What do you think

[cowman]

Ponder this.

The plant to kill cows proposed by BIG C is propsed to be built with bridge financing from the federal government. Producers will become shareholders in lew of the levy suggested over time. This plant will be built as cost efficiently as possible and will be run by the best management that can be serched out. Of course these two points can and will be argued, but let's be realistic. Every business venture will and has made those same two points over history.

Once this plant is built, some sort of reality is put back into a marketplace that has become extremely disfunctional. IF IF this plant cannot make money. We have all lost some checkoff money while trying to solve a crisis. (Sound familiar). Only difference being. Even if another private company buys this infrustructure for 20 cents on the dollar, we have solved one major part of our problem, Packing Plant Capacity.

As our Ex Premier Peter Lougheed said yesterday,"We could work out the details while the bricks are being laid".

Sure planning is important, but every now and again "action without fear" also works.

[cowman]

Ted Haney is not a salesman. CBEF does not sell beef. It is simply another beuracratic organization set up to help the private sector. If we want to sell beef to Asia, we must send a sales team ourselves. This sales team cannot have their hands tied with the notion of sound American sceince. The only way CBEF can help us to sell beef to Asia is to stop kissing American Ass and start supporting Testing for Export markets.

[cowman]

While I might agree with you randy that in no way means it is going to happen! Check it out? Shirley says no test, Ralph says no test, CCA says no test, ABP says no test.
I don't want to discourage you guys who are stirring the pot...but I think if I was a betting man I'd bet on no test?
If you could, would you clear something up for me? I really don't think I ever got a vote on who was on the CCA? Are these guys actually elected or how does that work?
I know I get to vote for my ABP rep but I've never got to vote for whoever represents me on the CCA? I did vote very strongly against the mandatory checkoff the ABP wanted but unfortunately slightly over 6% of the beef producers voted to keep it, so what can you do? Forced to support an organization that I don't support in anyway! I wonder if we'll ever get even a vote if BIGC carries the day and imposes a checkoff to build their plant?
I wonder sometimes if people understand the concept of "free enterprize"?

[cowman]

I wonder how the whole thing would work? Would this money come out of the regular checkoff or be an add on? Actually do all cattle producers even pay the checkoff...I thought it was refundable or something in Manitoba? Would producers in Ontario, Quebec etc. be expected to pay a checkoff for a Sask. plant? I doubt they would be keen on that idea?
And finally would Cargill/IBP be expected to pay a checkoff on the cattle they own and slaughter in their own plants? Seems to me that isn't very fair? I mean why would they want to finance the competition, right? I wonder what the courts might say about that?
Not knocking the idea...just trying to understand!

[rusty1]

Atlantic PEI packing plant. Phone them yourself and ask the real questions. Ask for Kirk Magrath 902-437-2727

They won't talk to me?

[rusty1]

Checkoff would be seperate from ABP checkoff but taken off in a similar manner. Every animal sold. Once packers own the animal, however, they would not pay on the next change of hands. Yes, it would not be fair for them to pay, nor would you want packers to have control of this new plant when levies become shares. Working on the 4 western provinces at the moment. Remember, we used to ship live cows to Colorado to be killed. Transport to Saskatchewan would be a fair bit for some, but certainly no more than a Colorado freight rate.
Thanks cowman

[BFW]

RPKAISER
Are you proposing that every animal slaughtered, be it steers or heifers, cows or bulls, have some sort of levy attached to it to help fund a cow only slaughter plant? If so I have big problems with that or am I missing something?

[BFW]

I expect that lots of folks will have a problem or two to discuss. That is what discussion groups like this are for.

Not every animal slaughtered, but every animal sold, just like the current levy that goes to ABP etc.

[BFW]

Sorry BFW, should have added that each levy dollar contributed becomes a share in the company.

Read the first draft of the proposal on the BIG C web site:

http://beef-initiative-group.com/

[cowman]

Thankyou...rpkaiser for the info. One more question? Okay, when this plant is paid for and the levys have been converted into shares, does the checkoff end? Is it then basically a closed company? And I assume that at that time the shareholders would then recieve dividends if there is a profit? Could you buy and sell these shares just like any other company or how does that work?
I'm starting to see how this thing could work although I frankly have to tell you any company who proposes to set up shop should be looking at the most favorable economic location? And I suspect Alberta would be the place if they really intend to succeed? The actual majority of the cows are still in Alberta and I suspect Ralph will be in a "spend mode" in the not too distant future? The fact is in all likelyhood you could get a better deal in Alberta? And it is also true that Alberta has always supported ag more than Saskatchewan or Manitoba?