A message for Supply Management..

Farmers are concerned by all the media coverage and negative press supply management has been receiving and rightfully so.

Continued government assurances, public letters and appearances by the Minister have settled dairy farmers down for now. The underlying concern is still there.

Sometimes it helps to see another point of view. It can reminds us of events and comments that could be important.

From that perspective 3 articles by Wendy Holmes are very important.

Why you should care about the CWB vote In this article she reminds everyone of the legalities and history leading to the vote.

Lulled by the Spin Cycle captures the nasty, big business pundits who have been fueling the anti-supply management press.

The latest column is a humdinger called "the Elephant in the Milking Parlour".

The government is not likely to let us in on their plans. There may not be any warning. Time to forge a plan to make the government think twice. The power of public opinion is likely the only thing that will stop some of this. That cannot be harnessed when the public do not know what supply management brings to Canada. It needs to start now before something irreversible happens.

The media is in control of the supply management message and it isn't good. It is time to take control back.

Anti Farmer Articles Again

The issues surrounding the mis-handling of Canada's Wheat Board were passed around again on various mail lists. The powder that touched it all off came from the National Post. No surpise there, either!

Lorne Gunter, National Post Published: Friday, August 14, 2009

What the Canadian Wheat Board calls "single-desk marketing" is, technically, a "monopsony" -- many sellers, but only one buyer; in this case the federal government. Prairie farmers are forbidden, by law, from selling their wheat or barley to anyone but the CWB, unless their grain is destined to be fed to animals. They face jail time if they defy the board.

In turn, the board claims it can take this huge inventory of grain and sell it internationally for much higher prices than individual farmers could on their own. It then promises to spread these gains around to all wheat and barley growers.

Never mind that there is no evidence this works. Indeed, a major study last year showed that even though the board is one of the largest grain sellers in the world, it still controls too little of the globe's total grain trade to have any impact on the final price.

The price the board receives is as much dependent on swings in world commodity markets as the price lone farmers could earn trading on their own. The trick to getting the highest price is the timing of the sale, not the volume being sold. The board's claim that by gathering together all prairie grain and selling it in bulk it will achieve a higher price is a myth, because even though it controls the output of around 60,000 farmers, it nonetheless still controls too little grain to push the price up by withholding wheat and barley from the market, then rushing it to the selling floor.

Occasionally (like last year), the board gets lucky. Once in a while, its slow, plodding, hulking sales machinery gets grain to market at just the right time and the price gets caught in an updraft. But more often than not, individual farmers could make as much or more by watching commodity trading carefully and pouncing faster than the board could on upward price spikes.

Unless the board's traders are better than private traders or individual farmers at predicting the best time to sell all the grain they have in inventory, it is impossible that theboard can produce greater returns simply by flexing its monopsony.

When Ralph Goodale, one of the smarter Liberals in the House of Commons, was the wheat board minister, I asked him why, if single-desk marketing was such a good practice, his government did not employ it for other industries -- auto parts, for instance. Why not make Magna and Ontario's other parts suppliers sell all their production to the feds, who in turn would then assure them all higher returns by selling their parts in bulk to the automakers?

After coughing and stammering for a minute, Mr. Goodale replied that historical differences in the two industries made them different.But history has no more influence over grain sales than it does over auto parts. Whether or not a trade makes economic sense is no more influenced by history than it is by Friday's CFL scores.

The myth, though, that grain is somehow different from other commodities -- peddled by Mr. Goodale and ministers before him and since -- is what sustains the board, so much so that when the current government has attempted to dismantle the board, the myth-swallowers who run it have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on publicity campaigns and legal challenges to stop the Tories.In 2006, the Tories ordered the board to stop wasting farmers' money on vain attempts to preserve its monopsony. The board balked and went to court to overturn the ban. It won in lower court, where a judge ruled the Tories' gag order amounted to an unconstitutional infringement on farmers' freedom of expression.This produced much clucking and glee among the board's supporters. Many columnists and letter writers across the Prairies crowed "what other laws have the Tories broken" and "Harper's undemocratic ways have finally caught up with him."

But in late-June, a three-judge panel of the Federal Court of Appeal unanimously reversed that decision. It said that the board is entirely the creature of the federal government and as such can be ordered to do by Ottawa whatever Ottawa pleases.

That's the way the Liberals set up the board when they restructured it in the 1990s. They gave it a facade of farmer-control, but retained real decision-making authority at Cabinet.

When the Liberals used this chimera to protect the board's dominance over prairie grain, its backers rejoiced. But now that this loophole is being used by the Tories to introduce real choice for grain farmers, the board's political supporters are aghast.

lgunter@shaw.ca

************************************
To: National Media
From: Joe Hueglin
Subject: Latest assault on Canadian Wheat Board an abject failure.

No change came about in the election of one-third of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), directors reported December 8th. Four of five Districts continue to be represented by directors supporting the CWB's single desk system.

Despite altering regulations to permit unlimited advertising by third parties such as the grain companies, disenfranchising thousands who were with a propensity to support the CWB and, as well, Conservative Members of Parliament not registering as third parties when sending out letters in support of candidates favouring their policy of dismantling the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) - all in order to capture enough directorships to be able to control the Board.

‘‘This is a huge victory for farmers. Farmers have stood up to (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper’s vow to ‘walk over’ any opposition to his plan to demolish the CWB,’’ said Stewart Wells, National Farmers Union president. ‘‘With 80 per cent of the farmer-elected Board members supporting the single-desk marketing advantages and a strong role for the CWB, it is time for the Conservative Party to back away from its attacks on the CWB.’’

