Second class citizens?

[rookie]

Good morning all,

Got in from a field trip with a crop insurance adjuster. Had some hail damage and since I payed to get the coverage I am getting covered. Its pretty cut and dried stuff, the way I like things.
But if a check comes in the mail from one of these "programs" , I will cash it.

You know , I do have a business plan to grow things , and then make my mortgage payments. But this stuff over the last several years just don't make it that easy. No rain, plenty of hoppers, no prices, cost increases, and no cash...

And no simple answer to fix it for everyone either. Heck, in my neighborhood alone, I see almost no young people starting out, and very few working along side the parents. I am sure we can all agree on this. And why is this ? I think its the lack of return you can expect on what you invest .

There are just so many variables for each and every one of the producers out there that there is no answer for the question of how to fix this industry in order to make a more pleasant business.

There's that old saying about the only constant is change. No ones world from the past exists today, nor will any of ours exist tomorrow as it does today.

I have gone back to work in the oil patch ( because I need more checks in that mail box ) and am reminded daily by seeing my non farming co workers , that the skills, determination , resourcefulness and stamina of farmers and ranchers is anything but second class. I tip my hat to you all for still toughing it out.

First class all the way...

Lets just all stick together, history has shown the odds will be better...

[kato]

Wise words.. Maybe it's time to change your name from rookie?

[rookie]

That was my dogs name ...

[per]

Sorry if I am a little off topic on this I came in late and have yet to read all the posts. I just wanted to comment on Kato's last paragraph.

"If not for BSE, we would not be spending millions regaining lost markets. We would not be spending millions removing SRM's. We would not be facing MCOOL at the border. We would not have run the Aggravation program down to the point where it is useless. We would not have the CFIA big brothers standing at loading chutes looking for people to hand out fines to. And we would not be having this conversation, because very likely we would be in the financial position to weather the "normal" ups and downs of the market."

I think the world has changed and would have changed anyway not withstanding BSE. I know the word traceability conjures up big brother images but if we don't catch up to Australia in this area we will be left in the dust. They now have a in out system that is efficient and effective. In order to reach some of the ignored markets (by us) that they are entering and servicing we need to go down this road or forever be stuck on this continent.

[SADIE]

One basic question Per.

What is Australia doing that they perfected the animal ID. Have you gone over and really looked at that aspect.

I am hearing two different stories on their animal ID.

Are they using the Rumen Bolus?

I hear they have a very tight grasp on "Quality control with RFID companies If they are still using the ear-tag RFID". One mistake and problem with retention ---that company is "booted Out".

When my time slows down I will be re-connecting with Large Animal Veterinary Colleagues likely through the universities to really get a clear understanding on WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

Personnally this fall this cow-herd will be back with the metal # 2 Ketchum tag in their ears the same tag that had high retention back in the 60s and 70s. This will be just for our records and permanent ID as these females stay in our own herd.

Back to the hay fields---Inverting hay between the daily rain showers.

[smcgrath76]

I don't think traceability is the
answer, but it may be a small part of
it. How much time and $ will we spend
tracing unknown product that we send to
consumers who don't want it? Outside of
animal health issues at the moment, it
is a complete and total waste of $.
Traceability is useless in the current
format because unless it can be tied to
cattle that produce beef that meet a
specific market demand it is basically .
The way I see the market today is that a
big plant buys on the average and kills
4000 head and hopes that they get 3000
that meet the product they have sold
ahead. The rest we have to get rid of
somehow. Until we start producing
specific cattle to meet specific markets
there is very little chance that
traceability will ever get more $ into
the pockets of the guy on the ground
(packer issues notwithstanding).
I was struck by this in Australia when I
met producers who told me what they did
by the market they served (eg: I raise
Japanese steers). Following around an
unknown product from start to finish
doesn't actually do a heck of a lot of
good for anybody that I can see, without
proper feedback, market development
(actually asking what specs a customer
wants) and targeting those markets. I
think there is lots of room for all
types of cattle and production systems,
but the reality is that we need to know
which cattle fit which markets and how
to make them fit better. Then producers
can figure out their own market to
tackle and how far down the chain into
that market they want to go. We would
almost be interdependent in the industry
at that point (instead of antagonistic).
Basically, we should be targeting
markets and tracing to try to better
serve the market. That would add value
and let the customer actually pay for
the system.