BIC-C policy

[pandiana]

As usual, rsomer, I agree with most of what you have said with one little exception.
Your comment:"Even within Japan there is not universal support for 100% testing as many point out the science does not support it and no test can detect BSE in under bovine animals under 24 months of age. Removal of SRMs provides the real food safety, not the test. A trading nation like Japan may someday rue the day that it undermined science-based trading rules." Although totally in line with the current OIE rules, removal of SRMs provide only the 'perception' of real food safety. I am totally unconvinced that one can remove all potentially infected nervous tissue, blood etc. from a carcass especially in an assembly line scenario. In particular, considering the suggestion that contaminated instruments, even though autoclaved, are believed to have infected surgical patients. However, until such time as the so-called science moves from hypothesis to proven science, we can only play with the cards we are dealt. The bottom line; the incidence of BSE in the North American herd is very, very, very low, even if we find another 200 cases.

[kato]

Making noise about testing has gotten more attention paid to our problems than anything else we've tried.

Even if it won't save us initially, it may make our future better. I don't think mandatory testing of all cattle is the answer, not by a long shot. I also don't believe that anyone who wants to test should be stopped, if testing is requested by the customer.

It's being "allowed" to test that's the important thing.

The LAST thing in the world that our neighbour's to the south want is for us to allow any testing at all.

USDA won't allow independent packers to test...it may give them a competitive advantage over the big boys. If they don't want their small packers to have an edge, they sure don't want us to have one.

The more they see us setting ourselves up to move forward, the less they like it. They would lose a lot if we got out from under their control, and actually offered them some competition in international markets.

[blackjack]

rsomer... how come the ABP won't admit to the grassroot producers that our beef went to the states to be packaged and then sent to Japan... that would make your statistics a little misleading in that maybe Canada could send beef to Japan if we applied to their rules not the Americans rules...myself find it ironic that Alberta government wants to open free markets to the grain farmer but on the other hand tell the cattle producers that the governments rules on BSE are the right one ... what a bunch of crap...

[blackjack]

rsomer... how come the ABP won't admit to the grassroot producers that our beef went to the states to be packaged and then sent to Japan... that would make your statistics a little misleading in that maybe Canada could send beef to Japan if we applied to their rules not the Americans rules...myself find it ironic that Alberta government wants to open free markets to the grain farmer but on the other hand tell the cattle producers that the governments rules on BSE are the right one ... what a bunch of crap...

[rsomer]

Gee people where did you get the idea I am Mr. ABP. I am not. My opinions are my own and I do not claim to wrap myself in the banner of any organization, ABP or Western Stockgrowers or Cattle Feeders or otherwise in order to give substance to my opinions and comments. If anyone wants to know what the ABP policy is on any issue phone the ABP Calgary office. For real... my comments and opinions are my own and do not represent any organization of any sort. I am sure all of us belong to some group or another even if it is the local Legion or curling club but that doesn’t mean our opinions are not our own and that we cannot express our own point of view in this forum.

[cowman]

I believe rsomer has a pretty good grasp of the big picture but I don't necessarily agree with everything he says!
First of all is this question? When did I ever sign anything that said I couldn't "voluntarily test my darned cattle"!? When did I give up that right?
The other thing I don't agree with is his contention that somehow the Liberals are the solution?
In fact they are a den of thieves...and Paul Martin is their leader! This is a fact...don't vote for these thieves!!!
I don't know if Big C is a bunch of loonies! I intend to just take a bit of a look for myself at Olds this thursday. But Lord knows at least they are trying to do something which is more than can be said for anyone else?
How much is your jerk MP or MLA doing?
Oh, and by the way rpkaiser, why would you ever think I would own a bloody orange cowboy hat? I've NEVER worn a bloody cowboy hat in my life and I sure don't intend to start now...I repeat I am not a cowboy! But still I hope to see you there...health permitting!

