someone tell me

[ALICIA]

I'm not deffending the goverment afficials but, Just like every one else we are all stared. What if we find another, What if, What if....
But just like the rest of us, the goverment is now thinking just like us, Things are not getting any better if not worse. The boarders are not opening and the cattle are increasing. So I guess it really donsn't matter if we find another BSE cause because wether we do or do not the boarders are not going to open to our cattle. So we may as well test, and let the chips fall where they may and the goverment can say I told you so and have a clear conches because they really can't do any thing any way.

[cowman]

Somehow I wonder if this whole thing makes much sense?
I mean the CFIA guy doesn't even admit they won't oppose it? And the CFIA will set the standards to what test and how it is done? And yet the plant won't be able to carry the CFIA certified logo?...strange?
Then Kilgour says he can't see why the CFIA or federal government would be opposed to private testing. How about the fact that just about every cattle organization and provincial governments are opposed to it?
I find the Tender Beef statement that they will have product on the shelf in early 2005, very optomistic, for a company that hasn't even made up its mind where to build a plant? If they can build a plant that quick they must be a whole lot more efficient than anyone else in the world!
It all sounds very interesting and hopeful...why to I have this nagging suspicion it will never happen?

[jensend]

don jensen, cupar, sk

Can somebody tell me (pretty sure jeff can) what is abp's stance on giving slaughter plants the option of 100% testing? this ties in to what i said here after the moose jaw meeting. if the wrong guys go to the govt. with an idea it will be rejected almost out of hand. if abp says testing should be allowed it will carry more weight at least with the ab. govt. if we're going to move the product we're going to have to sell it and not wait for the americans to come and buy it. if it takes testing for a period of time it won't be as expensive as the last 15 months have been and it would be a strategy required to set this industry up for the future. we need diverse markets; the americans will be launching trade actions against us the same as they do against other sectors of our economy whenever the opportunity arises. if bush gets back in he may not be that protectionist but with his foreign policy he will be somewhat isolated and we'll be hit whenever a lawyer comes up with an idea. too verbose here, time to go.

[CattleAnnie]

Here's what I've heard from a couple of people actively involved in the Tender Beef Co-op.

Originally slated for Beaverlodge, at the last minute the owner of the land that TenderBeef was dealing on jacked the price. Significantly.

There have also been some difficulties in dealing with the AB gov't. Apparantly the provincial powers that be have been less than encouraging to a new slaughter/packing facility. Draw your own conclusions on why this would be.

If the plant receives a more favourable welcome from the BC gov't,it is extremely feasible to be in full operation by 2005. You see, I'm from the area, and a few years back there was a lot of talk about new job opportunities on the horizon when Louisianna Pacific was going to build a Veneer Plant on the outskirts of Dawson Creek. And they did. And it never was put into operation.

So when you're about two km east of Dawson Creek you'll see a huge tan building standing vacant. And from what I'm told it has more than ample square footage for what they need. They would just have to provide the infrastructure.

Add to this that the city counsellors of Dawson Creek have over the last ten years finally realised that accomadating and encouraging new businesses is far more profitable for the city than driving them away, I think it's very likely that it could end up based there.

Take care.

[CattleAnnie]

Lets hope that politics doesn't stand in the way of getting this plant up and running !
Anyone heard anything about Ranchers Own near Stony Plain or the one at Fort Assiniboine ?

[CattleAnnie]

Good news Cattleannie.
Every individual person (at least 10) that I have spoke with in ABP is in favour of Testing for new and expanded export market. As individual producers, I would expect that they would have to be extremely disconnected to the real world not to be.
This is however, a group in general, led to believe that there are no new markets for export even if we do test.
Thorlackson and Haney with the CBEF are finally starting to talk about more and new export markets, and have not dicounted the notion of testing for those markets if the need arises.

I beleive that time is turning the tide. This lengthened border opening process is beginning to get to the Industry leaders, and I can see a groundswell of support for testing.

Establishing new off-continent markets for our beef is the best long term solution I can see. The only Americans that are pushing for the border to open are those that see opportunity for America,,,,,not the Canadian Rancher!
This is our problem, and we need to find our own solutions. I only wish we had half a dozen proposal's as far along as that of the Peace country folks.

[kato]

Rancher's Choice in Manitoba is still in progress. The city of Dauphin has decided that it really wants the plant, and is going to help in whatever way they can.

The MCPA came out quite a while ago in favour of testing, and our provincial government seems open to the idea too.

Our friends down south really don't want to hear all this, either.

[cropduster]

Randy,how are Thorlakson and Haney paid by their organization? Per diem or annual?Is this public info? Are their wages paid by checkoff?

[grassfarmer]

emrald1, Last I heard the Ranchers Own intend to start building in September - a month later than they hoped originally but I am still waiting to get official word on this through a shareholders notice. This was tied up at the lawyers office as of three weeks ago. Time will tell - once the snow flies we will know who will be in business by next spring.

[grassfarmer]

Thanks grassfarmer. It may be a long winter for a lot of folks in the beef industry by the sound of things .