Unfair?

[cowman]

On the Rutherford show the other day there seemed to be a lot of people ripping the idea of more money for the beef producer. One guy asked the question "How is it fair that the ag businesses are being bailed out, when no other small business man is?" Is this a valid question? Of course one bright light suggested cattle producers are idiots for breeding their cows this year...should have left them open!
Rutherford basically stated here was the problem...Do we want to keep this industry? Is there value in it for the Canadian taxpayer? And if there isn't why should they keep bailing it out?
Let's face it. The Canadian consumer could probably get a better deal if beef and most other food products were imported, so why keep supporting an industry that can't seem to pay it's own way? Get rid of the farmers and let them become productive members of society!
In reality maybe we are no better than Bombardier?

[CattleAnnie]

Or Air Canada? How many times has the Feds bailed them out?

Take care.

[les]

What about us feed grain growers? We would like some money too.

[kato]

When you talk to people from the city, you find that they are far removed from their source of food. They have no idea of how the cutthroat world of international food trade works. They have no idea how precarious trade can be. Let's see...for example... the U.S. wants our water, cheap. We say "No". They say, "Do you want to eat today?". We say, "Take what you want, we are hungry". It's as simple as that.

The most important fundamental part of a nation's security is food supply. Give up your ability to feed yourself and you are at the mercy of whoever wants to control you. And don't think you won't be controlled, because you will.

That's a major part of why they support their agriculture in Europe. After the horrors of WW II, they know what it is to be hungry, and have decided not to be put in that position again.

It's a lesson we should all learn.

[kato]

We would not have had to ask for money if the government would have had the balls to stand up to the illegal border closure.

I don't like the idea of welfare, but it was the easy way out for a chickenshit bunch of politicians who chose to deal with the issue this way.

I've told a few government folks to stick cheques up their ying yang in the past, and look forward to the next day I am able to do it again.

For now, survival.

[Horse]

I have been in this buis 45 yr and if anything I would not say it has been fair. There is the cheap leases the family afairs the crocked politions the gov programs and so on But if we produced a product we could usualy turn it into cash of some kind .
We lost the creamerys the elevators the crow the rail the slaughter plants the auction barns are fast going and all to larger holdings so someone could get the other guys share and greed.
Should we breed those cows no , why not get a comitment from the packers or gov or consumers telling what they are prepared to pay for this calf and if we like the price we put the bulls out and if not we sell the cow or leave her empty. Why should we expect the tax payer to keep us in business just because we like to raise calves.
I can sure see the other side of the problem. Its a damm thin board that only has 1 side.
Just read where a farmer in picture bute raised 140 bu bly/acre how does this help anyone but the companys supplying imputs.
I think if I could generate enough income to be considered a tax payer I would be mad as hell to.

[cakadu]

Kato, your point about not being held hostage by having to import our food is a valid one. We could and should be able to sustain ourselves from a food perspective.

Yes, the Europeans knew what it was like to go hungry, but many in this country did too. The fact that they are overproducing now is too far removed from the war as it was over 60 years ago. True, one should never forget, but remember that the subsidies being paid in other countries are part of the reason why grain producers in this country don't get paid enough.

Time and again I have heard from folks who wonder why 97% of the country should be interested in keeping less than 3% going. A safe, steady, quality food supply is the reason why. (I did not say cheap for a reason!!!)

[ivbinconned]

cakado; untill there are no lavish subsidies paid to farmers in the one Canadian province, Quebec, we should never talk or complain about what other countries do in that regard!!

Don't throw stones when we live in a glass house.

[cowman]

Les: I've got to agree with you. Barley prices do not look very good right now and this weather is rapidly turning what looked like an excellent crop into a disaster. Were not there yet but we need some darned warm, windy weather pretty soon!
I'm not right up on the prices but my neighbor tells me the futures are not very good. Now that might change if we don't get this crop in the bin! It seems the only time we get a decent price is when we don't have any grain to sell?
I still hope we will get an Indian summer and we'll get this crop off in fair shape. Never got any snow here and the barley(Stannard and Dolly) is still standing up very well...but needs to be swathed and combined fairly soon!

[farmers_son]

Cowman: Your question regarding why should the taxpayer continue to bail out the beef producer is of basic importance to all of agriculture.

It goes beyond just having food. Other countries could supply our nations food need, whether we are talking beef, grains, vegetables, sugar, it is available elsewhere. However we would be vulnerable in time of war and more, we would have difficulty taking any kind of independent position in foreign affairs if Canada were totally dependent on external sources for food or any other essential commodity.

I think even more than that agriculture is the fabric of the nation. Take away agriculture and all that is left is cities and roads, a series of dots on a map connected by thin highways. Anyone who has ever flown over Canada has only to look out the window and see the fields and forests that really make up this land. Agriculture pays the taxes that builds the local roads and provides the economic engine for a rural Canada which is an essential part of the nation. Our nation is more than cities and highways.

Canada is blessed with abundant primary resources, minerals, forests, fisheries and productive agricultural land. If the arbitrary actions of competing foreign governments such as the United States of American can be allowed to cause the collapse of essential primary industries, such as Canadian beef production, the very foundation of Canada is threatened. The government of Canada plays a role in the defense of our country against attacks from foreign powers so we as a people can continue to enjoy the freedoms, privileges and prosperity we take for granted. The unjustified closure of our mutual border to a perishable live commodity by the United States of America does amount to an attack on our nation’s economy and it is the duty of the nation and its taxpayers to stand up to the injustice that is being committed upon defenseless beef producers who have done nothing wrong.