Can Canadian Beef Compete Globally? - Dennis McKnight

[shaney]

I talked to Dennis at the Tiffin conference in Lethbridge about exporting canadian product. Here is the link to the rest of the story. Do you think that he is right or wrong?

http://realagriculture.com/2010/01/21/tiffin-2010-can-canadian-beef-compete-globally/

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[per]

I was there as well shaney. I think he is right on the money. Kind of a quit wallowing and give the consumers what they want message.

[smcgrath76]

I agree wholeheartedly with his message.
I am not sure we can do it with the
current infrastructure/industry structure.
For the record - WE SUCK AT TRADE, but we
excel at producing for our closest
neighbour under the illusion that it is
trade...

[wd40]

If he is right - and I don't disagree with much, then all the money spent trying to open foreign markets by CBEF and others have gone down the proverbial you know what.

Looking at the parade of leadership (some pretty smart people) who have passed by the window of time in the industry have missed the picture.

However I think he is missing one huge issue. As long as we have mutli-national ownership and Nelsons who have only one desire - to sell commodity beef to the US, and producers don't have control of their packing plant - then any marketing efforts else ware will never, never be really long term effective.

[kato]

I agree, even though dialup prevents me from seeing the video once again.

It's not a question of whether Canadian beef can compete, but whether Canadian cattle producers can survive on what they get paid for the cattle to provide that beef. The beef can sell for all the premiums possible, but if we can't live on the crumbs that are sent our way, it's all for nothing.

Unless there's a way for all this wonderful extra revenue that is supposedly out there from opening new markets finds it's way back to the cattle producers, there will be no beef to fill the markets.

It's just that simple. But nobody wants to recognize the fact.

Export price is world price, and world price is the cheapest available. Which makes you wonder if this is the way we even want to be heading?

[Sawbones]

Cudos shaney on a good interview and good questions. Highlights that I took home were
1) in Australia, rancher/processor and retailer spoke with one voice in Japan
2) It's not the steak but the sizzle that sells
3) Utilize the entire carcass
4) Let the other countries fight over commodity but sell value added, high end product
5) Going back to the status quo as advocated by Verbotten, CCA abd ABP is not a viable option