Back away? Wishful thinking when neo-conservative principles are at issue. Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz says the neo-conservative Harper Conservatives "remain committed to marketing freedom."

Joe Hueglin

***************************************

Subject: RE: "The Wheat Board's tall tales": Fact or partisan distortion?"

When Ralph Goodale, one of the smarter Liberals in the House of Commons, was the wheat board minister, I asked him why, if single-desk marketing was such a good practice, his government did not employ it for other industries -- auto parts, for instance.

Why not make Magna and Ontario's other parts suppliers sell all their production to the feds, who in turn would then assure them all higher returns by selling their parts in bulk to the automakers?"

I think this was a stupid question - There is a huge difference here between wheat and auto parts: Wheat is a commodity - auto parts are not. Grain of the same variety but from different farmes gets mixed together in a grain elevator - whereas other than nut bolts, auto parts are distint to each maker and specfic model of car.

Secondly, you are dealing with hundres or thousands of farmer producing the same crop - versus a small number of companies that are capable of producing the same autopart - few companies can make hydroformed pickup truck frames.

Individual auto parts makers have more of a one-on-one relationship with the user of their parts - whereas there are many middlemen between farmer and consumer. Next, without the Wheat Board, their role would largely be usurped by some big multinational companies like ADM.

The Wheat Board is Canadian and the farmers can have some influence over it - it is not out there to maximise profits at the expense of farmers. Grain production is also tied to the avaiablility of arable land - it is not a mobile industry - auto prts can be made anywhere on the contient, or around the world -heavy handed intereference could kill the industry here - and the manufacture of parts is often too complex for government to have any real understanding of the processes or way it is managed.

It is a complex issue and maybe the Wheat Board is not perfect, but this was a glib comment about auto parts that seemed to reek of anti-Ontario bias. Why not suggest oil, or lumber - why pick on the auto industry?

bt graff

WTO Storm Clouds again?

I haven't been paying a lot of attention to recent WTO activity. Besides, it's been kinda quiet out there. But when contradictory stuff appears 'out there' , wise citizens concerned about our ability to continue to feed ourselves need to pay attention. So too, do farm organizations for turkey, eggs, milk and chicken.

As noted in a Dairy Farmer's of Canada newsletter, last week, Supply Management (dairy) and the government's support for it, was detailed in question period. That was the first rumble.

About the same time the Ontario Farmer arrived and in it was a letter to the editor from former Senator Jim Tunney. This is the second rumble.

Entitled: 'Wheat Board Politics are of the worst kind', his letter gives some very interesting insights into the scanky and contradictory activities by the government, with regards to the Canadian Wheat Board. It is a quick history that all farmers and citizens should read. The last point in the whole letter is the part that made me pause:

Farmers want to trust our ministers, but have doubts when we see the results of a referendum and then hear another senior minister, David Emerson warn poultry and dairy farmers that they should prepare to find another way than with supply management to market their production.- Jim Tunney, Grafton

These are remarks Mr. Tunney, obviously knows about or has seen written, by the Minister for International Trade, the Hon. David Emerson.

Now Mr. Tunney has a respected background. He " was a director of the Dairy Farmers of Canada for 18 years and of the Dairy Bureau of Canada for 8 years. He was also a director of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, representing farmers in six counties including his native Northumberland County. "[English]

During his term as Senator he was a member of the Standing Committee of Agriculture and Forestry. He is, as I would term it, "plugged in". His concern for supply management and the Dairy Farmers of this country is well known.

If farmers know what's good for them they need to have a hard look at the Hon. David Emerson and his government. No matter what they have said, are saying or will say, their track record with the Wheat Board is not calculated to inspire confidence in their activities with the WTO.

At the very least, supply managed farmers need to figure out what kind of options they may have to derail any stupidity coming from this government.-CG

Tit for Tat?

Just prior to the news release by the Minister of Agriculture, Gerry Ritz, this article showed up in the news wire:

MPs say time for feds to abandon barley campaign
Updated Wed. Feb. 27 2008 4:27 PM ET
The Canadian Press

OTTAWA -- Opposition MPs say it's time for the government to abandon its campaign to end the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly on sales of western barley.
Liberal Wayne Easter says consecutive losses in the courts make it clear that the government can't go on.

He says the move to allow farmers the choice of selling their barley themselves or through the board threatens the existence of the marketing agency.

The Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal have both ruled that the government can't change the barley marketing rules through regulations and must follow a process set out in the Canadian Wheat Board Act.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says western producers support the change and the government will bring in legislation to allow them a choice.

The opposition parties have said they'll fight such legislation.

Obviously, this was like waving a red flag to a bull and they are just as unpredictable.-CG

Storm clouds gather again!

Well, I guess we all have our answer about what the current federal government's next move would be , after the courts over-ruled their actions against the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB).

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TABLES AMENDMENTS TO THE CANADIAN WHEAT BOARD ACT TO ENSURE BARLEY MARKETING FREEDOM

OTTAWA, Ontario, March 3, 2008

The Government of Canada today introduced amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act that would clear the way for barley marketing freedom and introduce a requirement respecting commercial dispute resolution. The announcement was made by the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board. (more)

The continued soap opera from Ottawa has hit a new low. The issue of this legislation coming to Parliament puts to rest the fairy tale that they might just be putting on a show for their constituents over election promises.

They obviously will go to just about any lengths to get what they want. Oh, and if they make this one a non confidence motion everyone on the good guy's side will have some very hard thinking to do. When I suggested this scenario in an earlier post, I NEVER believed it could come to this.

Is it time NOW for the opposition to put this government out of it's misery? Because of course, if the legislation passes, the death throws of the Wheat Board struggle will be next.

