Here's for all you irresponsible cowbows

[farmers_son]

Just to be clear, I did not say government should not help fund plants with tax dollars. I said government should not own the plants. Feasibility studies are needed but as others have said, "producers can't afford to pay attention, much less invest in packing plants." Ways need to be found to offer average producers equal opportunities to participate in value added production.

[rusty1]

well said farmers_son - if alot of people would put in a little money, (not so much as to hurt christmas shoping either), we could become "price makers", if producers want to fold their tents into greater surfdom then we truly are in a sad state of affairs.
The moment is here, the opportunity is ours, we and no one else will decide what the future of the beef industry will be. Not Govt, nor another multi-national, but we have the option to make that course correction now. Who's along.

[rusty1]

rusty1, for some folks reality is having to walk away from their farming operation. I don't intend to suggest it would be by choice.

[rusty1]

I feel total empathy for any who will have to walk away, a result of the poker game being played! I've totally lost my business since May 20th, at at 57 it's darn hard to bounce back. But I'm still fighting mad and will fight till my last breath to help our beef industry and ag community to "CHANGE COURSE".
It can be done "IF WE HAVE ENOUGH WANT TO.

[rkaiser]

Sometimes I wonder if those who have the want to, could just get together and force the apethetic to gain something.
I am not a big supporter of Unions, but is it not amazing how the Union in Quebec, after simply taking union dues, is now putting money in the pockets of their producers.
Mandatory ABP checkoff in Alberta hasn't done much about putting money in producers pockets, but a mandatory levy linked to shares in our owned packing industry certainly could.
Maybe even tying this money raising venture with some of the existing proposals which have that one main problem is not such a bad idea.
Could we start this thread up top again, seems to be of sustantial importance.

[intr3est]

Hi all, never posted here before, but have been following a few threads for the last couple of weeks, and wanted to add my two cents on this one. If i understand everybody correctly, we agree that we need new markets, a value added product, and an investor(s) that will progit, but will not gouge. Wanted to throw an idea out, and see what happens. What would happen if we (Canadian producers, Government)approached the Japanese about owning a plant in Canada? No ownership of live cattle, but able to specify criteria for purchase, including management, genetics, or whatever. If they want to test everything in "their" plant, let them. Why does foreign ownership, always mean US ownership. Anyway, I'll leave it at that for now and see what is thrown back my way.

[rkaiser]

Hi intr3est, good comment.
Dont' know about any other groups, but I can tell you that Beef Initiative Group has begun a nice correspondence with the Japanese Embasy in Edmonton. Three physical meetings with more to come. Conversation has been more about management than ownership, but like everything BIG C does, we are open to ideas.

[intr3est]

Rkaiser
just seems that an idea like this seems to cut out one middleman, the large packers. With control over the end product, just what they want. they except some risk. They have said we are far ahead of the americans with identification etc. I say, strike when the iron is hot, beat them to the punch. I'll even run a massage service for beef!