Older folks
Just when I thought the livestock industry was all in the same boat, I came to realize that some of us were luckier than others.
I recently attended a CAIS (Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization) program meeting and as the meeting began I looked around the room to realize many of the farmers were older folks.
For many of these farmers, BSE has left their retirement years in serious doubt. I did a quick retake of the history of these pioneers. They started with nothing many years ago, put everything into a farm, raised a family, provided a good way of life, were self-employed and took pride in what they accomplished through hard work and perseverance.
Read Also
High prices see cow-calf producers rushing to incorporate
Farm accountants are reporting a steady stream of cow-calf producers rushing to get their operations incorporated ahead of selling their calves this fall.
There weren’t many of us younger folks. Then it occurred to me that the younger folks are the luckier ones out of this BSE. We still have time on our side to recoup some of our losses by either selling out, downsizing and going out to work, but our older folks don’t have time on their side.
With the small and medium-sized farms in jeopardy, I wonder if we are heading down a road to industrialized farming, where again big business controls an industry.
It was again I began thinking, is this all worth it? Not having to worry whether the equipment is going to break down, being worried if the banker will be at the door, the ever rising price in fuel, fertilizer, repairs and feed, no savings, the price of cattle, the stress of calving, your assets dropped out worse than the bear stock market, the stress of beating the weather when it comes to harvesting, and wondering will we have enough money to put our children through post-secondary, when we could be working at a job eight hours a day, steady paycheque, paid holidays and sick pay?
Then I look out on our field to see the calves running around and the cows munching on our last year’s hay and our children taking pride in helping ….
I think then that many of us will survive. The future will be different. We will be stronger but we will survive. I just hope that our older folks will see this turn around and be able to enjoy their retirement years.
– Sue Taylor,
Prince George, B.C.
Proud as always
Although the BSE crisis is devastating and times are tough, I am still proud to be a Canadian farmer. As Canadian farmers, not just Albertan farmers, I think we are some of the toughest people in the world.
Who else can live under as much stress as we have had to endure through the past years? It’s too bad that we have to be caught in the middle of political wars. It seems that our government was all too eager to roll on their backs and show their bellies after the last announcement of the BSE case in the States.
There are many unanswered questions that gnaw away at me. If BSE is spread through tainted feed, where are the thousands of head that should have been affected? Here in the cattle business we don’t keep every animal in their own pen and feed them separate.
What about this theory of a copper deficiency? Could this be?
If the States were truly worried about our meat, why are they taking boneless cuts from animals under 30 months? …
These trade missions to Japan and other countries seem to be a waste of taxpayers monies. Japan is standing firm on mandatory testing on every animal. I think since Japan has implemented testing in their own country, this has eased the anxiety in their own country, not ours.
We have never had to be anxious of our products. Our top quality meat is known, eaten and enjoyed all over the world.
I guess we will go along with the flow hoping the border will be open soon. Is it wishful thinking that that will happen when our biggest packing plants are States owned? Keep your chins up, boys and girls, and keep plugging along. That’s about all we can do.
– Jim Bergeson,
Cremona, Alta.
Enough brains
I want to congratulate the Saskatchewan people on having enough brains to elect another NDP government and not a crooked Liberal government like British Columbians did.
B.C. Liberal premier Gordon Campbell, after promising the people all the great things he was going to do for them, as soon as he got elected he raised his own salary, gave generous tax cuts to corporations that financed his election campaign, closed down hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions like Saskatchewan Conservative premier Grant Devine did, doing away with the free dental care to children 14 years …
Since then, Saskatchewan has had no Conservative party. That could happen to B.C. Liberals.
The only ones that profited in B.C. since Gordon Campbell was elected are the corporations and Liberal MLAs.
– William Charney,
Enderby, B.C.
Win strategy
I was going to put aside my separatist sentiments and let Paul Martin go through a “flash in the pan” period that I thought would extend to at least the next general election.
His commitment to resolving western alienation sounded pretty good. It astounds even myself that I am writing this letter this early in his new job to say the honeymoon is over and to let Western Canada show Quebec how to do a good job at separating.
Thanks to the sponsorship scandals I think at least one-third of Western Canadians are ready for the plunge. That’s all it took for the American Revolution to create the U.S.A.
