Where's Ralph?

[Willowcreek]

Heard a rumor today that Ralph is in Korea asking about opening markets if we test. Might be a bunch of bull, but I wouldn't put it past the little booger.

[cowman]

Well I just hope he dosn't say something stupid again! He almost sank us the last time he opened his mouth!
I often wonder how long it would take to get the labs up and running if by some miracle Canada decides to test everything? I wonder if it would take as long as getting some sort of new packing plants up and going? Seems we aren't doing too well at getting any new packing plants built? Maybe it would take three or four years to get the labs built? I assume they would have to be public labs as I doubt Cargill or IBP would be keen on putting up the money...and I guess we all know how speedy the government is at getting anything done?

[cowman]

Almost sunk us?

How the hell can you sink when your foot is tied to a rock at the bottom of the lake. Kind of sounds like a bit of hope in you cowman. Who is it that you feel you can go to if it isn't Ralph?
Yes we should have started something ourselves a long time ago, but look how hard a grass roots group like BIG C has simply dealing with synicism from guys like you and rsomer.
New meeting set for Camrose, and probably Olds in the next week. Bring rsomer and all of your answers along.Or just continue to find the negative in everything everywhere.

[cowman]

Well rpkaiser, When you stand up and say the farmer should just shoot, shovel and shutup, I don't think that really sends out the message that we have a safe product and are trying to do everything in our power to ensure it is safe? Probably was really reassuring to the Japanese?
Perhaps I am being cynical regarding Big C. I hope they can convince the powers that be, to at least consider a test...who knows that might frighten the Americans enough that they get real about this border? Maybe then we wouldn't have to even consider the test?
I am not against testing. Never was. In fact I believe there should be a test on every animal...and not because I want to see the border open...but because I have a lot of problems with this whole BSE thing and I think we've been lied to and I don't believe one whit of the "science" of BSE! It's simple really...I don't know if our beef is safe? I would like to think I'm not killing people by feeding them a tainted deadly product! I don't want my children or grand children dying because some so-called "scientist" didn't get it right!
However, having said all that, I realize that a "test" for all cattle, probably isn't going to happen. The best we can hope for is that "voluntary" testing will be allowed. And consider, that statement, I just made? How far have slipped into a dictatorship when we aren't even allowed to test our own food for safetys sake?
Rsomer, argues one way because he obviously believes in the science! I argue my cynical way because I think I have a pretty good understanding of how the system works...and I'm tired of tilting at windmills! And maybe that isn't right, and maybe I'll answer for that one day...if so...Shame on me.

[CattleAnnie]

Yeah Cowman, it does make one wonder, doesn't it? The only problem I have with the gov't taking responsibility (hypothetically) for BSE testing on that scale is that I keep thinking of the fiasco they made with their stupid gun control legislation. What a colossal waste of money and effort.

Hey, an aside here, has anyone received any Federal cull cow money? Hate to be waiting for a gov't cheque, but the vet would really like his bill paid.

[whiteface]

Saying a test will never happen is like saying you'll never win the lottery. Absolutly correct if you never buy a ticket. If enough of us ask for testing and they still say no well, revolutions happen this way. BUT WE HAVE TO BOND TOGETHER AND DEMAND WHAT WE NEED TO SAVE OURSELVES! Whining about what simply cannot happen doesn't get anyone anywhere. It can and will happen if we work at it happening rather than laying down and dying. Same goes for packing plants that we also need, the two go hand in hand. Takes a little while to get things going but that is why we have to get moving NOW with our requests and demands. My father, who I love and hope is resting peacefully, would be proud to hear me preach one of his favourite sayings, " the best time to plant a tree was ten years ago, the next best time is right now." Lets get on that testing and plant building thing, RIGHT NOW, if we haven't already and be ready for looking after ourselves regardless of what the US plans to wing at us next. They're only stalling hope that they'll open the border with us because they absolutly KNOW we are in a better barganing position with Japan and they must get there first or lose that market perhaps forever. Why would the Japaneese go to the States when they could just come here? Lets run with that. By the way, Mexico says they will not relax imports of American meat until the US relaxes with Canada. Tit for tat. Other countries recognise that the States looks dumb for demanding that their meat be accepted when they refuse the same meat from Canada. "Calling Canada's meat unsafe is like calling your twin sister ugly" I think says it all. Hold the US accountable and don't let up. They're covering up like crazy down there and the one case they have only surfaced in a desperate attempt to keep Canadian meat out when we were on the verge of having it go south again. They don't deserve export markets, we do, let's get them.