[whiteface]

I want to meet you too, cowman, Olds thursay night as well. How else will Randy or I recognize you without the hat? Orange pants? Just wondering.

[kato]

Cowboy and cowman are two different things! LOL

How about wearing an Angus hat and a Simmental jacket? You'd be the only one there wearing that outfit!

[kato]

As I See It
by Lee Gunderson

It is June 22, my father (publisher Harald Gunderson) just called to see if I had read Cam Ostercamp’s essay. Of course I had, and I said ‘a lot of politicians are upset with Cam’, my father said, “That’s because he’s telling the truth and telling it like it is.” He also said, “Cam should be the front page of every farm and ranch magazine and newspaper in Canada.” I agreed. I have hosted Cam’s paper on my website and was instrumental in his paper being carried on the web site of Dr. Willaim Leiss of the University of Ottawa.

I called Cam on his cell phone and passed on my father’s comments and told Cam if the border remains closed much longer that he is going to be leading a very strong movement and forming a consensus of producers with regard to testing and the ‘way forward’ to quote Dr. Bill Leiss. Unless we Canadians take the initiative we are going to be hewers of wood, drawers of water and graziers of cattle for American corporate interests who will dictate what we raise, when we sell, what we feed and the price they want to pay for our cattle. Sounds like hell doesn’t it?

And when our cattle industry is broke, lost 40% of its production and our feeders are owned by US interests ( as I’ve heard one of the Van Raay lots is US owned now) I thought if the US has its way we’ll all be broke and buying burger in plastic bags at Wal-Mart in ten years at $20.00 US a pound. Now I know why Graham Greene wrote his book called the UGLY AMERICAN. I’m not US bashing, but what they are doing (buying our live young cattle and boxing them, yet excluding them from the live US market for price discovery) is profoundly unjust. This demonstrates American economic Imperialism and their contempt for NAFTA.

The US is using politics to squeeze our producers out of a fair living and using politics to justify it. If our gutless politicians refuse to stand up to the Yanks we’ll all be broke in the next year. I see no one with the balls, vision or leadership to resolve this crisis. Hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see the border opening soon. Just imagine, all of this over two stinking cows. In my wildest dreams I never thought something so absurd and stupid could befall hard working Canadian Cattle Producers. I’ve analyzed this whole mess for the past year and I’ve come to the conclusion that we have absolutely no leadership in our cattle industry. This whole scene makes me sick to my stomach that no one can do what has to be done: turn off the oil and gas and power and tell BUSH that if he wants to play hard ball we’ll see how cold it gets in the eastern US this winter.

[blackjack]

sorry rsomer ... but this last thread about somes it up...

[nerves]

exactly right Kato some may try to argue but what you state is dead on.

[grassfarmer]

Cowman, I hope you get to the meeting in Olds on Thursday, it will be worth your while. I was at Camrose last night where another very successful meeting was held. If you can't get to Olds we are organising one at Ponoka on July 7th and one is also planned for Innisfail although I don't have a date for that yet. The producers that attended the meeting last night went home feeling that this movement may be able to achieve something worthwhile. Compare that to Government/CCA/ABP that have no ideas and no solutions - call your neighbours, friends get them to the meetings - they will be impressed!

[whiteface]

Thanks again kato for being a loud and clear voice for so many producers that really need leadership out of this. You're post was very well put and more protest against these very same things from taking us over is needed. Wish you were in Olds Thursday night!

[kato]

The credit for that post goes to Lee Gunderson, but I must say I agree completely. He said it so well, I had to post it.

It's now or never time for us all. If we don't have improvement by the time the calves come off pasture, we are in deep deep trouble.

Wish I could be at that BIG-C meeting, but will have to support from afar. Producers in Manitoba are already thinking like you guys out there, so don't worry, there's lots of backup here when you need it.

[InAHurry]

There are different opinions about the slaughter/packing plants on Canadian soil. My question does not side with any I just want to know:
Are they working at max. production; full staff, 24-7, supply of fats (or culls) are available, etc....?