I don't think agriculture can let that happen. Farm organizations and their allies better think about this one very, very hard. There are very few options left out there for agriculture and it would be a mistake of enormous proportions to let others destroy something that has worked so well for so long.

Just how many political friends does agriculture have left and does it even have the guts to take this one to the wall?

Somebody must really have a lot to gain on this one. My vote is for the big guns ADM and Cargill.

For a minority government to continue to flaunt it's disregard for the courts, the industry, the economy and what producers' want, reminds you of an arrogant bully, who is so convinced he is 'right' , he will do anything, anything, to get his way.

Because, of course, the rest of us are too stupid to really know what is good for us.

Meanwhile, Canada's wiggle room to salvage anybody or save anything has craftily and carefully been removed.

PM gradually 'tightening the screws' on gov't: ex-advisor
By Alexander Panetta, THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA - Perhaps the most significant act of the Harper government is being conducted so slowly, steadily, and silently that it has raised barely a whisper of public debate. (more)

I think I feel a very cold, cold wind blowing over us all. - CG

Canadain Wheat Board Wins ..... NOW What!!!

Consider the latest headlines about the Canadian government's blatant campaign to flout parliament and destroy farmer's bargaining power in these recent headlines:

Conservatives lose court battle over wheat board, showdown in Parliament looming

or

Battle over barley resumes

or

RULING CONFIRMS FARMERS’ RIGHT TO DETERMINE CWB FUTURE the National Farmers Union Press Release

or

MPs say time for feds to abandon barley campaign from CTV news .

So just what is propelling, compelling the government to push so hard to destroy farmer's marketing power? Free trade dogma or just the Alberta connection? Regardless, it is making them look a little ridiculous as they announce their latest salvo in response to the news above:

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON COURT DECISION ON MARKETING CHOICE FOR BARLEY

OTTAWA, Ontario, February 26 2008

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today issued the following statement in response to a Federal Court of Appeal decision on the Government of Canada's appeal of the Federal Court ruling which maintained that the Canadian Wheat Board Regulations must be changed through legislation.

"I am disappointed with the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal. We will carefully review the decision and decide on our next steps accordingly. "

This Government understands that farmers work hard to grow the grain they sell and they should get the best price possible for that work. As a matter of fact, over 62 per cent of Western Canadian farmers voted in support of barley marketing freedom last year.

We are committed to providing the marketing choice Western Canada's grain producers have demanded and deserve. Producers need market certainty and we will continue working to provide it to them.

This Government is committed to pursuing all avenues to deliver market freedom to Western barley producers. We will be moving ahead quickly with legislation to give them this freedom.

1-866-345-7972
613-759-1059

The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz

So, is it possible the next battle will be in the legislature? If so, farmers and supporters of collective marketing had better sharpen their swords.-CG

Don't they have Better Things To DO??

I am completely fed up with the high jinks from the current 'new government' . Among a list of stupidities they have gone after the Canadian Wheat Board again. At least it appears that way.

This past weeks offerings include:

Opposition parties see interference in firing of agency official

Wheat Board fires official who criticized government

PM makes 'em gag-Harperites muzzle opposition beyond Parliament Hill


WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Ian White, a veteran of Australia's grain trade, will become the next head of the Canadian Wheat Board, one of the world's largest grain exporters, Canada's agriculture minister said on Wednesday.

I also found this article published last fall in the Western Dairy Farmer by Wendy R. Holm called 'Beware a Conservative Majority'. It is an issue dairy farmers need to monitor closely.

And if the PM has his way it looks like we will be forced into an election by hook or by crook. If it isn't Afghanistan ... they will make sure it's the Crime Bill or the Budget or...........-CG

What's going on here?

It looks like the PM and Minister Strahl have really caught the media's attention on this one ....finally! On Aug. 5th, Question Period was focused on the handling of the Canadian Wheat Board issue and the eventual, last minuet reprieve via the federal courts. I reiterate that this IS the big time.

It certainly helped that major political annalist's had been ejected from the hotel the Conservatives were at for their summer caucus meeting. Big mistake!!!

To-day on Question Period the discussion was about the upcoming Cabinet shuffle but later they again discussed the Canadian Wheat Board and the conservative handling of this event. The Prime Minister's reaction to the court ruling was also raised.

Two weeks in a row on Question Period raises the whole thing to another level.-CG

All Canadians Win with the CWB !!

There has been a fair amount of reporting on the events of July 31st, 2007. That is the day the Canadian Wheat Board won a decision against the federal government regarding the method it employed to try to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board.

Although it has been high on the radar of farm organizations, farmers themselves and many regulated marketing boards, I was unsure how the rest of the country was viewing the disgracful events of the last 6 months.

What does it mean for us all, if a minority government can ignore the law of parliament with impunity and do what it wants? For many, it means there is no democracy. This is why we MUST have a judiciary that is separate from politics. The current government has stated it's intention of changing this, too. We do not need a court system at the mercy of our politicians.

Other thoughtful Canadians are saying similar things. The government's mis-handling of the issue has resonated with far more Canadians than I was aware of. They have seen through the smoke thrown by the Harper government.

For some very interesting reading see the comments at the end of the article entitled:

Court slams Ottawa over Wheat Board
DAWN WALTON
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
August 1, 2007 at 12:02 AM EDT

The Canadian Wheat Board Wins........

This was an important decision for all farmers and their regulated marketing boards or agencies. The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) received a ruling yesterday from a Federal Court Judge, that effectively stops the beginning of the end. Kudos to the CWB for having the fortitude to take this battle to the courts for a ruling.


This is a valuable lesson for us all. Farmers are to be congratulated for their elected members taking the Government to the wall on this one. I would consider this an important legal test of the legislation itself. They have endured much. Shame on this Government for forcing them to take these steps to protect their industry.

