Cull Cow Plants

[magpie]

Cowman how do we achieve this protection for the plants? Do we go thru our associations? Or do we set up a lobby group of influential well known cattle producers with the interests of the cow/calf in mind that can’t be bought off, and have them align themselves with the people that can push the buttons to achieve this. If Mr. Speller is a listener like they say he is and with an election coming up maybe we should dangle him the carrot like we have seen before but we must as a collective group be sure of what we are asking.

[cakadu]

The system will only support so many smaller plants and competition will eventually even things out. If too many of these small plants get built, then the inefficiencies will start to take hold.

I know that one is proposed for the Hanna area - how many can afford to take them all the way out there? How many will be processed and how many will it take in order to become profitable.

Cowman is right about one thing - the more smaller plants we get into service, the more chance there is for a divide and conquer scenario. There is also the consideration that by the time you got all the regulations dealt with and the plant built, the border could be open.

One of the more difficult challenges with a new gen co-op, as I have read and understood it, is that when the marketplace is better than what the co-op will pay you, then people tend to choose the higher price, regardless of what arrangements have been made. Not all players in the co-op do it, but it can sometimes be enough to cause serious difficulty, no matter what rules are in place.

If you're not intending on selling outside of the province, then a custom kill is likely far more economical and sustainable in the long run and you can set it up so that you get the information that you need from the processor and your customers. I know it can be done because we do it now.

I'm not entirely convinced that building your own plant is the way to go - depending on what it is you are trying to accomplish. I know that some plants have been in the works for literally years now and they have still not laid brick one nor have they secured the financing in order to come near to doing it and don't even get me started on dealing with the regulations.

The policies and infrastructure (not necessarily bricks and mortar) have to be changed in order to allow for easier access to the things that smaller, innovative players need. I am a firm believer in this and will continue to push for it.

Establishing the trust in your relationships is critical and it is no easy task, although it can be done if given enough time and the right people are in place. It takes a strong vision, dogged determination to see it through and enough credibility to gain momentum to see it develop.

I am all for it and if done with the right people - the sky is the limit. I saw Seabiscuit for the first time last night and that Tom Howard - the owner - had a never ending supply of optimism and drive. That is the type of person we need to provide the leadership for so many things.

[grassfarmer]

Cakadu - is the Hanna plant you are refering to the one being built by the Biggs of TK ranch at Coronation? It is featured in the Producer this week. These people have their heads screwed on and will make a sucess of it i'm sure. They are niche marketing an excellent product and have experience in the field.

[cakadu]

Yes, that is the one I'm referring to.

It has taken quite some time for them to get it all together, but from the article it sounds like they are moving forward.

[pillypillsner]

god bless america

[cakadu]

Sorry, in Seabiscuit it was Charles Howard who was the owner and Tom Smith that was the trainer.

I think what inspired me most about the way Charles Howard presented himself was that he never looked to the outside for why something never worked - he looked inside at himself and what he could do. This was the case when he lost the Santa Anita Handicap the first time by a nose - it wasn't Red Pollard's fault, Howard just kept pushing. That is the hallmark of a true leader - you look inside instead of outside when things don't go your way.

We are severely in need of that kind of leadership now.

[cowman]

Has anyone ever tried TKs products? In my local Safeway they have some frozen meat in the organic section and it never seems to sell! The prices are pretty outrageous and quite frankly it doesn't look very good?

[ValueChainFX]

TK has a very specific program and they will be sure to pick who they deal with. Whatever they do they will always maintain control of their product. Collin and Dillon are wonderful people and have built a network over many years. How mainstream they will become and how wide they will be accepted will mean they have to change some things. But they will do what's best for their program you can beat on that. IF they build a plant it will not be one that is going to be open to solve the many challenges we are faced with in the industry today. I do say if since they have the same hurrdles to overcome as the rest of us and more since they have such a focused niche. I would love to see these people be successful as they have worked hard and are wonderful folks.

[cakadu]

Cowman, I know what you're talking about in terms of seeing it in the Safeway. I have to say I haven't checked in recent months, so I don't know if it is still there or not.

If it is, then it must sell to a certain extent because the stocking fees that they would have to pay to Safeway would not be cheap.