To the editor:
It was refreshing to see Stewart Wells tell it like it is in his recent letter, regarding the state of Grain Marketing in Western Canada, in the 100 Mile House Free Press (page A9, headlined Prairie farmers disenfranchised.
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has no real argument other than to attack the messenger.
Farmers are growing tired of him telling us how well off we are under "marketing freedom" and how we are making record profits. Is he not aware prices have fallen to four-year-lows or below and the agricultural grain economy is slowing?
How can Mr. Ritz be proud of the situation he and his government have instigated?
We have no effective futures price discovery, record basis deductions, recent poor co-ordination of grain stocks at port, and high demurrage charges.
Grain company quotes are widely variable and there is often little idea of how much will be discounted for protein and grade shortcomings.
The buyers are not beating a path to our door trying to outdo one another! We are simply weaker price takers spending excessive amounts of time calling for elusive quotes.
As a farmer, it feels like we have no marketing freedom, only the opportunity to contribute to those company profits involved with handling our product.
Robert Horne
Swift Current, Sask.