This has been a very interesting thread, we have talked about many issues that all focus on the bottom line. Believe it or not I feel that Canadians have a big opportunity here as we move into the future. The topic of the thread is US Farm Subsidies: Problem or Opportunity? I bet everyone of you has heard your dad (or maybe said it yourself) what doesn't kill ya, makes ya stronger!
Well in the case of beef production, I believe our product is a product the consumer would favor. Rather then try to hide the fact it is from Canada we should wave the flag a bit. However I guess that depends how you are marketing your product if you are putting it through IBP or Cargill then you get what they give. If you are raising a product that has those consistently high quality traits, then what are you doing selling it into the commodity pot?
Our real challenge here is to get out of the big rut we are all in, (remember a rut is just a grave with open ends.) Other groups of producers have been able to take their products and see higher returns for them. I do believe that we have plenty of room in our own back yard (The Canadian Market) to build what we should have in the first place .... A strong Canadian Foundation! Other markets such as the EU (a specialty market anyway) Asia (another specialty market) and the U.S. (a political market) are extras.
What can we do, it is my opinion that we can do lots, but the first step is get away from all the stinkin thinkin!!! I have been at more producer meetings that are just silly boy squawks and a total neglect of the real issues. Hey the real issues are straight forward and easy.
1.) The traditional supply chain is no longer acceptable.
2.) You the producer are responsible to make your business work, if it isn't working the way it is now then we need to change it so it does work.
3.) Our government is not going to give you the money, some where at some time,
we the producer is going to have to come up with the money to make it work.
4.) At some point you are going to have to work with someone else (oh my yes this means you can not fix Canada's problem yourself) It will take a collaborative effort.
5.) All the other issues are not as big as the issue of staying alive so go ahead and save them for later, but remember until you have your own house fixed, you can't be fixin someone else's.
Well in the case of beef production, I believe our product is a product the consumer would favor. Rather then try to hide the fact it is from Canada we should wave the flag a bit. However I guess that depends how you are marketing your product if you are putting it through IBP or Cargill then you get what they give. If you are raising a product that has those consistently high quality traits, then what are you doing selling it into the commodity pot?
Our real challenge here is to get out of the big rut we are all in, (remember a rut is just a grave with open ends.) Other groups of producers have been able to take their products and see higher returns for them. I do believe that we have plenty of room in our own back yard (The Canadian Market) to build what we should have in the first place .... A strong Canadian Foundation! Other markets such as the EU (a specialty market anyway) Asia (another specialty market) and the U.S. (a political market) are extras.
What can we do, it is my opinion that we can do lots, but the first step is get away from all the stinkin thinkin!!! I have been at more producer meetings that are just silly boy squawks and a total neglect of the real issues. Hey the real issues are straight forward and easy.
1.) The traditional supply chain is no longer acceptable.
2.) You the producer are responsible to make your business work, if it isn't working the way it is now then we need to change it so it does work.
3.) Our government is not going to give you the money, some where at some time,
we the producer is going to have to come up with the money to make it work.
4.) At some point you are going to have to work with someone else (oh my yes this means you can not fix Canada's problem yourself) It will take a collaborative effort.
5.) All the other issues are not as big as the issue of staying alive so go ahead and save them for later, but remember until you have your own house fixed, you can't be fixin someone else's.
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