The New Packing plants?

[rusty1]

gwf - you're ideas sound interesting. A question or 2 - How are you and do you think the producers of the other western provinces would get involved.
One conceren. The average cow herd size in Alberta is what (?) 65 cows or less. I think over have of the producers are in that catagory. Hobbie farmers. They really don't care alot about their industry and are happiest when they get their cheque from the auction mart and can tell their cronny friends they are going "home to the ranch." I don't think they will support more cheques off dollars.

[cowman]

Rusty: Would you support more checkoff dollars? Did you support the last increase or the one before that? Do you think you got good value for your money?
We actually got to vote on the increase before the last one...if you sold cattle that year, you got to vote.
12% of eligible producers voted! Slightly over 6% voted to make the checkoff mandatory...I suspect a small well organized elite with a financial interest carried the day?....probably the big lease holders on public lands(you know, the "efficient producers")?
The average age of Canadian farmers is around 58, I believe? I wonder what the average age of cow/calf farmers is?...but my point is: Why would old men, nearing retirement, want to finance someone elses packing plant? Do you think it would make more sense if a checkoff for building plants was voluntary? And also consider that some of these "hobby farmers" with their 65 cows are in fact mixed farmers where the cows are kept to just clean up the poorer land and the crop aftermath...grain is their real business? At one time 65 cows was a lot of cows to own? Maybe we need to outlaw all farmers who don't own at least 200 cows? Get rid of all those "inefficeint hobby farmers" sort of thing?
And then maybe we could raise the numbers every year so we get rid of all the little guys and let the big guys have a profitable cow monopoly? I mean after all they are the most efficient right?

[rusty1]

Cowman - Not sure if you're "Tongue in cheek" or not. But if I read you right, I don't think those farmer/hobbiest types would even vote, like you say. I don't think they even understand the situation enough to have an valid oppinion. And I think that the ABP has gotten far to swelled in beauractatic .... I better not finish that one.

[rusty1]

However as far as doing something for the next generation. Well that's quite another story. Who was it that said "Noble is the man that plants a tree he won't have opportunity to sit in the shade of" (bad mis quote) but you get the picture.
I think we have an opportunity to do something to take back control and reverse the corporate consolidation that is going to ruin the future of the beef industry for the younger generations. If we don't do something now we never will.

[cowman]

Well Rusty that is a good quote! And I do have to admit you are right and have impressed me!
Because I have spent my life in this business...and because I truly believe that this business is about as close as to what God intended us to do, I will also concede that you are probably right! We need to take some "bold" steps to save this industry! I just wish we had someone else to do it than the ABP!