Four Options

[rkaiser]

Thanks Cattleman, and you are very right about discussion on all angles.
What frustrates me is the fact that our industry leaders and government will not even entertain the idea of discussion. They simply keep throwing the negatives like some of your earlier posts.
Has anyone from our government simply asked the Japanese government to confirm the fact that they will take beef from Canada if it were tested for BSE?

[Cattleman]

If I remember correctly, we had asked Japan what we had to do, to meet their standards, and they said test everything...Then if we turned around and asked if we tested everything, would they open the border, they seemed to dance around it a bit and not give us a guarantee. That is my recollection of what was portrayed from reports on negotiations. I am a little fuzzy here.
But all I want is everyone to take time to absorb these new developments, and see what unfolds , in the next little while, becuase it will certainly take quite a lot of time and investment to test everything.

[Cattleman]

Just one more thing, is that we have been fighting and fighting for science to prevail, and the US has drafted rules based on science. Now we are all talking about throwing that all the way and start testing everything, which is not based on science....I think this is a big part of my frustration

[WoolyBear]

For my 2 cents worth, I would NEVER support an option #1. For any politician to suggest an out right killing field culling of cows born pre 1997 must have scerosis of the brain...... (oh I forgot it WAS Klein!). I would be more likely to support option #2, with the government paying for the testing. #3 is out, and so is #4 as thats what hasn't worked now.

[WoolyBear]

Hopefully the comments made by the Premier haven't done too much damage. I think that we in Alberta are getting to the point where we let his comments go in one ear and out the other. It is unfortunate that the media pays any attention.
I think that Darcy Davis made some good points in his response to the Premiers comments. He said that cattlemen were playing by the rules !

[TOM4CWB]

Lakenheath, Almoy, and Katoe;

For the last three days I have been directly working to liberate; hurt, downtrodden farmers in Saskatoon.

This obligation has not been fun, easy, or simply being “Negative for the sake of being Negative”.

When my neighbour hurts, I hurt.

I will never apologize for bringing foreword the plight of my neighbour who is being hurt, I really hope you would not expect me to do so.

Lakenheath:

The CWB is us.

If we were to begin following our own laws, today, I would not need to post one more “negative” comment about the “single desk”.

Therefore it is our CWB itself that requires me to continue objecting, primarily on behalf of those farmers who have been personally abused, most times both economically and emotionally.

I hope an open frank discussion can bring a constructive resolution to real problems in the real world, this is certainly my objective.

WHEN my neighbour hurts, I hurt. If this offends you, you need to ask why.

The CWB election was an opportunity to bring the plight of my hurting neighbour to you and everyone else on CWB issues.

I do not discriminate in the plight of those who are hurt, so as you will see, I will work on whatever problem exists, whoever creates the problem, I will seek a resolution from them. I will use passion, logic, and truth in these battles.

I will never give up until my last breath is taken, this pledge I give to you.

THIS IS MY RESOLUTION.

Thank you for your help in bring it to the attention of everyone!

Almoy:

You most certainly expressed you opinion here, as you had every right to do.

Thank you, I respect your right to that opinion.

Katoe:

I spent January 13th, in Saskatoon, working on the issue of security and payment issues around Special Crops and Pulses.

I have been just as disappointed as you have been,(possibly more so) that this issue has not been dealt with for the 15 years I have been involved in it. I estimate this issue alone has cost my family a year of my life, literally.

In Saskatoon on Thursday it appeared we will make major steps foreword this time to resolve this very issue.

If our pulse marketers will in good faith take opportunities being offered by the Canadian Grain Commission, and the CGC fulfills it’s commitments that were given on Thursday to us as producers of special crops and pulses; I believe there is a great opportunity to take a large step foreword that will resolve the majority of this problem. I will address this issue on a special topic today on Agri-ville.

It will also be addressed at our annual meeting of the Alberta Pulse Growers in Edmonton at Farm Tech January 27th, 1-2:30pm at the Ag Industry Showcase Exhibit.

www.farmtechconference.com

I Hope to see all of you there, I would appreciate an opportunity to personally discuss your problems, and help out where ever I can!

Sincerely,
Tom Jackson

[TOM4CWB]

To everyone on Agri-ville;

Perhaps a reasonable person would suggest:

I am too passionate;

I take Ag issues too seriously;

I spend too much time trying to resolve issues that I have little chance to change;

My family has paid too high a price for my commitment Agriculture.

For the average "Reasonable" person, they are probably right!

But then what one of us still involved in Agriculture... in the passionate fully dedicated manner required today... could be respectfully called "Reasonable"!

THank You all for your comments!

[cowman]

I think we might be missing the point of a pre-1997 cull? The true benifit would be getting our supply back into some sort of balance with the demand? Not much sense raising more and more calves if they aren't worth anything?
In reality, wouldn't a cull amount to "supply management"?
When Ford can't sell its trucks they don't build more of them(they cut production), so why do we want to produce more calves when they aren't really profitable?
On top of this if we eliminated the pre-1997 cows we would probably get rid of the few that might have BSE and we wouldn't be getting these positives, that seem to excite the media(and the US)? And lets face it...these cows are going to get shot in the head in the next few years anyway...so what is the big deal? Handled properly it could be a positive media event!
For those who bemoan the fact that those old cows are the best they've ever had consider this: If you are moving ahead with your herd your best cows should be your youngest cows and tommorrows calf should be better than last years!

[cowman]

cowman, I agree with moving the pre 97 cows out of the system, and that will continue to happen if the 4D program stays in place. Klien did not say anything about moving pre 97 cows he said CULL.
Slaughter capacity and removing the SRM's will go a long way to getting the older cows moved into the food chain, and lord knows that most of us have older cows that would be on a truck tomorrow if they would bring even .30 per pound.
Stats tell us that the cowherd will be reduced significantly due to the sell of of heifer calves the past two seasons. I realize that not everyone sold their heifer calves but many did, just because they needed cash flow.
The most productive cows won't necessarily be the youngest ones in my opinion. Takes one hell of a heifer to raise a calf as good as the three or four year old in the same herd. I agree that each calf crop should be an improvement on the last, and most serious cattle producers aim for that.

[grassfarmer]

Cowman, I think you are confusing two issues when you say we shouldn't hang onto our old cows as our best. True the idea that our current generation of heifer calves should always have better genetics than the last set is a sign our breeding program is moving ahead. This is not to be confused with an individual cows financial performance over her lifetime. Given the high cost of rearing any heifer to calving - let's face it the heifer is usually nearly 3 years old before she actually gives you any return on your investment (her first calf). Dairy producers have got carried away with this high turnover/high performance lark but it doesn't suit the beef industry so well.(I don't think it suits anybody well with cull prices so low. Any cow in my book that gets past the 3rd calf with zero difficulty has a high chance of remaining in the herd. If you work with a breed with longevity there is no reason why they can't produce 12-14 calves. Any calf they have after their 10th in my opinion are the most profitable calves you ever rear. The best beef cow is the one that you hardly know - no problems, no work, average calve and many years of production.

[lakenheath]

Throughout history some the most carasmatic leaders had henchmen that would go to battle for them no matter what. Tom worshipers. All of you. He's not my hero. Far from it.

[grassfarmer]

I agree grassfarmer. I keep the daughters of those reliable cows, usually they pose no problems either. Good milkers, good disposition and easy calving. Some of the best donor cows in purebred herds are the old gals.