Just waiting on ABP

[farmers_son]

I reread my post and I did not see a cheap shot there. I do believe there are no easy solutions and unless whatever this group has in mind will increase the price of live cattle or direct returns to the producer it is not a solution at all. It would be wonderful if it did, as I said I like an easy answer as much as the next fellow, and I look forward to their announcement on February 21. After reading rkaisers post I made arrangements to be at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference in Red Deer, I am interested in hearing their ideas.

I know nothing of what happened at a particular ABP producer meeting. And I am not Mr. ABP in these threads even if rksaiser likes to make out I am. I have absolutely no idea what did or did not go on in this B5 group, who attended or who did not attend and why other than rkaisers posts in these threads. I gather from the post at the top of this thread that ABP is still considering whatever proposal came out of the process.

Regarding any proposal the B5 group and others like them might come up with, if it involves sound ideas they will go forward. The WSGA and I think some of the others in rkaisers B5 group are already involved and part of ABP, including rkaiser himself. You bet there are good people in the WSGA, I recall Hugh Lynch Staunton came into ABP as a WSGA delegate and now he is the head of CCA. There is no culture of arrogance at ABP. For the most part they try not to swear when speaking in public, that is about it. Unfortunately it is part and parcel of the cattle business that you will not agree with every producer all the time. The ideas are so varied and solutions so hard to find.

I see people come into ABP and learn about the cattle industry. There is a lot to know. Everyone there is a cattle producer too. Some people choose to work for the industry in other organizations, like the WSGA or the Cattle Feeders and that is fine too. Some stay home and let others do it. Trying to improve the lot of the grass roots cattle producer is a lot of work and most solutions take years of work to see them actually happen.

[per]

You can't back off from being ABP's apologist farmers_son. Where will we be able to use up all of this perfectly good edginess and sarcasm? I respect your well thought out posts and loyalty to the ABP. That is what makes the conversation interesting. You are right that everyone participates in different ways, but the thing that sets the ABP apart is that the tax is non negotiable. That gives them a higher responsibility for accountability to all tax payers all the time on all sides of every argument that affects the beef industry. When there is a groundswell of support for different ideas or change then it shouldn't just be ignored or marginalized. Many of those producers just check out of the process because it seems of no use anymore. Yes there are no magic bullets to make our animals worth more today but a strategic shift has to happen soon if there is to be an industry tomorrow. That is what the B5 group is all about. Moving forward with a plan that is made by the industry for the industry. I appreciate having the opportunity to sit at this coffee shop and discuss these subjects with everyone here at Agriville.

[grassfarmer]

Farmers_son you state "There is no culture of arrogance at ABP. For the most part they try not to swear when speaking in public, that is about it." presumably in response to my post. Your statement is a bit of a contradiction - you claim there is no culture of arrogance yet by hinting that no swearing in public is the only rule governing ABP speakers you are condoning the arrogant behavior I mentioned in my post.
I will refresh your memory - An ABP/CCA speaker at a zone meeting stands up and opens the floor to questions with the precursor that he will not answer questions from BIG-C members. Given that any BIG-C members in the room were also ABP levy payers he absolutely did not have the right to make that statement. You don't think that was improper, inappropriate or arrogant farmers_son ??

[rkaiser]

No more need to wait. ABP pulled their name off the media release. Good ridence I say. One more nail in the coffin for this "has been" group at the controls of ABP.

For Immediate Release February 8, 2008

Beef Industry Groups Launch New Beef Market Initiative

Calgary, AB – On October 16, 2007 the Agriculture Minister Groeneveld called 5 industry groups to a meeting at the McDougall Center in Calgary. The Minister charged these groups with developing a forward looking strategy for the Alberta beef industry. As a result, the Canada Gold Beef concept has taken shape. This encompasses an innovative new beef value chain which will produce and sell a family of branded beef products with environmental, animal husbandry, and strict food safety requirements to meet the demands of local and international customers. A formal announcement of the program will take place at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference on February 21 in Red Deer.

A cornerstone of the program is a collaborative, mutually beneficial relationship amongst the cow-calf, feedlot and processing sectors of the beef industry. Cattle feeder spokesman, Rick Paskal says that the program will capture value for attributes such as age and source verification, traceability, and good production practices for all cattle in the program.” While it will be voluntary, Paskal and the group have seen interest from a large number of producers, and initial discussions with meat packers have been extremely encouraging. The groups involved in the discussions of this initiative have included representatives from the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association, the Beef Initiative Group, the Feeders Association of Alberta, and the Western Stock Growers’ Association. According to rancher Russ Pickett, of the Western Stock Growers Association, “it is time to take a new approach to conducting business for cow/calf producers, feedlot operators and meat packers”.

