Alberta cull cow program

[cowman]

The Alberta cow program was announced yesterday and it seems to be a big improvement over the federal program. They give a quickie view of what it is, but they leave a lot of things sort of in the air, or at least I can't understand them. Looking at it I think it makes a lot more sense to slaughter the cow if the program brings her up to the "historical average price" on net weight, but then they have a little bit about a 1000 lb. cow and a 1600 lb. bull. So do you get paid on her weight or only on 1000 lb.?
Then they talk about registration and field inspections...I assume this means we'll have cow counters? And an audit at the end of the program? No mention of how long the program lasts?
Anyway $180/cow, $336/ bull, $36/sheep is a start I guess?

[grassfarmer]

Yet again we see the "Alberta Advantage" of a smart Government. I feel sorry for the other Provinces who don't get this option though. It reads like the 1000lb weight is all you will get paid on cows at the "historic average price". The best option will take some working out - on the face of it if you want to cull less than 8% of your herd you would be better off taking the 8% payment but if you need to cull lots of cows the individual cow basis might be better. But then you need to factor in you only get paid on the first 1000lb per cow. How long the scheme last is also a factor. If you take the 8% payment it is a one off payment - if the scheme is still running next spring/fall you would still be getting paid out on the individual basis. Overall it's a good program in that it really looks to be market neutral and I can't see it leaves much room for profiteering by dealers or packers.

[circlex]

I'm sorry but this still does not solve the problem. Sure I get some money on 8% of my herd. I still get the option to decide what i do with later. So maybe I decide to keepher her over another year(pregnant etc.)The next year if things have not changed I still have and all my neighbors have done the same thing i did. You still got to move those cows at a loss no matter what you do.My suggestion is why doesnt the gov. use the money that you and i could have gotten and build there own slaughtering plant, sell the meat in Canada Russia Mexico etc. and help out all farmers big or small and reduce the numbers that way. Your creating jobs, keeping the money in Canada and everybody has achoice to either market there cattle. Keep them what ever but at least we are not depending on a company that is not owned or run by any body out side of canada.The meat which will mostly be hamburger can be sold through out canada, and these other companys which I have mentioned that want our beef.It will move and at far market price both for both the cattlemen and the slaughter house. These are my thoughts anyway.

[grassfarmer]

circlex, the problem with building another slaughter plant is that although it gets cattle killed it does not provide a market for the meat. Old cows will be a problem for a number of years - no-one wants or needs cull cow beef as the world is awash with cheap protein. Look at the UK position - every over 30 month animal has been incinerated since 1996 and no one is short of manufacturing beef as a result. It's not a brilliant solution but it's a lot better than it may have been.

[cowman]

It is a very short term solution at best with a bigger problem looming next year if we can't get rid of our old cows. But you are right grassfarmer, it sure beats nothing and it lets us survive one more year. Buys us some time.
I'm a little disappointed with the 1000 pound cow thing...not very many 1000 pound cows around anymore? And the 8% cull seems to be fairly low too?

[kato]

It's 8% higher than we get in Manitoba.
Our government is out of money. (Or so they say)

[grefer]

In Sask.I think they are patting the feds on the back for this one hoping to gain some ground on the safety net issue with Paul.

[cowman]

Now if a person opted for the Alberta slaughter program(where they make up the difference on 1000 lb.) could you also apply for 60% of the $159 the feds are giving? This would add another $95 to the cow price. After all it is a federal program and we should be entitled to our share of the federal money?

[raymondb]

We seem to be focused on more government programs rather than facts. Why do we not get all the details about this one suspected case of BSE. Maybe i am just suspicious but I can not believe that we only have or had one cow with BSE and that we can not find another animal anywhere with this same disease. The government programs seem to take our focus away from the real problem and we are all happy.

[grassfarmer]

raymondb - I agree that we have not got to the bottom of the BSE case - unfortunately we are not likely to either as no Gov in the world has the guts to address the real cause of the problem. Life goes on though and we must manage our businesses accordingly.

Cowman,why would you only want 60% of the Federal plan money ? The Alberta scheme is over and above the Federal one. Whatever form of payout you choose to take in Alberta the $159 will still be paid by the Feds when you slaughter a cow. How come the Feds haven't managed to get the rules out yet, given they announced their plan last week, before Alberta had finalised it's plan - yet Alberta forms were available two days after the scheme was announced. Are they understaffed in Ottawa ??

[raymondb]

Are we managing our business or is the government making us manage as the government wishes??? I wander how we would manage if the governments did nothing.

What should the value of a cull cow be??

Perhaps we should be able to depreciate her value as we do with machinery?

[boone]

dumb question? I was wondering what is stopping Alberta cattlemen from buying cheap Sask. cows and applying for help, sure seems to be alot of Alberta trailers hauling cows west lately. Just wondering.

[raymondb]

Right on Boone-Government programs managing us. We all tend to turn into whatever direction the government points us rather than us controlling our own industies within the government regulations. Government regulations should be in place to protect the health of the general public. The government should not manage our business.

[cowman]

Grassfarmer: I think the federal plan calls for a 60/40 participation by the provinces. And seeing as how Alberta opted out of participating then I assume there is only 60% of the $159. Is this correct?

[grassfarmer]

Oops Cowman you are right - I just believed the bit on the Alberta Ag website about Alberta producers being eligable for the Federal program too. Looks like your 60% figure is right.