Easy fix for beef and pork industries

[Muskeg4dirt]

I dedicted 15 years of my farming career to the dairy industry. Left to pursue the "easier ranch life". Have made minimal profits since; often wonder why I left supply management. Should work well for beef and pork. Simple solution (politics aside)
1.give every producer quota for half his/her production
2. develop price formula at cost of production plus profit margin.
3. tariff imports to match price formula
4. cull half the national herd thereby eliminating all export.
5. Alow quota to be bought and sold orderly: allowing producers to sell/ exit- purchase/enter
Problems solved.

[perfecho]

Agree on some things Musk. Believe we can have the two systems......the export would not be under the quota system. Still export, but that one you undertake with packers/contracts, etc.
The only thing I don't like about this system, is the cost of quota can be a barrier for someone to startup. We see that in dairy and chickens. Fix that and i am in......perhaps limiting size. I really don't know why someone needs 500 milk cows to makd a living?

[kato]

This is an option that needs to be discussed more often. I would be more than happy to be able to make a living without having to own more cows, and doing more work than we can handle. I think that if enough grassroots cow owners would bring it up in serious discussions, it would certainly be one way to get some attention.

People don't remember any more what caused the prairie Pools to come about, or the co-operative movement that is so prevalent in this country. They happened because back then farmers were faced with the same sort of challenges dealing with those higher on the food chain than them that we have. There was a reason for it, but that has been lost.

One argument against supply management that I've heard is that it is a violation of NAFTA. I say, BIG DEAL! The U.S. doesn't mind violating it whenever it's convenient. They've set the precedent, and we shouldn't be afraid of hurting their feelings over this. They obviously don't want our cattle, so what should it matter to them what we do?

It's time for the Canadian government to remember that they are supposed to be working for Canadians, not international corporations.

[ivbinconned]

Quotas...supply management. This would be addressing the symptoms instead of addressing the cause!

Sitting on land that is suited ONLY for livestock... talk of "buying a quota" makes me nervous.

See other thread "demise"...anti combines law with teeth would cure a lot of problems without inviting "government" to regulate our business, which would force many out of the industry...many who are qualified and manage land suitable for beef.

I have long been of the mind that the fact that the purchase of livestock is a 100% write off has been bad for those of us who need to utilize the land we manage, with cattle. The tax write off invites a lot of money into the sector, motivated by the write off, instead of earning a living.

Some years they jump in, creating distortion,some years they are out of the market entirely, creating bigger swings in the market and complicating price discovery.

[burnt]

I agree somewhat that this is only treating the symptoms. I think we will have an extremely hard time implementing it because of the inevitable severe opposition that will come from the packing and retailing sectors. They just have more clout than we have.

Plus, the consumers would not support it and they ultimately are Simon Colwell, they have the final word. They feel like they are being held hostage by the terms marketing board and supply management.

The problem of pricing quota is also a legitimate concern. Quota can be a valuable tool only if it remains without a monetary value.