Judge rules against gov't in wheat board battle

Canadian Press


Updated: Tue. Jul. 31 2007 11:04 PM ET


OTTAWA — A court decision has derailed, at least temporarily, the federal government's plan to strip the Canadian Wheat Board of its monopoly on western barley sales.

From the article:

"Well, obviously, I'm very disappointed," Strahl said in a telephone interview from Charlottetown. "The Federal Court has made a decision I'm very disappointed with."

Strahl said he never expected the case to end up in court in the first place.


'Nuff said!! -cg

Wheat Board Latest.....

I have to give the Canadian Wheat Board credit. They are fighting hard to stop "Canada's New Government", from imposing something on them they never asked for and that their producers appear to NOT want. I have followed this particular battle for quite some time.

Note:As all my archived posts from Dairiblawg's former site have not been entered here, yet. Not all older posts will be available for the interested reader. When time permits they will be posted here.

I wish them well in their battle. Many of the other sectors of agriculture should be hoping for this as well.-CG

AGRICULTURE
Battle heats up over barley monopoly

Canadian Wheat Board takes Ottawa to court this week over Conservatives' move to open up market

JOE FRIESEN
July 23, 2007

The Canadian Wheat Board is taking the government to court this week in a last-ditch attempt to preserve its monopoly on barley sales.

Nothing is Clear....

The results of the Barley vote are in and the controversy does not appear to over. There have been a number of press releases complaining about the process, scrutineers (or lack of) and so on, leading up to the results of the vote becoming public. However, the results are being disputed, vigorously. This past weeks' offerings............

OTTAWA, Ontario, March 28, 2007 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced that Canada's New Government has listened, and will deliver, to Western Canadian barley producers who voted in favour of marketing choice.

A clear majority of the farmers who cast votes in the barley plebiscite indicated they wanted to end the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly on barley and have the freedom to market their own product.

"We have delivered on our promise to give farmers a voice on the future of barley marketing in Western Canada," said Minister Strahl. "Their decision in favour of marketing choice is clear and we intend to give them that that opportunity in the coming crop year."

Minister Strahl said that nearly 30,000 producers participated in the plebiscite and a majority has provided the Government with a mandate to move ahead.

"Over 60 percent of producers want to decide how to market their own product. We will now begin work on the appropriate amendments to Canadian Wheat Board regulations to remove barley from the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly," said Minister Strahl.

"We will move forward decisively because producers and the sector need clarity and market certainty. I will be consulting with the directors of the Canadian Wheat Board about the changes we will be making," said Minister Strahl. "It is the Government's intention that marketing choice for Western Canada's barley growers - including an option to continue to sell to the Canadian Wheat Board - will be reality by August 1 of this year."

For the results and more information on marketing choice, please visit
www.agr.gc.ca/cwb.******************************

For Immediate Release March 28, 2007

Agriculture and Food
FLAWED PROCESS SKEWS WHEAT BOARD PLEBISCITE RESULTS

Saskatchewan's Agriculture Minister said today that his federal counterpart has no mandate to change the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB).

Mark Wartman said federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl was repeatedly warned about the need for clarity in the plebiscite on barley marketing, but refused to listen.

"We told the Minister that there would be problems with the results if he followed the process that he did," Wartman said. "And now, we have 45 per cent of producers in Saskatchewan favouring the CWB single desk and less than 13 per cent wanting the CWB out of barley marketing. I can get no clarity from this result. Those choosing the option to have both the CWB and an open market did so for a variety of reasons."

Wartman said he is not surprised by this outcome, given the three option plebiscite design and the inclusion of the impossible "best of both worlds" second option.

"We warned Minister Strahl that this would confuse the issue and we now find ourselves with no clear result," Wartman said.

Wartman added that the plebiscite was designed to produce the result the federal government sought. It was not designed for farmers to have a real say on the marketing systems they support. He posed several questions for Minister Strahl:

1. The federal government's own Task Force noted that it would be
difficult for the CWB to operate in an open market and the CWB yesterday indicated that it could provide no value in an open, multiple-seller market.

What has changed to make this a viable option?

2. Will the Minister pursue a similar approach on supply management, asking producers of those commodities if they want supply management and choice? Will he give them a similar three question plebiscite?

3. Why is Ottawa not prepared to respect the direction provided by the
producer-elected directors of the CWB?

So You Really Don't Get It?!??- Part 2

I had to do a bit of looking, but this second Article by Brewster Kneen , is the long article I was referring to in my earlier post. This one is also about the wheat board. As another in-depth look at the whole sorry situation, Mr. Kneen brings his vast historical knowledge about Cargill and the gradual weakening of farmers' power over the last 30 or so years. He stitches together the many seemingly , unconnected events, into something we had all better begin to think about very, very, hard.

Note to Internet Beginners: the blue colour means that is a link to the complete story/article or whatever.-cg

Canadian Government Seeks to Throw Grain Farmers to the Corporate Dogs

Written by Brewster Kneen
Friday, 26 January 2007

“Plans to end the Canadian Wheat Board single desk will be done in conjunction with changes to the Canadian Grain Commission, Canada Grain Act, grain transportation, and variety registration.” --Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl, 6/11/2006

This autumn Canadians have been treated to a crude horse opera starring Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture in what the Prime Minister insists we call “Canada’s New Government."............

MORE Dirty Tricks!?

