GOOD news

[Bruce14]

The Mexican border has officially opened to boneless Canadian beef from animals under 30 months. This is important as they use a lot of hips and chucks.

http://www.info-cca.ca/index.cfm?app=bulletins&fuseaction=bulletin&bullet inid=49

[cowman]

That is good news although it sure took them long enough! I guess they must have finally got approval from the high and mighty Americans!
So now the Yanks are getting the T-bones and rib-eyes and the Mexicans are getting the chucks and hips. Guess that leaves the necks and shanks for us? And of course all the old canners and cutters! Could be a long winter of hamburger this year!

[rsomer]

In August, Canadian Beef Export Federation (CBEF) president Ted Haney announced that Russia has indicated it will accept beef of any age provided it is BSE free. See:http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/WorldIlls/2003/08/27/170354-cp.html

I have heard nothing further on this. As this would provide an important market for beef over 30 months of age, even at a low price, I would think it would have been a priority. The beef would need to be tested at a cost of between $25 and $100. Russian imports about 600 million metric tonnes of beef annually, mostly from South American and the EU.

[Bruce14]

Rsomer, that has me baffled as well as it seems a pretty good investment to spend $50 on a test to add $300-400 value to a cow.

I don't know if its the fear of finding another positive, or the packers dragging their feet due to "inconvenience" and loss of big profit on those cows.

[kato]

If all cattle are tested, finding another one is not a big deal, exactly because "all cattle are tested". If only a few are tested, and another positive is found, we might as well move to town, or start raising dogs.

I think all cattle over 30 months should be tested. Then the world is open.

[rusty1]

I'd like to know why if the US is taking meat and Mexico is taking so much meat, why has the price of fats taken such a licking in recent days then. Again It's high time producers build their own packing plant.

[tgh]

The word I got from Feedlot Alley this morning, there are 300,000 hd of fat cattle in AB ready to be shipped right now, when they hit the market they figure prices will drop another 20cts, projected loss per hd somewhere between $400 to $600 per hd. Pretty soon that will be reflected in calf prices. Some well informed people here in the south, think that 1/2 or more of the large feedlot operators are technically bankrupt, only still in it because there is no pressure coming from the banks ..............................at this time.

We've got a long cold winter ahead of us.

Later!

[cowman]

I don't know about calves but yearlings are definitely on their way down. In the mart this week they dropped close to 5 cents. They seem to be tougher on steers than heifers. The big feed lots from feedlot alley were not buying, mostly the smaller local type feed lots.

[cowman]

I imagine there are a few bankers sweating right now! Not to worry though, their friends in Ottawa will come to their rescue! Farmers, cattlemen and other assorted peasants are expendable but not the bankers! The Liberals always will take care of their fellow thieves?
I see also that Canada Agriculture requested another $160 million to administer this new "Super NISA" or whatever its called. I guess they need new furniture or something. Or maybe they need to hire some more people to take out the trash or fetch the coffee?
They couldn't come up with $195 million to kill off the cows but when it comes to more "administration costs" there doesn't seem to be a problem!
Do you ever get the feeling something is seriously screwed up in this country? Sort of the tail wagging the dog?

[Bruce14]

Cowman asks: "Do you ever get the feeling something is seriously screwed up in this country?"

YES!.....YES, YES, YES.

I sat down at the computer this morning with my coffee and watched the sun starting to cast a glow in the east. I was in a good mood as yesterday we weighed and treated the best group of heifers we have ever weaned and look forward to getting the bull calves done today. "Going to steer a few more though". The weather is great compared to some years and we have all the feed we need and more, made and in the yard.

Now it's time for another of my rants and this is going to offend some of you. I make no apology because if it offends you, maybe you need to ask yourself WHY.

I click on to Agriville to see what's new and after reading some new postings my upbeat mood has been changed. This site is collecting more than its share of gloom and doom. Why are some always looking for the negative? Not once. NOT ONCE!! Taking time to see ANYTHING positve.

It's no wonder some of our urban neighbors say we are a bunch of whiners.

Some of the comments I have heard in town or read on this site:
"CALF PRICES ARE GOING TO DROP TO .50/lb. BY DECEMBER." I doubt it but it could happen. They could also be 1.20 in Janurary.

