Price Gouging?

[pandiana]

I have to agree with both points of view on this one.

We do need large animal vets and yes, it is getting increasingly more difficult to get dedicated vets to slosh through manure in cold barns dealing with animals that can and often do cause injury or worse. Contrast this with the small animal vet as pointed out above, who gets very well paid, often works in a clinic with minimal after hours.

On the other hand, I too find it very frustrating that when our industry is suffering, veterinaries would find this time to raise their fees. Vets that I have dealt with have increased their fees steadily through drought and BSE. In addition, they seem to be able to find more 'incidentals' to charge for.

It could be argued that these increases are just like every other service sector which require a cost of living adjustment. But herein lies the problem. Cattle producers are faced with doing many of the same things that vets do. As grassfarmer and cattleannie relate, they work many overtime hours, use syringes and meds, pull calves, but have no way of charging for these services. They are considered 'cost saving' not 'value added'. Every time another bill comes in with addition charges or a rate increase, it feels like a kick in the head to someone already fighting for their existence.


Primary producers do not get 'cost of living' adjustments to cover the rising cost of doing business. Each increase in fuel, vet fees, fertilizer, utilities, taxes, etc. etc. continues to erode the paltry income the producer is able to glean. I certainly don't begrudge our veterinaries or other farm service organizations the right to earn a decent living. However, when your customers are cash strapped, it would seem to me a poor time to increase fees.

[kato]

In Manitoba a new fee schedule comes out every January 1st, from the MVMA.

My boss, the vet, didn't have us put the new fee schedule into the computer until after calving was mostly over. (Last week). He also adopted a policy of not pestering anyone for money this year.

I wish our feedmill had adopted the same policy! LOL they turned into a bunch of moneygrubbers halfway through the winter. Just about drove us crazy.

[cakadu]

Kato, I think in way that is what is so sad about this whole mess. People who normally could let things ride until the "cheque came in the mail" cannot do that now.

I'm sure companies are struggling with having to come to people and request the money just as much as producers are feeling bad with not being able to pay their bills in a timely fashion. No one wants to feel like they are freeloading or conversely hounding someone for money.

Businesses need the money to continue operating, just as producers need to be able to move their products to get paid. It is a viscious circle that just keeps getting nastier by the day. It will be very interesting to see who is left standing at the end of the day. I hope many are still there when the dust settles.