Just returned from a very informative and well presented speech from Dr. Derrell Peel, a livestock specialist/economist from Oklahoma State University, visiting Winnipeg. He is originally a Montana boy, and he had choice words for cattlemen in the Northern Midwest states and R-CALF. He talked at length about the fact that imports from many countries, including Canada have now replaced much of the product volume that was brought in from Canada pre-BSE. He blamed R-CALF for slowing killing the US beef industry, as all it did was create an environment that favoured importations and cut the throats of smaller packers like the ones in Washington state. He also outlined the components behind COOL and how absolutely stupid it is in what it covers.
Comparing Dr. Peel's speech to those of Harlan Hughes, I think Hughes beats the 'cattle cycles scheme' to death. I think Peel has a much better handle on the entire industry from cow/calf to retail and offers an opinion which seems more common sense (well, to me anyways).
http://agecon.okstate.edu/faculty/profile.asp?id=dpeel
Comparing Dr. Peel's speech to those of Harlan Hughes, I think Hughes beats the 'cattle cycles scheme' to death. I think Peel has a much better handle on the entire industry from cow/calf to retail and offers an opinion which seems more common sense (well, to me anyways).
http://agecon.okstate.edu/faculty/profile.asp?id=dpeel