FYI everyone.-CG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 22, 2007

ATAMANENKO ASKS PRIVACY OFFICER TO ADDRESSBARLEY PLEBISCITE CONCERNS>
OTTAWA – NDP Wheat Board Critic Alex Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior) sent a letter to the Privacy commissioner and the Ethics commissioner, asking that concerns over voters’ privacy and ethical concerns are addressed.>
“There are some very serious questions about how serious the Ministry of Agriculture is about the privacy of farmers’ who are voting in the plebiscite,” said Atamanenko.”Minister Strahl must explain why he feels that farmers’ votes should not protected by stringent privacy rules contained under the elections Canada Act.”
******************
Conservative MP’s Using Discredited Information to Attack CWB
Fri 23 Feb 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA – NDP Agriculture critic, Alex Atamanenko, MP – BC Southern Interior - is criticizing the Conservatives for misleading the public in their communications. “Conservative MP’s are using discredited information in flyers to their constituents, on their websites and in media interviews to attack the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB)”, stated Atamanenko.

The Conservatives claim that Algeria receives preferential low prices from the CWB at the expense of Canadian farmers was first made by the US Wheat Association (USWA) who misquoted an Algerian Official as the result of an inaccurate translation. “The USWA has since retracted and apologized for this error and Conservative M.P.’s should stop repeating this false allegation and apologize to the CWB”, demanded Atamanenko.

Atamanenko says Conservatives should also stop using spot barley prices from the US market in their communications to imply that farmers could get higher prices without the CWB. “A good analogy can be found by comparing spot barley prices with what occurs in the stock market. As we all know not everyone is able to access a high price on a stock in one particular day,” stated the NDP Agriculture critic.

The CWB prices reflect a pooled price made up of sales made last spring averaged with some sales being made at the current high spot prices.Atamanenko points to an article in the Star Phoenix by Richard Grey, Professor of agricultural economics at the University of Saskatchewan, who writes about the results of an extensive study which found that the posted daily U.S barley prices have little to do with the price actually received by farmers. Professor Gray says that without the CWB’s single desk powers the high premiums farmers now receive for malting barley prices would quickly fall to prices close to feed barley levels. Atamanenko recommends visiting www.kis.usask.ca to access this study.

Atamanenko is also concerned about several anti-CWB websites sporting similar domain names to the official barley plebiscite that have been created to intercept people looking for information on the internet. “Even the official barley plebiscite website, which should be providing links to information on all sides of the debate or none at all, only directs them to the government’s point of view,” said Atamanenko. “In a fair fight the CWB would be able to defend itself against all the false information being issued, but they have been muzzled by the Minister of Agriculture’s gag order”.

Farmer organizations have put together a website called www.savemycwb.ca to counter the websites offering false information on the barley plebiscite. “I urge everyone to double check their information sources and make sure there are hard facts behind information that affects how they are choosing to vote in the plebiscite,” concluded Atamanenko. “The marketing future of ordinary farmers absolutely depends on it”.
****************
Some farmers worried barley vote won't be private
Last Updated: Friday, February 16, 2007 7:56 AM CT
CBC News

Some farmers say they're worried about the confidentiality of ballots in Ottawa's barley plebiscite.

The federal government is asking Prairie farmers if they want to change the way barley is marketed and has sent out ballots with identification numbers that match numbers on voter declaration forms.

Bill Kruzko, who farms near Maple Creek, Sask., is among those who say they're not comfortable with the system.

"They'll know exactly how every producer in Canada voted because it has the identification number at the bottom of the ballot," he said.
There must be other ways of cross-checking information without putting identification numbers on the ballot, Kruzko said.

However, the accounting firm handling the plebiscite insists it's a good system and farmers have no reason to worry about the confidentiality of their votes.

KPMG spokesman Jeff Thomas said the vote is secret, even though there is a number on each ballot that identifies the farmer to whom it was sent.

Thomas, one of several accountants at KPMG who developed the form which allows farmers to declare their eligibility to vote, said it was imperative to have a system that verifies the authenticity of the information.

The firm had to have a way to trace the ballots of those declared ineligible to vote, but even with the identification number, the vote remains secret.

"Certainly with a combination of the information technology controls, the physical access controls, and the procedures that we are using, we can maintain that confidentiality and still provide for an efficient process and a timely tabulation," he said.

Meanwhile, voting for wheat board directors is handled somewhat differently, an official says.
Peter Eckersley, the election co-ordinator for the wheat board's director elections, says they used computer bar codes on the return envelopes.

"The Canadian Wheat Board Act and its related regulations specifically prohibits there being any mark on the ballot which could be used to identify the voter," he said.

However, the act does not apply to plebiscites so the rules could be different, Eckersley said.
The plebiscite asks barley farmers if they want to keep the existing system where the wheat board has a monopoly on barley exports, to stop the board from marketing barley, or to have a choice of marketing their barley through the wheat board or others.

The Conservative government says it's committed to giving "marketing choice" to farmers so they can get the best grain prices, but some farmers believe they already get the best prices from the wheat board and are worried change could hurt their bottom line.

Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl has said a plebiscite on wheat could be held at some point, but not any time soon.

Barley ballots were mailed out Feb. 7 and must be returned by March 13.

E-Brief to Liberals Across Canada

The following is significant in that the Liberal Party is keeping the issue of the Canadian Wheat Board, high on it's list. A portion of this months e-brief:

LE FRANÇAIS SUIT

Liberals Defend Canadian Wheat Board

As the CWB barley plebiscite begins this week, Liberal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter is continuing to expose the Conservatives’ manipulative tactics to dismantle the Wheat Board.
"The Conservatives are trying to manipulate this plebiscite because they don't want to give barley producers a real say on the CWB," said Mr. Easter. The Conservatives’ plan to create so-called “marketing choice” will effectively collapse the Wheat Board, causing members to lose their collective clout in the international market and introduce wide price fluctuations for their crops.

