me the environmental community would delight in us going back a few hundred years, where we dressed in smocks and trudged behind teams of oxen producing nothing in particular and singing a dirge.
– Robert Ford,
Dawson Creek, B.C.
Dairy observed
My husband and I come from a small dairy farm northwest of New Brunswick. After the farm was sold we decided to come out West. We didn’t work long in the dairy industry because it isn’t like home. Farmers tend to be less in it for the love of it like our grandfathers and not having maybe started from scratch they don’t care as much as I’ve seen our people do. I’m always referring to dairy farmers who came to Canada with lots of cash. Just last October we went to work on a dairy… These immigrants would basically starve the young bull calves because (they are) not worth lots in cash, and because they didn’t like “throwing away” good milk. I noticed these just left to themselves to starvation. I know what I’m talking about and being true to yourself and to “believe” in your spiritual guidance you cannot tolerate that and just stay for the merely $12 per hour and the seriously rundown mobile (home). I had a say I’m glad you heard me, I’d like to hear more of employees in the future, ’cause they’re part of the farming community too!
In hopes to work for people with equal values.
– Jacqueline Landry,
Innisfail, Alta.
Excess parasites
Throughout my many years of farming I had to contend with various kinds of parasites. There were bertha armyworms, warble flies, grain beetles, aphids, fusarium, fleas, and a host of others. If these parasites were not controlled, they could place the viability of the farming operation in jeopardy.
I believe that one of the prime reasons for the current world economic crisis is that there are too many human parasites in our society.
These are the people who produce no goods and provide no services, but live lavishly by manipulating capital, exploiting cheap labour or engaging in illegal activities.
Capitalism allows most of these parasites to pursue their self interests with virtually no restrictions.
The lack of proper regulation allows parasites to run rough shod over those who must work for a living. A problem arises when their excesses result in working people losing their jobs, their savings, their pensions, or their homes. Suddenly, capitalism no longer provides Martha and Henry with a decent standard of living. To add insult to injury, when the parasites themselves run into problems, the system provides for them to be bailed out with taxpayers’ money, so that they may continue to maintain their lavish lifestyle.
One can hardly blame Martha and Henry for considering that to be unfair.
– William Dascavich,
Edmonton, Alta.
Same diesel
Front page news for The Western Producer, Oct. 23: “Diesel shortage spreads across Prairies.”
It is very interesting how the corporate world manipulates the media and consequently the public into believing something is true.
I believe everyone in rural communities realize that diesel fuel, whether used in transport trucks, farm tractors and combines and heating oil to keep your house warm in winter, is all the same stuff. It is all sold for a different price to lead you to believe there is different refining techniques, etc., but it is not so.
Most bulk stations don’t have three holding tanks to draw from for the separate grades.
The card lock pumps at my local Co-op has two pumps for diesel, one clear for transport trucks and the other for farm fuel.
As the fuel is pumped from farm fuel pump, you hear the pump click as it adds the dye to the clear fuel so it is visibly distinguishable from the other. Heating oil also has the dye added.
Bunker fuel that transports our goods across the ocean is also the same fuel. Diesel engines use the same fuel no matter what they are used in- ships, trucks or combines.
– Ken Hill,
Mildred, Sask.
Auto parts
The major eastern-based media sources have recently announced that the majority of Canadians are in favour of a federal bailout for the auto manufacturing sector. Not a word was mentioned as to where the poll was taken. Once again, Ontario is flexing its muscles and bullying the rest of Canada into submission. With the fragile situation in Ottawa, the present government has no choice but to yield to the Bloc Quebecois, the NDP and the Liberals and their outrageous beliefs that the government can rectify decades of imprudent corporate decisions.
Hasn’t the time arrived for Western Canada to design and build its own automobiles? Why are we dependent on Detroit, Windsor and foreign manufacturers to build our cars and trucks? Looking at some of the high tech farm equipment that has emerged from prairie farm shops in the last 50 years, are we not smart enough to assemble an automobile?
From Alberta engineers who design innovative oil drilling and refining equipment, to Saskatchewan physicists who built and now operate the (synchrotron) at the University of Saskatchewan, does anyone really believe that building a car or a pickup would pose a serious challenge to Westerners?
For starters, (no pun intended) a western Canadian-built automobile might use standardized nuts and bolts where the mechanic can use one wrench to replace an alternator belt. Better yet, why not eliminate the belt altogether by using direct drive accessories? A Happy and Prosperous New Year to all.
– John Hamon,
Gravelbourg, Sask.
Stranded horses
The man who abandoned two horses in the Renshaw (B.C.) area to die of starvation wants them back. Frank MacKay, a lawyer from Edmonton, said he made two attempts to retrieve the animals and made “every effort possible” to save them.
I am appalled. Volunteers spent a week freeing the emaciated, trapped horses under extreme weather conditions, and he expects to just get them back?
I am not blaming MacKay for losing his horses or getting into trouble in the backcountry. Things like that happen. However, not putting in more effort to find the animals, and, when he finally did locate them, leaving them for dead, that, to me, is completely unacceptable.
MacKay abandoned his two pack horses on Sept. 12 after hitting rough terrain and didn’t come back to look for them until the last week in October because he was too busy. What about the volunteers’ time who put their lives on hold to rescue the two horses? Is his time more valuable than everybody else’s?
And why didn’t MacKay ask locals for help to find his horses? He definitely had enough time to do so, and it would have been a lot easier to get the horses out of the mountains before the snow hit and while the animals were still in decent condition. MacKay said he doubts locals would have helped a stranger. Well, he didn’t even try, and seeing how the community came to the rescue of the two horses, I beg to differ.
When MacKay eventually did locate the horses, he left them to die a slow, agonizing death of starvation. MacKay claims he didn’t go up the mountain to kill the horses and that he didn’t have a gun. That may be so, but that is still no excuse to “let nature take its course.”
As well, MacKay’s lack of participation in the rescuing of the horses shows a complete lack of commitment. Where was he when the rescue mission was underway? MacKay claims he was too injured to participate.
I am sure he could have helped out in other ways, informing sledders down at the parking lot about the rescue effort, providing hot drinks for the volunteers, or buying them supper.
I think I can speak for the majority of the volunteers that we don’t want to see these horses returned to MacKay. He abandoned the two equines, giving up ownership, and left them to die. They are no longer his.
– Birgit Stutz,
Previously ran as editorial in Valley Sentinel,
Dunster, B.C.
Triple E
Whatever happened to the “equal, effective, and elected” Senate so enthusiastically promoted by Stephen Harper when he was a Member of Parliament representing the Reform Party of Canada? Is it the same Stephen Harper that is now Prime Minister and who just gave 18 Conservative party hacks a cushy Christmas present by appointing them to the Senate?
It appears that a chameleon is not the only creature with the ability to change its colours.
Harper had a number of options. He could have asked the Provinces with vacant Senate seats to fill them through elections. The seats could have been left vacant. He could have appointed an all-party committee to recommend widely supported candidates for the Senate.
Instead of opting for “reform,” Harper demonstrated that rewarding party faithful takes precedence over ideology. By doing so he proved that he is no different from his predecessor Prime Ministers.
One more example that “power corrupts.”
– William Dascavich,
Edmonton, Alta.
