Should we follow the Americans again or is it too late?

[rkaiser]

The U.S. Senate Ag Committee yesterday passed an amendment to its version of the Farm Bill that would prohibit packers from owning livestock for more than 14 days before slaughter. There was no debate on the measure, which passed on a voice vote as part of a package of 32 other provisions.



Under the proposed amendment to the Packers and Stockyards Act, processors could not, "own or feed livestock directly, through a subsidiary, or through an arrangement that gives the packer operational, managerial, or supervisory control over the livestock, or over the farming operation that produces the livestock." NCBA and KLA oppose this amendment, which would limit marketing options for producers selling cattle.



Such language was not included in the House version of the Farm Bill. The Senate proposed a similar provision in the 2002 Farm Bill, but it was stripped out before the legislation was approved.



The Senate Ag Committee today will continue debate on livestock issues, including an amendment that would substitute “unfair” for “competitive injury” as the threshold for determining anti-competitive activity under the Packers and Stockyards Act. NCBA and KLA support an alternative amendment that would study the issue to determine the appropriateness of the language change and identify any unintended consequences prior to implementation.

[kato]

It would sure beat living in the world that the hog producers live in right now. They are getting it left and right.

Our local processor has just been bought out by a big pig company, so that pretty much puts all the hog processing in Manitoba in the hands of firms who also are big owners and producers of hogs themselves. They have the muscle, and they aren't afraid to use it.

Maple Leaf in Brandon produces a lot of it's own pigs too, and just announced that they would not accept pigs in loads of less than 70 market hogs.

Great news for the smaller operators eh? They are well on the way to an American chicken style industry.

This is not the future I want for our cattle producers.

[dalek]

Kato, in Ontario Maple Leaf doesn't even slaughter their own hogs anymore, they've got them all going into Pennsylvania.
Friend of mine works for a big player managing sows, two weeks ago they were aborting thousands of sows in their barns because they'll lose less money that way than if they had to raise the pigs.

[kato]

Wow! That's scarey!