“The Conservative government is not only seeking to destroy this important institution, but is doing so by duplicitous and undemocratic methods,” said Mr. Easter. “This attack has got to stop now before it is too late.”

Les libéraux défendent la Commission canadienne du blé

Étant donné que le plébiscite sur l’orge et la Commission canadienne du blé commence cette semaine, le porte-parole libéral chargé de l’agriculture, Wayne Easter, continue d’exposer les manœuvres manipulatrices des conservateurs visant à démanteler la Commission canadienne du blé.

« Les conservateurs essaient de manipuler ce plébiscite parce qu’ils ne veulent pas donner aux producteurs d’orge leur mot à dire sur la Commission canadienne du blé », a déclaré M. Easter. Le plan des conservateurs de donner un soi-disant « choix du mode de commercialisation » va sûrement détruire la Commission et faire perdre à ses membres leur poids collectif dans le marché international, et cela va créer de grandes fluctuations de prix pour leurs récoltes.

Non seulement le gouvernement conservateur veut détruire cette grande institution, mais il le fait en utilisant des moyens hypocrites et non démocratiques, a dit M. Easter. Ce travail de sape doit cesser immédiatement, avant qu’il soit trop tard. ».

So You Really Don't Get It!?!?

Just in case this long drawn out battle with the Wheat Board has been too hard for you to understand, analyze or care about. Perhaps you need to see it from a slightly different point of view.

Another gentleman who has been trying to educate us mainstream ag guys for decades, and getting mostly ignored, has been Brewster Kneen, editor and author of the Ram' s Horn. He has recently written a lengthy, but illuminating article about the whole sorry affair.

It's length precludes my posting it here but I'll start you off with a taste. If you really want to understand this struggle, I believe Brewster has the history and the knowledge to make it clear for you.

A SAMPLE:

Ideological Individualism: “Choice”

The business government we are currently saddled with in Canada is busy dismantling the structures which have been built by farmers to protect themselves from The Market. While our focus in The Ram’s Horn is the food system, we must also note the other ways in which this government displays its ideological individualism, lack of morality and contempt for the public.

Lack of morality: unqualified support of Israel’s extraordinarily vindictive and destructive assault on Lebanon, its people and its infrastructure (roads, bridges, power stations, water supplies, schools etc).

Contempt for the public: acting on behalf of its special-interest supporters and right-wing ideology regardless of its minority status.

Individualism: offering tax benefits (which don’t help poor and working-class people) to deliver a ‘child benefit’ rather than the promised public funding of quality child-care facilities.


Certainly there are those farm businessmen and organizations (Canola Council, Canadian Agricultural Trade Alliance, Western Canadian Wheat Growers, etc.) who support the Harper government and the grain companies, as they have for years, in calling for an “open market,” the end of agricultural subsidies (but not until Europe cuts its agricultural support programs) and “choice” in how they market their grain.

Hello? Now What?!?!?

Christmas Day hadn't even officially arrived, when the article below hit my mailbox. The MP concerned has been a friend and advisor to Supply Management for a long time. Issues brought to the fore by this MP need to be taken very seriously! I give his comments and the warnings issued even more weight, after reading this week's Ontario Farmer. In an article entitled: 'Supply Management off WTO's Radar', Mr. Liam McCreary suggests " they can relax because they aren't on the table these days".

That's like the Devil telling you Hell is a great place to live. Mr. McCreary is heavily involved in an organization known as CAFTA . If HE is telling supply managed farmers to relax..... you better start working your contacts hard. Something is up!

It's not like people haven't been trying to warn supply management about the agenda the current government has.. Too much has happened out there in recent months. This Conservative party is not the traditional one, rural Ontario or Canada is used to. Much of their philosophy (and their agenda) smacks of the Alliance Party of old. The views espoused by the Trade Minister, in a western setting must be taken seriously.

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International Trade Minister Admits Supply-Management on the Chopping Block-December 21, 2006Hunter River, PEI

International Trade Minister David Emerson is sacrificing Canada's supply management system to appease the Bush administration at the expense of Canada's farmers, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, Liberal Opposition Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter said today."We have seen this coming with the Harper government's attack on the Canadian Wheat Board. We knew that the dismantlement of the Wheat Board was the first step to killing orderly marketing systems and now Minister Emerson has admitted it," said Easter.

Minister Emerson told The Western Producer that producers of dairy, poultry and egg products must prepare to be open to free trade in their sectors for the "national interest."In the same article, Mr. Emerson claims that supply management has forced Canada into a "defensive trade negotiating policy at the expense of competitive exporters.""What Mr. Emerson has done is a public service. Unlike the Minister of Agriculture, Chuck Strahl, who has said repeatedly that the Conservative government has no intention of undermining supply management as it has the Canadian Wheat Board, Minister Emerson has put the lie to those statements," Mr. Easter said."

Mr. Emerson has finally confirmed that farmers, regardless of whether they are working through the Canadian Wheat Board or involved in one of our successful supply managed commodity sectors are under direct and immediate threat by the Conservative government.

The direct threat to supply management from the Harper Conservatives has been around as long as the party itself," Mr. Easter said."Canadians are getting yet another clear look at the hypocrisy of the Harper government," Mr. Easter added. "Liberal governments have been long-time defenders of supply-management and this Liberal Opposition will continue to fight to defend that system against whatever attacks Mr. Harper and his cabinet have in store."

The supply-management industries in Canada are doing well compared to others and it is prized as a tool that enables producers to gain some power in the marketplace. Without supply-management, dairy, egg and poultry farmers will not be able to recover their cost of production or compete with international markets.

