What are your thoughts on the border?

[15444]

I have spent alot of time reading the comments sent to the USDA, both during the first and current comment periods. With some of the ignorant comments, there are some that are a shining example of how the US can plan carefully and make the best out of the border opening.

One comment I read explained that the border opening is inevitable, but that American producers can make the best of it by planning ahead. The author suggested that the USDA set a specific date approximately 6 months in advance to the border opening. This would give US cow/calf and feedlot guys a chance to make future marketing decisions on sound information. The author was not concerned about allowing cattle over 30 months across the border, he was only concerned about producers being caught with their pants down. I truly think he has a handle on the situation.

Many guys are just trying to bad mouth Canadian producers and continue blaming us for their first case of BSE. I find it disgraceful some of language that is used in some of the letters sent to the USDA. After reading a few letters from US cow/calf guys, it is refreshing to read a letter from a Canadian producer.

Another thing I noted was that the majority of letters against the border opening came from Montana, the Dakotas and Idaho. I found very few against the opening that came from other parts of the US.

Some guys are concerned that the Northern states will try to keep the borders closed at any expense. This may be true, but some comments were also sent by members of Congress and other levels of government supporting the border opening.

As far as I am concerned, I can't see the border staying closed after the comment period closes based on the fact that the only people REALLY united against openning it are members of R-Calf.

But enough of my ranting, what does everybody else think? Have you read the comments? Which opinion do you think has more punch?

[kato]

I think big business has the most punch. I saw one comment from a feedlot in Texas that puts over a million head a year through, and he wants the border open.

Some of the comments are quite amazing. Very hard to describe it. You would think that if you were going to post a comment to the government regarding a future law, that you would at least try to make it sound like you had tried to learn about the situation. Some are obvious kneejerk reaction type comments. They do contain the odd bit of profanity too. Not the way to impress the people reading them, I would think. I'm sure those type of comments will be disregarded by the government as being just what they are....

[cowman]

Well the USDA might very well ignore the "radicals" and just plain loonies but I doubt the politicians can afford to? After all the kooks vote too...and this is an election year?
If you were a Congreesman or Senator would you go with the "science" or would you do what your people wanted?
And lets not forget, the closed border has been a pretty good deal for the American cattleman? I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot if we would act any different?

[cowman]

How many American cattlemen has the closed border been good for? Our border being closed has affected American prices less than us Canadian who rule the industry might think. Drummed up protectionism is driving the radical talkers. They had good prices despite our closed border.

[cowman]

You may be right. I don't know, I just see the prices quoted now and again. I will note when cows got extremely cheap here they were quoting a D1 equivalent at 65 cents US! I think that works out to about 85 cents Canadian! I don't know about you but if I could get about $1190 for a 1400 lb. cow I'd be cow free tommorrow?
Now suppose the situation was reversed? My cow was selling for that $1190 and the cows in Montana were selling for $250? Do you think I would be real keen to let my local friendly packers have access to those cheap cows? Do you think I would vigorously lobby my government to treat those poor American ranchers fairly? I don't blame the cow/calf man in the USA one bit for trying to get the high price because I know I'd do the same darned thing! Now in all honesty...would you?

[15444]

I agree with you Cowman, and say 'yes, I would do the same.' But I take offence to the type of language that is coming from these comments as well as the notion that our beef is not as safe as that in the US. I get down right miffed when I see some of these letters saying that 'the Canadian's system is shaky' and that our national ID system has alot of flaws in it.

I don't mind people being protectionist because I know that I am the same way, but don't lie about the truth.


1.) Canada was the first country in North America to ban SRM's and the Americans would never have done so if they hadn't found the cow in Washington.


2.)Canada was the first country in North America to implement a national identification system for cattle and it proved it's worth when we traced hundreds of animals linked to one cow within a month.
Seems that some American's think that finding 1/3 of potential BSE carriers over the same amount of time is a far superior tracking system?

[grassfarmer]

I don't believe the American producers are really lying delibrately - they are just so ignorant of the facts. I have always found Americans to be totally ignorant of what is going on outside their own borders - and they believe their Government more than any other nation I know of. A neighbour had an American rancher phone the other day wanting a bull sale catalogue, didn't know the border was closed to live cattle. And he has bought bulls in Canada before!

[Willowcreek]

Don't mean to start an argument here, but I think its important to know some of the American side. You note that many of the border states- Mt., Id, ND are against the border reopening. These states were also the most against NAFTA and were hardest hit economically by NAFTA.

These states have economies made up much like western Canada's- primarily agricultural and natural resources. Very little manufacturing. When the trade agreement went through these border states lost instead of gaining. Since NAFTA, most no longer have a lumber industry- the oil and gas exploration quit and much of the production shut down. In both cases because of the difference in dollars and environmental laws it was cheaper to buy Canadian product. Many farmer/ranchers had counted on royalties and leases from these to keep them operating. The opening of the border to unlimited cattle and beef also lowered the US prices- especially in the cull cow prices. I will agree that with new markets opening the price was coming back up, but many remember the hit they took at first.

The eastern manufacturing states thought NAFTA was great- but you probably won't get the same response out of the economically strapped, natural resource dependent western states.

[cowman]

You know Willow creek I've always believed the rancher/farmer in Alberta/ Montana/Idaho have a whole lot more in common than our various counterparts in the east. I can talk to a farmer from Montana and we both share very similar frustrations with our federal governments.
Somehow I have, at times, been slammed on these forums as being anti-American. I have never been anti-American!!!! I might disagree with some of the things the American government does?...but I have always believed we are basically one people...and given some time,I believe, we will be one people? Your values, and mine, are not all that different.