In response to comments made in reference to the proposed wheat levy for certified seed purchases on your website on January 27, 2009:
- The decision as to where the levy would be spent would be made by purchasers of certified seed. By voting with our purchase decision we would be supporting the most successful breeding programs.
- As to the added bureaucracy, there would no doubt be some extra administrative costs incurred by the OWPMB for both collecting the levy and rebating it to certified seed purchasers. However, unlike a tax credit, this method would not require legislation to implement or to change. Wheat producers would be in control and could make changes or terminate as conditions dictate.
- The comment about mildew discounted wheat is valid but should be directed to the Eastern Standards committee of the Canadian Grain Commission. Ontario wheat producers are represented on this committee by the OWPMB. Removing mildew as a grading factor is a marketing issue that must be dealt with immediately. It is not an issue that any breeding program can solve.
- As to the comment that seed companies should learn to live off of the 100,000 acres of certified seed being used: If we only use certified seed on 10 per cent of our planted acres, wheat farmers will be the losers as we will not have available to us, new higher yielding varieties that will provide us with improved Ontario wheat yields.
This levy proposal is a concept based on fairness. All wheat producers would be provided with the opportunity to contribute to breeding research by virtue of the levy. Those that purchase certified seed would receive a rebate.
I for one do not want to return to the days of having only Frederick and Yorkstar type choices.
Bev Hill
Varna
Comments
Why is it that when there is funding of any kind needed they always rip a chunk out of the farmers pocket? The farmers contribution to a loaf of bread is 6 or 7 cents to my knowledge. Why don,t they get their $ somewhere farther down the chain than always from the guy who makes the least? The reference to 100,000 acres of certified seed sales is wrong as it is stated that 25% of our Ontario acres are grown from certified seed, down from 75% in the past. I believe there are approximately 1,000,000 acres of wheat planted for /09 harvest, that means 250,000 acres of certified seed. The reppercussions of expensive seed will result in less being purchased. Farmers only need 4 to 7 percent of their crop to produce seed for the following year, yet they are still planting 25% certified. Is it possible that farmers are cutting costs by purchasing less? The difference between profit and loss on 100 acres of wheat could very well be in the amount of certified seed purchased. Does anyone believe their local supermarket would sell a loaf of bread at a loss? Quick, call Chicken Little because the sky IS falling and this report just in, hell has frozen over!
I'm no mathematician, so correct me if I'm wrong,please. One reply on this topic said he got 5 extra bushels from either the new genetics or from certified seed. Lets do the math. Certified seed costs roughly $25.00/bag, @ 2 bags /acre seeding rate, thats $50.00/acre. Common seed costs about $6.00/bushel{market price not cost of production} , @ 2.5 bushel / acre seeding rate, thats $15.00/acre. Add $15.00 for the cost of seed treatment and your at $30.00. You're paying $20.00 more for cetified seed per acre, to get 5 bushel @ $6.00 back.
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