Combined, the Canadian egg, dairy and poultry sectors generate over $6.8 billion in farm cash receipts or 20 percent of total primary agriculture, more than $39 billion of economic activity, and over 215,000 jobs in Canada.

"What our supply management system and the Canadian Wheat Board have achieved is that both have contributed to the empowerment of farmers in the marketplace. Unfortunately, the Harper Conservatives have an agenda which will remove that power from our primary producers and their agenda will and must be challenged," Mr. Easter said.

Mr. Easter said supply-management provides high quality products at reasonable and stable prices for consumers, while ensuring price increases are in line or lower than that of other commodities, such as beef, pork and bread."

Compared to the rest of the world Canadians spend less on their food than just about any other country," he said. "This treachery is the Harper government's gift to the United States and the E.U., both of whom have attacked Canada's supply-management system and the Canadian Wheat Board at the WTO for years.

"This is a complete sellout of Canada's farmers to our giant international competitors."Mr. Easter said this betrayal comes on the heels of months of undemocratic and unprincipled attacks on the Canadian Wheat Board, which culminated this week in the firing of the Board's President and CEO.

"This is a government that has consistently misled and attempted to manipulate the public to achieve its ends. What is now clear is that farmers from Prince Edward Island to British Columbia, from Saskatchewan to Quebec and every province and territory between, have one thing in common: a justifiable reason to ensure the Conservative government is defeated and removed from the office they do not deserve to hold."

:::::

And then we get damage control. Issued later the same day:

December 21, 2006 (6:50 p.m. EST)
No. 163

CANADA’S NEW GOVERNMENT HAS PROVEN TRACK RECORD ON SUPPLY MANAGEMENT

The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today said Canada’s new government will continue to support our supply-managed agricultural industries in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round and other negotiations.

“Our supply management system is not on the negotiating table. This government has consistently defended our supply-managed sectors at the WTO,” said Minister Emerson.

“Agriculture has become the main focus of the Doha Round. In these negotiations, Canada strongly supports the supply management system used in the dairy, poultry and egg sectors, just as other countries have been supporting their own sensitive sectors.”

“This government strongly supports Canada’s supply management system,” said Minister Strahl. “Our party policy supports it, we campaigned on it, and we have gone to the wall to defend elements important to our supply management system, during international negotiations.”

Minister Emerson said Canada continues to believe that an ambitious outcome to the Doha Round is in the best interest of the Canadian economy as a whole. Negotiations have been stalled but will hopefully resume in the new year.
- 30 -

The NFU speaks...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 19, 2006

FIRING OF CWB PRESIDENT LATEST ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ACT BY HARPER GOVERNMENT

The firing of Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) President and CEO Adrian Measner, whose record at the helm of the $4 billion farmer's marketing agency has been exemplary , is the latest in a string of anti-democratic actions by the Harper Conservatives, says National Farmers Union (NFU) President Stewart Wells.

"For the first time in my life I am genuinely concerned about the future of this country," stated Wells. "Watching the Harper Conservatives engage in what amounts to a reign of terror against the CWB has shattered my notion of Canada as a safe country that is based on democracy."

Wells characterized the firing of Mr. Measner as "a vicious and savage act' that has already hurt Canada's international reputation. Letters of concern have recently been pouring in to the CWB office from such major companies as COFCO (China's largest grain purchaser), Warburton's (Europe's largest single end-user of western Canadian wheat), Grupo Altex (Mexico's largest wheat milling group, and Canada Malting (Canada's largest barley maltster). The market turbulence generated in the wake of the government's attack on the CWB has undermined years of market development efforts.

"Mr. Measner is a friend of the farmer and a true Canadian hero for not knuckling under to the ideological lunacy coming from the Harper Conservatives," stated Wells.

The Harper Conservatives engaged in election tampering during the CWB Director elections; purged CWB Directors who supported the single desk and replaced them with appointees who will toe the party line; and imposed gag orders on the CWB. "This is the same government that claims it will bring 'democracy' to the Senate," said Wells. "Canadians who understand what true democracy is will see through this Jekyll and Hyde routine."

Wells concluded that if they truly believed in democracy, Conservative MPs would follow the lead of Manitoba MP Inky Mark, who is honestly representing his constituents by supporting the CWB single desk.

He pointed out that David Anderson, MP for Cypress Hills Grasslands, represents a constituency whose boundaries closely align with the boundaries of the CWB District in which incumbent CWB Director Larry Hill , a supporter of the single-desk - won by a landslide majority.

- 30

Contact: Stewart Wells, NFU President (306) 741-7694
Terry Pugh, NFU Executive-Secretary (306) 652-9465

Another viewpoint......

December 19, 2006
Canadian Wheat Board boss axed

By STEVE LAMBERT

Adrian Measner. (CP/Tom Hanson)

ST. FRANCOIS XAVIER, Man. (CP) - The federal government moved a step closer to ending the Canadian Wheat Board's marketing monopoly Tuesday by firing board president Adrian Measner, who had spoken out against the plan.

"We issued the letter to him, just saying that his position . . . was no longer his, that thanked him for his service," Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said after making the announcement at a farm west of Winnipeg. "It's time to make a change."

The Conservatives are following through on an election promise to give western farmers greater freedom to choose whether to sell their wheat and barley through the board or independently, he said.

Strahl appointed Greg Arason, a former board president, to fill the vacancy on an interim basis.
He said Arason supports the government's position and will focus on "selling grain for farmers, not engaging in political activity".

Measner said Strahl never spoke with him directly about his firing.
"It isn't a very professional way to operate, but it is the method of operation that the minister has chosen," he said from his home near Winnipeg.

