Totally Disgusted

[blackjack]

Read March 2, 2004 BSE Update. We need that involuntary checkoff money sent back to us. If the ABP and CCA need money go and ask the packers!

[Bruce14]

Blackjack if this is the update you mention I am totally disgusted as well.

Author: Canadian Cattlemen's Association


This is the Daily Update for Tuesday March 2 brought to you by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, DuPont Canada and the National Beef Industry Development Fund.

"There have been no major developments since yesterday.

Claims that one sector of the beef industry is profiteering at the expense of others are simplistic and require more in-depth analysis. While gross packer margins may have increased, this information doesn’t reflect other factors such as the drop in value of a carcass due to the loss of export markets for offals, the additional costs of removal and disposal of specified risk materials, etc. Efforts are underway to get a more complete and accurate picture.

Government support has helped many farmers and ranchers in these difficult times. Consumer support through increased purchases of beef has also been vital in keeping cattle moving through the marketplace. Sending a false message to consumers that their beef purchases don’t help farmers and ranchers is damaging to the entire industry.

It is unrealistic to expect huge price drops for prime cuts of beef such as grilling steaks and premium roasts because these cuts are in high demand. There are many bargains in grocery stores for cuts that are in oversupply such as stewing beef, short ribs, ground beef etc."

I have supported the CCA and even taken some posters to task on this site while I defended the CCA. For that I apologize.

I am disgusted as well with the CCA's comments this week that lead one to believe gov't money is flowing and providing great support to producers.

CBC.ca: BSE strikeforce proposed.

A cattle industry leader is
welcoming a new plan for a so-called "BSE Strike Force." Neil Jahnke,
the president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, is happy with how government and industry responded to the discovery of a BSE-infected animal in the United States two months ago, but he says more help is welcome. "Personally, I'm not sure that we need a lot more, but it is really great to have everybody talking from the same song sheet."

Neil, that song is getting pretty old and the choir is getting smaller!

[kato]

C.C.A. = Canadian Cargill Advocats?

Please prove me wrong!

[grassfarmer]

Quite agree folks - disgraceful.
Perhaps with ACC/ ABP showing such great leadership and commitment to their industry we should reward them by putting them out to pasture (or sending them to work for their masters - the packers?). It looks to me like the NFU is a better informed organisation as to what is going on here.

[k-way]

Who exactly does the CCA claim is looking into the profiteering issue? No one is that I can see. And who is getting all this money, I want to know how to get some! I think ol' Neil is the only one getting his pockets lined here. I think I want his job! Maybe then I could feed my cows better and pay a few bills.
PS -What's the NFU?

[kato]

National Farmer's Union.

Actually, they've been right on quite a few things lately, but have a hard time being taken seriously by the "establishment".

Maybe if all 90,000 cow calf producers joined, they might be listened to?

[rsomer]

Followers of our beef organizations will not be surprised by Neil Janke’s conciliatory tone towards the packing plants. This month the ABP will be deciding on a restructuring that could see two industry players such as the packing plants gain a seat at the board of directors of ABP. This would complete a transition for the ABP from a producer organization to an industry organization that was began a few years back when the name was changed from Alberta Cattle Commission to Alberta Beef Producers. A further change being proposed would see the Alberta directors of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association coming from the board of ABP which could result in at least one or maybe even two packing plant representatives on CCA.

[k-way]

Thanks for the info on NFU. Where can I find out what they are saying about all of this (and maybe join)? We sure are in need of SOMEONE to represent our interests because ABP/CCA sure aren't!

[Horse]

I think the ACC was put in place to look after the lease holders with thier welfare cows but with that said today the govmt refused to let the auditor general of alta look into who got the money they say the producer did but could not cargil or IBP or XL not mabey be the producer.Kind of thing the govmt would consider legit.

[k-way]

Well the thing of it is there is a federal agency whose job it is to investigate accusations of profiteering (Federal Competition Bureau?). But the feds aren't about to listen to us farmers to look into it; they don't take us seriously when CCA/ABP are saying there isn't a problem. It would have to come from consumers to get some sort of investigation happening, but they aren't getting all the facts and don't know the scope of the problem. Besides, the feds don't want to let the cat out of the bag on yet ANOTHER scandal! Initiating an investigation on their own would mean that they would be forced to admit that they screwed up and blew even more money, giving to those who need it least instead of most.

[Willowcreek]

Folks, it kind of sounds like your CCA has been bought off by the packers the same way the NCBA has been in the states. Both seem to think that Packers can do no wrong!!

Both countries need some strong laws banning packer ownership and control of cattle. Until that happens they use these cattle as a captive supply to keep all of us close to the poor house.

[Willowcreek]

Are there not laws in the States to limit Packer ownership of cattle?

[grassfarmer]

k-way, look at the NFU website at "www.nfu.ca" There are some recent documents there showing what is really going on in agriculture - a good read for anyone who is not familiar with them.

[Incognito]

I'll make you cattle guys a deal.

You can have the NFU wholeheartedly if you keep them out of grain policy and politics.

They've already undermined the CROW payout when it was 13 and 7 billion dollars versus the 1 billion when it was finally settled.

And did their best to undermine (and succeed) ridding western Canada of the Continental Barley market.

And yes, deep scars take a long time to heal. So if you want them - take them and good riddance.

[wbrower]

Incognito: No Deal. There might be a few old Trotskyites left in Saskatchewan that will entertain the NFU, but not in Alberta. On the other hand I could be mistaken about that as it seems there is one, and only one, chapter, of the Alberta Chamber of Commerce that recently voted against a Voluntary Canadian Wheat Board. It seems there is one little commie nest left in LETHBRIDGE, Alberta.