In the world of agriculture we are into the time of year where issues tend to cool, and farmers have a moment to exhale and relax just a little bit.
Harvest is complete, and in the case of 2011 it was a long fall season with generally good weather conditions that allowed farmers to put the crop in the bin without a lot of adversity. The result for most was an average crop, or better, that was put in the bin in good condition, in a year when grain and oilseed prices are as good across the board as they have ever been.
The mood regarding the 2011 crop has to be generally good.
With the current crop harvested, it is still too early for most farmers to begin more than rudimentary planning for 2012, so that is not yet on the issue agenda.
In Saskatchewan there is an election that might attract some farmer attention, but agriculture is not exactly high on the issue agenda, and that is the case for a couple of reasons.
On one hand, many of the key issues in terms of farmers relate to safety nets. For the most part, the programs that are shared with the federal government are long terms deals that neither the Saskatchewan Party, nor the New Democrats, are about to opt out of.
And then there is the simple truth of money. In Saskatchewan health care, education, and debt payment take up the largest portion of the province's spending pie. With all the other areas such as highways, social services, agriculture and various departments left to divvy up the crumbs of what money remains, there is simply little expectation of significant change in agriculture spending.
So while the vote Nov. 7 in Saskatchewan is important, it is not a big event in terms of key issues.
This takes most farmers back to the issue of the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board.
There is a lot of effort being put into rallying support for a last-ditch effort to make the federal government pay attention in terms of maintaining the single desk selling agency for Western Canadian wheat, durum and export barley.
It is interesting that an organization such as the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce is hosting a debate on the issue, even as the Saskatchewan Chamber has come out in favour of change.
That a local Chamber is wading into the fray by providing a public forum for both sides is interesting, although it might be too late to have an effect since the Conservatives look completely entrenched in their view and in their course of action.
It is too bad the debates had not been held earlier, and that there was some feeling the federal government might listen to the groundswell.
While Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz have deaf ears when it comes to the issue of the wheat board, the way of democracy is to raise a voice and hope the powers in Ottawa finally realize it is voters who are talking.