Measner said Arason will have to choose between listening to the board of directors, most of whom oppose the government's plan, or to listen to Strahl. "It's a no-win situation. I guess that's what I've been through."

Supporters of the board say scrapping the monopoly would effectively kill the farmer-run organization and result in lower prices.

"Mr. Strahl's approach to things has been to ignore . . . the wishes of farmers," said Bill Toews, one of the wheat board's elected directors.

Carl Siemens, who grows grains and oilseeds near Rush Lake, Sask., said Tuesday's announcement could cost the Conservatives votes in the next election.
"Although a goodly number of (farmers) actually voted for the Conservative government in the last federal election, they did so with no knowledge that this government was going to move in this fashion to remove the Canadian Wheat Board," he said.

But other farmers have been waiting a long time for what they see as a competitive alternative.
They say producers can get better prices if they're allowed to choose how they sell what they grow.

"If the Canadian Wheat Board is the best marketing agency in the world, they can prove it by competing for the farmers' grain," said Charlie Anderson, who farms in northeastern Saskatchewan.

Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter called the firing undemocratic and an act of intimidation.
The board, backed by the Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments, the federal Liberals and NDP and several farm groups, says the Canadian Wheat Board Act requires the government to hold a plebiscite before taking any steps to remove the monopoly.

Strahl, who has the support of the Alberta government and some farm groups, has said he'll hold a non-binding plebiscite on barley this winter, but hasn't committed to a date for a similar vote for wheat.

After Measner spoke out against the government plan in November, Strahl sent him a tersely worded letter giving him 14 days to change his stance or face dismissal.

Measner further irritated Strahl last week when the CEO stood beside Stephane Dion as the new Liberal leader made a campaign-style promise to support the wheat board.

Strahl has not had an easy time selling his new vision of the wheat board to Prairie farmers. Earlier this month, individuals who support the monopoly won four of five district elections for the CWB's board of directors.

Alberta Agriculture Minister George Groeneveld suggested that limits what Strahl can do in the way of reform. But he added he wasn't surprised that Measner was dumped.

"I think that Mr. Strahl was forced into that position," Groeneveld said in Edmonton. "When you start opposing the minister that's in charge of the show, your shelf life is probably quite limited."
Groeneveld's Manitoba counterpart, Rosann Wowchuk, said Strahl should not make any changes without allowing farmers to vote on them.

"I'm disappointed in him that he has so little respect for the producers and is prepared to subvert democracy so he gets his own agenda forward," she said.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.

Measner, who was raised on a farm in Holdfast, Sask., has worked for the board since 1974, including nine years in charge of grain marketing and transportation. He became its second president and chief executive officer in January 2003.

What's Wrong with This Picture?

Strahl fires president of Canadian Wheat Board

CTV.ca

News Staff Updated: Tue. Dec. 19 2006 3:43 PM ET

The federal agriculture minister has fired Adrian Measner, president of the embattled Canadian Wheat Board.

Officials with the board say Chuck Strahl gave Measner a termination notice today.
Strahl made his announcement at a staged rally west of Winnipeg. Farmers who oppose the wheat board's current monopoly on wheat and barley sales surrounded him.

He appointed Greg Arason, a former wheat board president, as interim president. Arason supports the government's plan to end the board's monopoly. "Arason will focus on selling grain, not engaging in political action," Strahl said.

In late November, Strahl sent Measner a fax saying he was considering terminating him.
Ken Ritter, chairman of the farmer-run organization, said the letter amounted to two week's notice. The board sent Strahl a fax imploring him not to fire Measner.

The Conservative government wants to end the board's monopoly over the sale of western wheat and barley -- a promise made in their 2006 election platform. Their plan would allow farmers to sell either to the board or independently.

Critics of the plan say ending the board's monopoly would effectively cripple the organization and result in lower prices for most farmers.

Measner had been one critic of the plan. He said the government should hold a plebiscite among farmers before proceeding with ending the board's monopoly.

Strahl has promised a non-binding plebiscite on barley this winter, but hasn't committed yet to a similar vote for wheat.

Federally, the NDP and Liberals both support the board. Measner stood beside Stephane Dion when the new Liberal leader promised to restore the board's monopoly if elected.

The NDP provincial governments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba support the status quo.
Alberta's Conservative government would like to see changes. Groups like the Western Canadian Wheat Growers and Western Canadian Barley Growers have always supported ending the board's monopoly.

In recent board elections, the ratio of board members favouring the status quo versus those who want to end the monopoly was maintained.

"You either have single-desk selling or you have don't have a CWB and they have presented no evidence that would counter that contention," said Mark Wartman, Saskatchewan's agriculture minister, the wake of the vote. "Clearly, the majority of farmers are not buying that nonsense about dual-marketing."

Strahl begged to differ.
"Other people would counter that in the federal election, 85 per cent of the MPs elected in wheat board country were Conservative,'' he said on Dec. 11. "And Conservatives campaigned openly and aggressively on moving to marketing choice. "People make decisions for all kinds of reasons, but the input that's going to be most valuable as far as changes to the board goes is going to be the plebiscite."

Strahl came under fire earlier this fall for striking the names of some farmers off the voting list for such a plebiscite.

The board was established by the federal government in 1935 to help give prairie farmers more marketing clout. An elected 15-member board administers it on behalf of more than 85,000 farmers.

The CWB is the world's largest wheat and barley marketer, controlling more than 20 per cent of the global market.

The board sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue to farmers, less marketing costs.

However, proponents of change say that in an era in which market pricing information is instantly available via the Internet, farmers could earn better returns by marketing their own grain.

With files from The Canadian Press
© Copyright 2006 CTV Inc.