Letters to the editor – October 10, 2013
SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS
To the Editor:
Notice the picture on the front page of the Sept. 26 issue under heading ‘Sparks fly and the clock ticks’. This captioned photo does not send a safe message to the public at large. The repairman is working under a cutting bar of what appears to be a combine.
The cutting bar is clearly unsupported by the safety hydraulic ramstops (clearly visible) in the background, or any other type of additional blocking to prevent injury or death in the event of the accidental failure of a hydraulic system.
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Most farm accidents are caused by this type of activity. Hurrying, cutting a few corners, saving a few seconds, and then mayhem. Try to send out the correct messages.
Harvest is a busy time. Take a few minutes to be safe and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
MANY POSITIVE ACTIONS
To the Editor:
We would like to take this opportunity to respond to the many articles in the media recently regarding the use of pesticides and their interaction with honeybees.
In particular, neonicotinoid insecticides are the ones in the spotlight and it seems most of the reported incidents have been in the Ontario and Quebec regions.
While most media to date has been bringing a clear message that nothing is being done or not enough is being done, we would like to bring you up to speed, as well as commend a few stakeholders on recent announcements, which we would consider positive actions being taken.
Firstly, Health Canada has released a Notice of Intent, NOI2013-01, Action to Protect Bees from Exposure to Neonicotinoid Pesticides.
Within this intent, they are seeking input from the various stakeholders including the beekeeping industry, as well as already placing some requirements for the 2014 seeding season. I believe this is a positive action by Health Canada.
Secondly, DuPont has announced a neonicotinoid-free seed offering.
Once again, we believe this is a positive action taken by the seed-pesticide industry.
In addition, Bayer CropScience has introduced a new class of chemistry as an alternative to imidacloprid.
The new active ingredient is a systemic from the butenolide chemical class and is active on sucking insect pests. The (active ingredient) is flupyradifurone. It will be marketed under the trade name Sivanto. It is marketed as a bee friendly product with no bloom (application) restrictions. It will be registered in 2015.
As you can see, there seems to be good progress being made on reducing the risk and exposure of possibly harmful chemicals to bees.
There are of course some other efforts being made as well, but these are just ones from the recent weeks. So as a lot of the public is being told nothing is being done, we would beg to differ.
Thanks to a combined effort from the Canadian Honey Council (the national beekeepers trade organization) along with other stakeholders, and the effort to have meaningful discussion, it would seem progress is being made.
The Alberta Beekeepers Commission would like to thank these organizations for the steps being taken and the efforts that have been made to have a sustainable beekeeping industry in today’s ever changing agricultural climate.
DO THE MATH
To the Editor:
In his letter of Sept. 19, “Unbalanced arguments,” John De Pape criticizes Eric Sagan for an argument supposedly short on facts.
However, it seems Mr. De Pape sees nothing wrong with presenting his own specious points in support of his own premise, namely the financial benefits of loading a producer car.
Mr. De Pape says that any decrease in producer car numbers are due to reduced financial benefits.
This is because, as he states: “Without the single desk around, grain companies are competing for your business much more aggressively. This has cut into their margins and farmers are reaping the benefits”. Really? First of all, how can grain companies now be competing more aggressively for something they never competed for previously?
Secondly, a local producer recently shipped a carload of wheat and was paid for 12.5 percent protein. The car unload data showed the wheat was graded at a significantly higher protein level.
When queried, the company stated that they had called for a “minimum” of 12.5 percent protein, therefore that determines what they pay.
So much for farmers reaping the benefits these “aggressive” companies provide.
Mr. De Pape persists that because of this aggressive competition, the financial benefit of loading a producer car is a lot lower. In fact, farmers have always loaded producer cars for the financial benefit of saving elevation charges of approximately $14 per tonne (or more), plus what is usually a much reduced trucking distance (therefore lower costs), plus an appreciable savings in time. My understanding is that this still holds true.
With 90 tonnes to a car, Mr. De Pape should be capable of doing the math and adhere to his own dictum with respect to presenting a complete and balanced argument based on fact.
FARMER BENEFITS?
To the Editor:
No surprise that my claim that the honeymoon is over with the open market brought an immediate response from Levi Woods, Western Canadian Wheat Grower (WCWG), and cheerleader of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers John De Pape (WP Sept. 19).
What lacks in both their attacks on me is where are the benefits for farmers, since the single desk CWB has been eliminated?
They have no numerical facts to base their accusations. Woods states farmers receive better grades. With the price between #1 and #2 CWRS sometimes only being five cents a bushel the grade is almost irrelevant to the price received, not to mention the watered down protein premiums. He also claims the Canadian Independent Federation of Business survey states the move to end the single desk has had a positive impact on their business.
Since when do they speak for farmers and how many farmers are in their group? Woods also stated his group receives no federal funding; perhaps he should open up the books to clarify this issue.
It is hard to believe less than 300 members totally finance the operation. Oh yeah, but I forgot all the “contract” work they do for the government and their “corporate” sponsors. If things are positive for farmers now we should see the national farm debt for western Canadian farms start to drop.
It is disgusting that the WCWG for the past 40 years have worked against the farmers interests and divided one farmer against another and tried to crucify some farmers in favour of helping the corporate interests to lobby insane farm policies at the expense of all farmers.