[whiteface]

Sorry, Annie, I meant to make a specific comment on your post. I'm scared to death to that our government could waste a bunch of time and resources with BSE just like that bullony with the gun registery and I too, am expecting a cull cow cheque, only mine will be endorsed right over to my feed company, who has been paying for those cull cows all winter!

[CattleAnnie]

No problem, whiteface! I was chuckling over your response as it made me think of the much sung praises of that "trickle-effect" that the gov't subsidies were supposed to have for the cow/calf producers. Unfortunately by the time the trickle gets to us, it simply seeps right out into another service sector. Oh well, not complaining, (I'm sure not qualified to perform c-sections), just enjoying the irony of it all!
Take care (it's raining up here - second consecutive day with some precipitation-hooray hooray!!!).

[rsomer]

Kline was on a trade mission to China and South Korea from May 31 to June 9. Information on the trip can be found at http://www.gov.ab.ca/premier/missions.cfm and the text of Klines speech in China is at http://www.gov.ab.ca/premier/dsp_speech.cfm?content=129
Kline was focusing on resuming imports of breeding livestock genetics.

Rpkaiser: In one thread you call me an eternal optimist, in another a negative cynic. There is no easy route to resuming international trade once a country has had a case of BSE and there is no point pretending there is. The only countries I see buying our beef are the U.S. and Mexico. They are not requiring a test and if we could only slaughter more cattle they would take all our beef.

Cowman: I do not believe in the science of BSE. Obviously the science is interpreted by each government to suit their purpose. Bottom line I believe the science does not know what to make of BSE. I do believe in focusing our limited resources on doing things that have some hope of success however. Unfortunately lobbying in favour of 100% testing has little hope of success as our governments have clearly set out their policy on testing and producers contrary efforts could actually serve to delay the opening of our borders to live cattle going south and weaken consumer confidence in our product. Japan and U.S. will work out the rules for trade between North American and Japan and that will end up being the new science. It might involve testing and it might not. As grassfarmer pointed out Japan and Europe are taking different approaches to BSE and for that matter so is North America. We all need to remember the incidence of BSE in North America is very, very low when compared to Europe and even Japan. We can’t forget that. Given the truly minimal testing Australia is doing, I think it is fair to say our beef is every bit as safe as theirs. Safer because we are removing the SRMs on OTM cattle and Australia is shooting, shoveling and shutting up.

I prefer to focus my efforts on seeing packing plant capacity built. 100% testing offers no competitive advantage for a new packing plant, all plants will be testing the same. Right now in North American that means surveillance test.

[rsomer]

rsomer says"Unfortunately lobbying in favour of 100% testing has little hope of success as our governments have clearly set out their policy on testing and producers contrary efforts could actually serve to delay the opening of our borders to live cattle going south and weaken consumer confidence in our product."
Just won't quit hey rsomer.

We all have two sides rsomer, depending on the situation we are all cnyical, or we are all (except cowman) optimistic.

Your continued point about delaying the border opening makes me sick.
I realise that this is simply your view, and you will continue to try to proove it through diligent pursuit of information.

Telling the consumer that we, the producers, want to test our beef will boost consumer confidence and help to open the border sooner.

When you say our governments have set out their policy, I wonder if you ever get time away from your fight against testing to notice that our government may actually change on June 28th.

The worst thing that we can possibly do is follow the path of lieing to consumers as rsomer wants to continue to do. Keep them in the dark. Use the Veil of science, but for goodness sake, don't tell the truth.
Give me a break.

With leaders like you rsomer, we will never get 100% testing, nor will we ever see profits in the cattle industry again. Keep your head up the packers ass just long enough to get yourself out of trouble buddy.

[cowman]

(From the eternal pessimist)...Well rpkaiser, I am going to try to attend a Big C meeting in the near future...probably at Olds...just to hear for myself what they have to say. Who knows maybe I will become a convert!

[rsomer]

Rpkaiser: I think you will find no matter which party forms the next government the policy on testing will remain unchanged. If anything, the Conservatives would see us move closer to the Americans. If you expect to see the NDP form the next government perhaps you could be right as they would be the party most likely to agree with your views.

[rsomer]

I'm votin Green rsomer.

[rsomer]

Pessimist / optimist. Positive / negative. Right / wrong. Yin / yan.
We need find balance.