GOOD news

[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!

[rsomer]

On the topic of good news: The EU never banned the importation of Canadian beef after May 20. Canada exports between 400-500 tonnes of beef annually to the EU. And on September 9 Russia agreed to accept imports of boneless beef under 30 months of age without BSE testing. As of August 21, Vietnam has indicated that it will accept imports of live cattle, the first country to do so since BSE was discovered May 20. Prior to May 20, Canada was the second largest exporter of live cattle in the world, second only to France.