Good morning, gentlemen.
I would like to tell you my thhinking. Being from Quebec, everything relating to Western Canada and grain is a bit too remote for us.
As far as seeds are concerned, I believe that research is vital. I have always been in the farming sector and, through my readings, I have concluded that Agriculture Canada abandoned all research about 10 years ago. Now, it's only paying lip service to it.
We have excellent researchers in Canada but their budgets have been decimated and we are now living with the consequences. I believe that we have a 10-year lag in strategic planning, in research and marketing of farm products, especially for the Western grain industry. This doesn't make things any easier and we are now faced with the consequences and we're having to catch up.
I wonder if you agree with my analysis. We believe that we need to develop a vision to be implemented over the next 10 or 15 years in order to raise the profitability of our producers. We hear a lot of talk about techniques that might lead to savings of up to $2 to $10 per ton. Had we worked in concert 10 years ago, with strategic thinking, we would not be around this table today trying to save 10 $ per ton. We would have a flourishing industry.
What do you think should be done to ensure that the Canadian grain industry become a booming industry over the next 15 years?