Nobody Needs Your Cattle

[rsomer]

cswilson: good comment, a chuckle or two is always needed.

I wouldn’t mind discussing this with GLTUSA. Compared to previous posts last year the tone used here is reasonable and I would appreciate the opportunity for discussion.

GLTUSA suggests tying our oil and gas resources to lumber and cattle. We see that solution too. The USA would be quick to point out that NAFTA prevents us from doing that. There is supposed to be a North American marketplace and goods and services are to flow freely between Canada, U.S.A and Mexico. Although we occasionally hear your people talking about a North American beef industry sometimes it seems like the U.S. forgets that.

From Canada we wonder how long the U.S. can block imports of our beef and cattle saying it is unsafe yet expect the U.S. consumer to keep buying U.S. beef after the U.S. finds its indigenous BSE positive cow. Anne Veneman has made it clear the U.S. expects to find BSE again, there is more than one case I am sure. I think that is an issue the U.S. is missing. Any comments?

GLTUSA, what role is Iraq playing in our BSE crisis. Are the U.S. people still behind their President when it comes to Iraq? Has opinions changed as a result of the torture of the prisoners? Do Americans still believe the attack on Iraq was justified because of weapons of mass destruction or a connection to 911. I know there was a lot of disappointment in the U.S. that Canada did not participate in Iraq. It that still the mood or has it changed? From this side of the border, we see our troops in Afghanistan fighting the war on terror and wonder why the Americans are so POd at us. How do you see the U.S. election going? I would appreciate hearing your view.

[whiteface]

Well said rsomer, with your usual cool head and straight facts. Wish there were more people in the world like you. So we're waiting...
GLTUSA, can't wait to see what your cleaver return is for that. For a country that has all the answers, seems we haven't heard much of anything.

[whiteface]

Good luck with answers to any questions from this moron folks. I tend to agree with grassfarmer, beyond the well known point that the USA does not need our beef, this asshole is better left to wander off to his little church with the rest of his retarted freinds.

[whiteface]

Good thing I misspelled retarded, theat would have been too good for this fellow anyway.

[GodLovesTheUSA]

I know you folks are hurting right now and are real sensitive. I do not mean to be hurtful or disrespectful when I say nobody wants you cattle. I should have been more sensitive.

It’s sort of like this. You folks have lots of barley, enough to meet your own needs and some more. You are even exporting a little barley to Japan.

However here in the States we have had the border shut off to corn exports to Canada. The corn producers are really hurting. We desperately need to export our corn. A few of you Canadians know the trouble we are in, but many do not.
You have your own problems. To say you do not care about the corn exporter’s problems is not to be hurtful and to say that Canadians do not need our corn is not to be mean spirited. It’s just true. You do not need our corn. The same goes for your beef. We have enough cattle to do. Sure we could take some Canadian cattle and never know the difference. But your problems simply are not discussed here. We do not mean to be hurtful or uncaring. If I did not care I would not take the time to do this.

You folks are giving your leaders a rough time because you are desperate. I'm just saying that it’s not necessarily your leaders fault. Why do you not support them in this difficult time?
The real issue is that there is not a hot demand for beef in a country that usually meets its needs.

You would like to blame President Martin and President Bush. I am just saying that President Bush is responding to his voters needs. He is not out to hurt your country. He has his own problems to deal with.

I am saying that you are trying to sell into a market where there is little demand for your beef. Most American consumers are not aware of any quality advantage that Canadian Beef may have. Canadian Back Bacon is a different matter.

I feel that it may clarify the matter if you realize that selling your beef to us is a big deal to you, but, without being uncaring, its no big deal to us one way or another. When a lobby group stops your beef from coming across the border, no one really pays any attention. Now if we needed the beef that would be another matter. Please do not be hurt if I try to point out that we do not need your beef. I can not win. Just by saying that you are hurt instead of just realizing that you are producing a product that there is little need for in the USA right now.

I see a number of ambitious back stabbing people who feel that they can use this situation to start a new lobby group or undermine the present leadership in your lobby groups.

You continue to hope that NAFTA will save your butts and force your beef into this county. And really it should. I feel that NAFTA has been good for all of us.

And it is a North American market. What has hurt the Canadians is that such a large % of your cattle are exported, while in the States a much smaller amount is exported. So we are not hurt as much by BSE unless domestic consumption declines.

You folks are destroyed if you can not export.

I don’t know guys, it looks rough for you.

I am saying that you need to tie oil and gas exports with beef somehow. There are miles of unprotected pipeline, oil facilities, power transmission lines etc on your lands.

You might have to use these to get your message across. If you do not do it soon it may be too late.

To think that you are going to form lobby groups and put up another website and have that change the situation is credulous.

We need oil, gas, power and water.
The price of these things is going through the roof while your industry goes down the tubes. Don’t worry we can supply all of our beef needs and yours too. But we are short of resources.

I was trying to be helpful. When I say you just don’t get it. I would talk to my own sons the same way. If they need to wake up the WAKE UP. Things are getting real desperate. How many of you can wait till fall, and then the price of calves might be cheaper than ever. How is the feed supply up there? That will help you hold on. There have been a number of droughts here and you do not see a lot of feed lying around.

Good Luck in your endeavors. We are praying for you. I just do not have the time to contribute to your forums.

I wish that I could be more helpful. I am politically involved and I have one son in Iraq.
I have spoken to my governor about this. I think he cares but it is just not a priority to him.

