Big C update. By the way, what's Laycraft up to?

[cakadu]

With his cell phone strapped to the side of his head, Cam Ostercamp is forging ahead while making hay on his farm south of Calgary. Too bad this type of dedication to a cause, has not come from delegated, or elected industry leaders, but somebody obviously has to step up to the plate.

Aug 4th is the date, and I will post the location soon, for a meeting in Manitoba with government, and industry reps. A group of feedlot producers from Quebec are coming to hear more conversation about plans for testing. The Bloc has shown interest in pushing the Federal government to allow testing of all cattle over 30 months of age. We may just have to stand back and watch now, as these boys have more clout than any other single group in Canada.

Saskatchewan, their government, and their Aboriginal leaders, are pressing Cam for more meetings in the land of stubble, and want to start dealing right now, on a plant to kill cows on a large scale. Can't convince CCA yet to help with a survey to examine producer concensus for checkoff/shareholder status.

Alberta Cattle feeders asking for a meeting...... Good potential for a meeting with the new Federal Ag Minister, but no calls from Alberta Government, ABP, or CCA. I guess BIG C is still naive in those folks eyes.

B.C. Ag minister to meet with three of us in Kamloops on Aug. 14th at a meeting sponsored by the B.C. Cattlemans Ass. Dennis Laycraft also to speak after Cam takes the floor for an hour. Any body know what else Mr. Laycraft is up to these days? Maybe haying!

[kato]

Manitoba....excellent! Let us know as soon as it is set.

[rsomer]

Interesting...the packing plant expansion the industry needs might not happen in Alberta but in Saskatchewan or Manitoba.

[grassfarmer]

Well done Randy, looks like we are forging ahead again. Just as well as the silence from everyone else is ominous. ABP seem to be pleased just to keep their heads down because no one is critisising them for now - hardly what you would call leadership.

[blackjack]

grassfarmer...ABP are busy promoting Lakesides new expansion plans for 2005 ... wonder how much of the 17 million Ralph or Paul are putting up...in other news a Cargill subsidiary bought out patty maker Caravel... watch for the price of burgers to rise in the fast food chains...

[kato]

Maybe this should have it's own thread, but since it's something Big C is pursuing, I'll put it here.

"I do not mean to argue here that all American beef cattle must be tested. There may be American consumers who prefer inexpensive beef. But the U.S. meat companies that want to perform blanket testing should at least be given the freedom to do so, just as Japanese consumers should be allowed to pursue food safety as a priority in their lives.

from Teruhiko Mano, a professor at Seigakuin University,Japan "

Now, if the Americans want to sit and twiddle their thumbs on this, maybe we should be pushing even harder to have Canadians step up to bat.

Has anyone from Canada even spoken to the Japanese?

From what I hear, Japan is still insisting that the Americans guarantee no Canadian beef. We all know how good the Americans are at keeping promises, so I have a bad feeling we are going to be shut out again.

Anyone who gets between America and it's profits is in deep trouble.

[cowman]

That deal where Cargill bought out Caravel Meats is sort of scary! Caravel meats is not some sort of minor player...at one time they supplied all the beef patties for Wendys and MacDonalds in Canada! Not sure if that is still true?
So what would happen if beef producers built their own cow killing plant? Would they be at the mercy of Caravel meats or would they add their own processing plant to make patties? Of course how it works is you need a certain amount of fat to mix with the cow/bull meat to get an acceptable/cost effective product? Who is going to supply the trim? IBP perhaps?
IBP was probably the largest cow killer in Canada before BSE. If the regulations change back and they can resume killing cows, I expect they will? After all cows were their bread and butter...pre BSE?