"THE BORDER IS NEVER GOING TO OPEN"
The U.S. and Mexico have already opened the border to muscle cuts. NEVER has this happened to a country that has had BSE, NEVER. The Americans, Aussies, Kiwis, Mexicans, and Canadians are putting heavy pressure on the OIE to establish new recommendations regarding BSE. DID THEY DO THAT FOR THE U.K.? No.

Canadian consumers have been outstanding in their support of Canadian beef. Did the U.K. and Japan see support like that? NO!!!!

We have abundant feed in MOST areas of the country. (Can you imagine if this had happened last year in a more general drought situation?) Also calf prices have been a hell of a lot better than ANYONE thought back in July.

It's time for some to get a change of attitude as it's about ALL we can change for ourselves in this situation.

Although I do feel for producers in areas such as B.C. or where drought and grasshoppers have lingered for years. (For these it certainly is a desperate situation.) However for a lot of us who don't have it quite so bad it's time to "Cowboy up" and do what it takes to get through this.

Just do what it takes.

[rsomer]

Your message doesn’t offend me, you are quite right. I just finished combining today and the weather has been just wonderful. There has been some good news, the Canadian consumer acceptance of our product after the one BSE positive is unparalleled in the world. There has been government support for some and those people should be very thankful. Drought and grasshoppers were bad here too but still we were better off than last year. And we do have to cowboy up and do what it takes to get through this. I agree. Although I am left wondering just what it is going to take to cowboy up. How long till live cattle are moving and how long until there is some kind of market for slaughter cows is a question on everyone’s minds.

A note: we are being told that no country that is BSE free has ever accepted imports of beef from a country with a confirmed non imported BSE positive except our good friends the Americans and now the Mexicans. It appears that Russia has been accepting beef from the EU for quite a while and would also from Canada although according to the OIE (updated October 1, 2003) Russian has never had a confirmed case of BSE.

The message I hear from Anne Veneman is that the U.S. is somewhat slowly willing to accept that science has indicated the risk of BSE from Canada is very low due to the testing that has taken place since May 20 that has turned up no further positives. So I guess if we are looking for good news then it is that no further positives have been found. Another positive test and the border will close again, this time for good. Should we be thankful the Americans let in any Canadian beef at all or should we be angry that they took 60-90 days after the science said our beef was low risk before they made a move to allow boneless beef and how many months more before they allow in live cattle. I guess we should be thankful for what generosity the Americans have shown us....

I have tried to be positive throughout and believe I have for the most part succeeded. I am left wondering however what I can change for myself in this situation.

[cowman]

You make some good points Bruce! There is always a silver lining in every cloud...sometimes we don't see it at the time? Things are ugly on the BSE front but I'll tell you I'll take this over a drought anytime! I do not do droughts very well I'm afraid!
A good attitude toward life in general goes a long way to a happy life. Everyone of us will have good times and everyone of us will have some pretty bad times. That's life! We can't win everytime and we won't lose everytime!
I think the apostle Paul said it well when he said "I have learned to be content whatever my situation is"! Part of that attitude is accepting that there is a plan in place for your life and that's just how it is! Now that doesn't mean you should just lay about and do nothing! God likes can-do people.
I don't believe I'm a pessimist. Well I will admit I'm pretty pessimistic about our government...but then again they aren't rounding us up and shooting us or something, so maybe it's not so bad!
And I do suspect and hope Martin will do a better job than Chretien!

[plowjockey]

Is it true that Japan has found a 23 month old animal with BSE? How will this effect our calf market now? Up in our area we have fought though another year of severe drought and calve prices could mean make or break. My neighbours have told me they have recieved letters from the Gov. that they will only be able to pay 60% of cfip program...No wonder with less going in the pot for the new program, Saskatchewan and ontario don't want to sign up. Why can't we just get a good program without getting screwed?

[jensend]

according to the online edition of the globe and mail the japanese found a 23 month old steer with bse.

[tgh]

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031006.wcoww1006/BNStory/International/ for the story on the Japanese steer

Talked to a customer of mine today, they'll have about a lot of fats ready to go over the next 2 months, and are ready to fill the pens back up as fast as they empty. What they said was "We're in it too deep to quit now and and they definitely can't make any money on empty pens" They did ,however, admit to more than few sleepless night in the past and are working on a few more in the future!

Later!