By now we should all realize that Ottawa is all about Quebec and Ontario. The total disregard for our hard-earned tax dollars that go into the Ottawa pot that feeds 250,000 federal bureaucrats, keeps the governor general in caviar and sends transfer payments to Quebec is bad enough.
But on top of that we have to endure the socialistically bent triangle of Ottawa, Ontario and Quebec and their new direction, which is diametrically opposed to the values of the majority of western Canadians. Top that off with more encroachment on provincial responsibilities with another municipal super department in Ottawa, a renewed Kyoto initiative, more bilingualism, another billion dollars for the gun registry, etc. and I’m ready to cash in my loonies.
Forget the new Conservative party. After they give the shop away to Ontario and Quebec there will be nothing left for Western Canada. It’s time to think WIN – Western Independence Now.
– Ace Cetinski,
Sherwood Park, Alta.
Hog story
Here we go again. People who are benefiting from big hog operations are telling us how great an opportunity it is for us , but they are not telling us that for instance, the story on the front page Western Producer, Jan. 15, referring to comments made by Don Walters hired to monitor water quality in Good Spirit Lake, also a committee member on water monitoring, a committee that was hand-picked by our provincial agriculture minister, Clay Serby, and includes Florian Possberg, CEO of Big Sky Pork Farms.
The barns in question are operated by Mr. Possberg. Mr. Walters’ report pertaining to his water monitoring results are not trusted by residents of the area especially when he informs us he has sold his cabin at Good Spirit Lake and moved back to Yorkton.
Being a retired person, what would the reason of a move be? No mega hog barns in or near Yorkton? Or does he know something he is not telling the rest of us as to what is going to happen to Good Spirit Lake caused by the six barns at Rama, Sask.?…
The hog barn operator is bragging about 10 viable jobs in (the) area but what does he mean by viable? Would any of the government bureaucrats or their children work at these operations?
If this operation was distributed to several smaller operations, that would increase employment and income for far more than 10 people and would help to save our air, water, land environment. Why are the governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan allowing mega hog processors such as Maple Leaf to control all the hog investments in our provinces? …
Now does anyone still wonder why we, the rural residents, are revolting? Would any city people or government bureaucrats exchange places with us? You are the ones telling us we are complaining just for sake of complaining. You would be the ones benefiting from these great investments and all the good paying jobs these operations provide.
Any takers? My property is for sale plus many more in all these areas, but we want a fair price for our property too.
– Pauline Lapitsky,
Theodore, Sask.
Profit link
Since I was quoted rather tersely in your Feb. 19 edition and Mr. Wagner responded, I thought I would elaborate on my comments.
I would refer to Mr. Wagner’s quote that: “the viability and profitability of farmers is directly linked to the profitability of Agricore.” Since there are farmers who do not now, and never have, dealt with Agricore United, how is their profitability linked to AU? Shouldn’t that statement have read that some farmers …?
It is interesting, however, that Mr. Wagner links the profitability of a grain company, (after all AU is now just another grain company with the majority of shareholders not farmers) with that of farmers profitability. History shows that when Agricore merged with UGG, (I am saying merged to be polite,) the CEO who helped Agricore to the bottom was rewarded with a severance package reported to be $1.5 million, while farmers bought shares at $12.43, which immediately fell to $8.50. It would appear that profitability is selective.
Also interesting is that an organization whose profitability is based on the export of grain would pass a resolution that stifles the export of grain. The only business of the CWB is to sell grain domestically and for export; anything that hinders that process reduces the chance of profitability for farmers and grain companies.
I wonder if those who voted to reject the CWB’s monopoly considered that they may be reducing their, and grain companies’, potential profits?
This constant carping at the CWB must be frustrating and irritating to the dedicated people who work there. Is it not possible that this constant challenge to their integrity and having to defend this integrity within and without affects their work?
I don’t think that the recent announcement of layoffs is the right thing. …
Aside from the above, we have the issue of the Alberta government with an agenda to value add. This means fewer exports and less business for Agricore and others.
The present grain handling system is geared to exporting around 32 million tonnes of grain per year. Less than half of that is presently being shipped, which means there is substantial overcapacity. With even less being exported in the future, the chances of any grain company being profitable are slim.
I would suggest that in view of the above evidence the pragmatic thing to do is to sell shares in a grain handling company. With all of the mergers and efficiency gained I have yet to see a lowering of elevation charges, and that certainly affects my profitability.
– Horst Schreiber,
Ohaton, Alta.