Industry and government will be working together to ensure that a value-added beef industry is on a competitive footing to grow the business here and abroad. Reg Schmidt of the Feeders Association of Alberta notes that, “we are setting up a corporate structure for Canada Gold Beef and have secured the name and will be seeking a trade mark for the company”.
“We are very excited about this endeavor” says Cam Ostercamp of the Beef Initiative Group. Cam is encouraging anyone tied to the beef business to attend the 5th annual Alberta Beef Industry Conference where leaders will be talking more about this plan in a panel discussion on February 21st. We are encouraging producers to watch for further information on how to participate in Canada Gold Beef.
For details on the conference go to www.abiconference.ca or call Jennifer Brunette at the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association, 403-250-2509 ext 22.
 
Contacts:
Rick Paskal Russ Pickett Cam Ostercamp Reg Schmidt
403-894-9449 403-641-2485 403-684-3397 780-789-2353

[grassfarmer]

Wow, what a crazy plan. I can see now why ABP oppose it ????? LMAO.

[DiamondSCattleCo]

Its time that ABP/CCA lost their check off dollars. We're pouring money into an organization that is not representing cow/calf producers AT ALL.

Rod

[rkaiser]

They (ABP) talk like supporting something like Canada Gold Beef is not in their mandate, however, I think it is more of a pouty protest.

The other things that the B4 group agrees on and suggested to government include a directional levy and BSE testing for market access.

Like I say good riddence, and I hope someone other than yours truly starts a petition. If not - I may have to start that process up when this Canada Gold process moves beyond my personal involvement.

The following is an example of the kind of guy we are looking for to lead the "Canada Gold Beef" team.

Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes?
He has a new book, and here are some excerpts.
Lee Iacocca Says:
"Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage?
We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car.
But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say,
"Stay the course"
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America,
not the damned "Titanic". I'll give you a sound bite: "Throw all the bums out!"
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the " America " my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged.
This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.
The Biggest "C" is Crisis!
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory.
Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess.
So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country.
We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.
Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: "Where have all the leaders gone?" Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense?
I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo?
We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing.
Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when "The Big Three" referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening.....But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity.
What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope and I believe in America.
In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises:
"The Great Depression", "World War II", the "Korean War", the "Kennedy Assassination", the "Vietnam War", the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11.
If I've learned one thing, it's this: "You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action.
Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play.
That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to "Action" for people who, like me, believe in America . It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had "enough."
Excerpted from "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?".
Copyright (c) 2007 by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved.

[per]

Good inspirational morning message Randy. I heard Rick Burton on the Radio this morning explaining how not all the groups that the Minister of Agriculture mandated to get together and outline a plan could agree. He then went on to say that the Real group of the industry will meet in Feb and deal with the issue. I couldn't find the news clip on the radio stations web site. When it is available I will post it. He didn't mention that only One group stonewalled the process. I guess this is their hill to live or die on. I hope for their sake they come up with something brilliant from their brain trust.

[vagabonddreamer]

Hey guys!! As an outsider (not in Alberta..lol...) and relatively new to the site...i have been doing quite a bit of background reading with respect to hierarchy and associative memberships....in BC we have only the BC Cattlemen's (like em or hate em)...and to be honest we dont know HOW or if they are effectual....

i am very curious as to how and who the players are in Alberta as you guys seem to run the cattle show in this country...(again like it or not...lol)...

would one of you articulate members care to let the rest of us know what the infighting is about...and exactly who is (from and association standpoint) in the leadership role???

i take it there is a levy assigned to cattle auctioned that goes to Alberta Beef Producers??? what of these other acronyms i keep reading about??? thx...vs

[grassfarmer]

I enjoyed that post Randy, the quote
"We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind..." seemed most fitting in the circumstances.
We certainly don't have a Lee lacocca
heading up ABP or CCA - more like Coco the clown!
I don't know about starting a petition... was discussing with someone the other night the possibility of withholding ABP levy though.... any ideas on the workability of that?

[rkaiser]

Don't get what you mean grassfarmer. The auction marts take it off automatically. Have you been chatting with one of them? Private sales - you need to do it yourself and I can tell you that I personally send nothing their way and look forward to a challenge by ABP to collect.

[grassfarmer]

Yeah it's the auction mart stuff I'm talking of withholding!

[DiamondSCattleCo]

It would be nice to get a few of the auction markets to agree to withhold the levy, much the same as select RMs withheld the school tax a couple years back.

Hmmmm, perhaps its an idea with some real merit, grassfarmer. Hit them where it hurts and tell good ol' Hughey that we don't appreciate an organization who represents the packers more than the producers.

Rod