Nobody Needs Your Cattle

[rsomer]

You might be interested in knowing that the second round of scheduled talks between the United States and Japan are to be held in Colorado, U.S. this Monday 28 June for three days.

The first round of talks was held in May, which focused on BSE testing methods and inspection systems. A third round of talks is scheduled for 21-22 July in Tokyo, with the results of the talks expected to be released in August.

The purpose of these talks is to resolve the very problem you are referring to, the technical issues that revolve around BSE and testing and trade. The talks have been widely speculated upon by the Japanese media, with some proposing the ban will be lifted on boneless beef derived from animals under 20 months of age with the removal of SRMs.

The Australians are watching these talks very closely.

[kato]

It's all timed to end after the Japanese election.

Let's hope this new cow doesn't throw a monkey wrench in the works.

As for the unified approach, I think we still have it. The requests of the BIG C organization aren't that far off the party line to be divisive.

Much of BIG-C's approach is pretty basic common sense. Looking to a future with less dependence on one customer is just common sense. Nothing radical there.

Wanting to have a Canadian packing industry instead of being a colony is just common sense.

Since when is responding to customers' requests a radical approach? We're not asking for everything to be tested, we're just asking for those who wish to, to be allowed.

This isn't suggestive of unsafe food, it's suggestive of an industry that is at the edge of collapse.

Canadians understand that. These are pretty smart people we are talking about.

They know that if this isn't settled by fall, we are done. We are running out of time.

[grassfarmer]

rsomer, You mention above that after May 20th the industry spoke with one voice and that assured consumers the beef was safe. Yes it was good that consumer confidence remained in Canada -but it didn't do so because the packers, ABP,CCA and farmers gave a united front it happened because Canadian consumers are not stupid - they realise 1 animal with BSE that didn't get into the food chain is not a health risk. Unlike the other countries that had beef consumption dives Canada came out and told the truth from the outset. Canadian and particularily Albertan media have been fiercly loyal to the industry which has a far more important effect on consumer confidence than speeches by cattlemen when we live in a world of 5 second news clips.
Surely the old ABP dogma that we must stick together with our packer friends through this crisis is redundant now? I thought even ABP had given up flogging that dead horse as they watch the industry dissolve in front of them due to the packer antics.

[cowman]

Well cropduster, that is a good question! Just who is the government? Do you really believe that they are our servants and not our masters? Our so-called democracy is a total joke!
An example: How does my MP represent my views? Or the views of the little single moms, or the disabled, or the poor in my riding? And yet I guarantee without a doubt he will get in! You could run a yellow dog here and win...as long as he was Conservative!
People aren't idiots! They realize that no matter who they vote for, whether Conservative or Liberal or NDP, they still get the same self serving garbage! Read this carefully...all these parties are parties owned heart and soul by the power elite of this country! And who are the power elite? Why that's simple...they ARE the pirates!
So we get legislation that protects the rest of the pirates from the people! I think just about all of the legislation dealing with the banks would be a very good example? Or the international oil companies in Alberta?
If we had a government that actually worked in the peoples interests we would see an end to the mafia like tactics of the international pirates in this country.
For example the beef industry. How hard is it to pass legislation to not allow packing houses to own cattle, way out ahead, so they can manipulate prices? How about legislation to stop predatory business practices against small packers? How about legislated price discovery?
Why would we ever wonder why only 60% of our population votes? And something like only 50% in the USA? The simple answer...the people know it is a rotten game they can't win!
How about a different system? Proportionate representation? So if I live in Alberta I can vote for a party and still know my views are being represented at least? My MP absolutely refuses to support testing even though the general consensus here, among the cow/calf sector, is do the damned test! So is he representing us? Well no he isn't...but he will win in a landslide!