Alberta Beef Council

[ValueChainFX]

I know how right you are cowman, getting the old boys out and making the concerns of real producers is not easy. We do need to use the dollars raised by the organization to the producers advantage or give them back. I still look at any extension in the supply chain as a stand alone profit center. In todays market place yes we need some expertise that extends beyond a normal producers knowledge base, but when a group is influenced by the big guys it seems the big guys still call the shots!

Producers must be willing and able to at least understand the next few steps in the supply chain to ever hope they will direct their own future. A forum like this can only point out the issues and not put them to rest.

I enjoy producer meetings but must say most times they tire me out more then a 14 hour day! LOL

[kway]

How many cattle organizations are there anyway? Is there an organization of cow/calf producers? It seems agriculture is split into so many factions that we end up fighting ourselves and somehow always end up the loser. I wonder why? The government is proposing to assess livestock operations for property taxes and claim the industry wanted it. I wonder which of the cattle organizations asked for it. It would be nice to have a single strong voice representing us.

[cakadu]

It seems to me that often the little guy can't make it to the meetings, even though he would like to, because he is out hustling to make a go of things. He can't afford to hire someone to come in for a day or two to look after things while he is away. Or is it more the case that he feels he won't be heard anyway?

I kind of have to agree that we are inundated with organizations of one sort or another, all with slightly different goals and aims, but doing similar things. How many cattle organizations actually exist in Alberta? How about in the rest of Canada? I know some of them like ACC, CCA, the breed specific groups, Alberta Cattle Feeders. I recall several years ago that there was an attempt by 4 of the beef groups to work together, but it didn't go anywhere because of breed pride. At the end of the day, aren't you all selling boxed beef?

[cakadu]

I would like to respond to some of the comments made as a cattle producer who pays a check off and therefore has a vested interest in ACC. ACC is a democratically elected organization where any producer can run and become a delegate. I have been to a number of fall meetings and the delegates are always encouraging producers to run, as quite often they are short candidates. In my zone there is a number of first term candidates. These people can be held accountable by running against them and becoming involved.
I did some research and the Alberta Beef Council is composed of Alberta Cattle Feeders' Association, Western Stock Growers Association, Alberta Auction Market Association, and Alberta Livestock Dealers and Order Buyers Association. A number of other organizations have been asked to join but have declined such as Feeder Association and Alberta Breeders and the packers. ACC has agreed to provide input but has not joined the steering committee.
This group objective is "to develop a blueprint for future representationl of the Alberta beef industry." As a cow/calf backgrounder, I have some serious concerns when the feedlot industry and auction markets are asking for better representation when there is an open democratic process in place.
It is disappointing to see Alberta's beef industry continuing to in-fight while larger issues such as shrinking consumption of our product is occuring.

[cowman]

I have already had my rant for the day concerning the ACC so won't go there!
I do believe the auction marts should be involved because they have a vested interest in keeping the cow/calf guy in business. For a lot of people the auction staff are their link to the rest of the industry. And generally speaking they are our neighbors and friends who in reality have our best interests at heart. Without the cow/calf guy they are out of business...and in reality without the free enterprize mart we are at the mercy of the feeding and packing industry.

[kway]

Beeffarmer, I totally agree with you. The group that are proposing the Alberta Beef Council are looking after themselves and not the little guy. It would be a huge mistake to let them control the industry.