Sometime a person has to wonder if the work he is doing is wanted. People have to consider their priorities. Does someone want your production enough to pay the cost of producing it and providing a profit. Or should you be doing something else? There is a strong demand for your natural resources, and the people working in that industry are making a good living. Can you afford to keep producing a product that is already in plentiful supply in the market you are selling into? Do you think that you will sell into that market at a profit? Ever? Ask your self these questions. I am a firm believer in free enterprise and free trade. I wish you the best. Sorry I could not have been any more help.
Ted.

[kato]

"I see a number of ambitious back stabbing people who feel that they can use this situation to start a new lobby group or undermine the present leadership in your lobby groups."

Sorry Ted, that's a little cold, don't you think? Do you really think this new group, (and I think I know which one you mean), is in this for ambition and power? Get a grip!

When your "leaders" run out of ideas, and are not open to new ones, or are muzzled by 'outside powers' (and I think YOU know which ones I mean), then you just have to start sticking up for yourself. That is what this is all about.

There is one thing that you Americans want that you don't have, and that's Japan and Asia, and other international markets.

You've just been using our beef all along to fill these export contracts anyway, so I guess you won't mind if we move in and export in your place?

Don't mean anything bad by that, don't take offence, but face it, when the U.S. finally finds a positive cow we will be way ahead of you in the ability to regain international markets.

When you get your cow, and if the USDA is right you WILL get a positive or two, you couldn't trace it back to save your lives. You guys are still arguing over whether or not you even want and ID program, so how many years before it actually happens? The lack of traceback ability will put you guys off the international market for years.

We, on the other hand have reached the point where we are willing to do WHATEVER it takes to get the beef moving. We can have testing for export up and running faster than you can ever imagine. Who knows, if R-Calf keeps up the fear mongering, we may even find markets for our beef in your country.

That is our goal. To regain access to international markets and get them all tied up while you guys sit and bicker over how or if to ID your cattle.

No hard feelings now, just trying to point out the facts.

Have a nice day.

[ALICIA]

This person (god loves the usa) He posted the very same speech last year. If you scroll back you will find it. I believe that cowman gave him a what for.

[whiteface]

Really appreciate that you would write back in a less confrontational manner, Ted, you're right in that we're all a little sensitive up here. Compare it to your corn growers or you're son in Iraq, then multiply it by about a billion...
It's our very lives that are at stake here, and you better believe we're willing to fight for it. I'm sure you think we're all a real complacent bunch, maybe, until we're pushed to the brink...
I think what we're after here is just a little more fairness from the United States, both in their manner of dealing with us, we'd like to feel a little less used by you and not have our "good natures" taken for granted and trade deals honoured. We realize you may not need our beef, it's not a good enough reason to shut us off, unfairness creates more unfairness. There are an awful lot of people who want an "eye for an eye" up here with the States. Similar to what you feel you had to do in Iraq. "Shut off their pumps" is our new catchphrase. Nobody wins. You need something from us, we need something from you, and since you're all such God loving people down there, why do y'all not honour the "honour thy brother" part. How come you're all so religious just when it suits you I would like to know. So you don't need our beef, so you say, at least stop being arrogant about it and trying to open the border to Japan just for your selves, we never hear Canada mentioned in that sales pitch even though you've still got 400,000 of our cows down there and incidentally, don't know where any of them are. I think kato said it best, I'm sure you won't mind if we just bypass you guys altogether with that meat going to Japan whilst you sort out your whole trade issues and hypocrisy. And I as well, really not being mean about this either, although I have tended to lash out viciously at anything I percieve as arrogant, thank you for treading more sensitively this time around. This will happen, we WILL be testing, and I really think sooner than later, WE have the traceback, WE killed thousands of cows that even breathed on the one found positive for BSE. We have been 10000% honest with our customers, no hiding texas cows or any others for that matter. WE have the confidence, WE have the ability to export, WE are in position to move a head at a moments notice without you. The rally tonight in Olds, I had opportunity to meet with a gentleman from Montana, while he was extremely humble and polite and dealt perfectly with us sensitive Canadians and our plight, I'm sure curious ( I didn't ask ) if he's also wondering just how close we are to achieving the independance we seek and leaving the US to wonder what hit them. These rallies continue to gain momentum and really, it's only a matter of time. My suggestion is that if you truly want to "help" us, first and foremost recognize that this is as serious to us as your son in Iraq, the farmers in your corn belt and incidentally, if you're all so convinced we don't need your beef, go ahead open the border and we'll just see if we have any American buyers, supply and demand? Put your money where your mouth is, we'll just see if you don't need the meat rather than trying "force it." That is just arrogant and exactly why you are quickly becomeing the most hated people on the planet even though we realize you're not all the same, a lot of you're attitudes suck as much as your science. And by the way, all of us and Japan included know that you're covering up BSE cases just like Texas, no traceback, you have no prayer getting your beef back into the export market unless and until you all stop bullying and bombing people and start treating them fairly and listening for a change. Thanks for reading, Ted. And thanks for the input again.

[jensend]

whiteface hit the nail on the head. if the us is self-sufficient in cattle and beef prove it by giving your consumers access to our production. you make silly statements which are not backed up by fact or action.

[rsomer]

GLTUSA: Although this has nothing to with beef today's news item is something important to our family and many in this country.

"NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. pilot who bombed and killed four Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan struck a deal on Thursday to avoid a court martial.

Maj. Harry Schmidt will now face a non-judicial hearing by his unit's commanding officer, in which the worst outcome could be 30 days of house arrest or a loss of one month's pay of $5,600."

We are frankly hurt the lives of our four soldiers meant so little. Maj. Schmidt will be sentenced on Canada Day.