Corporate question

[grassfarmer]

I'd like to see them succeed emrald - they have a $500 deposit of mine. Pre Christmas I read they had sold 600 memberships but they need 6000 to raise the funds needed. The progress report on the various plans in the Cattlemen magazine makes depressing reading - so many are a long way from getting the funds needed.

[grassfarmer]

ranchers own had a booth at last weeks Agricultural Serviced Board Convention in Red Deer. During the time I was there no-one was at the booth, so maybe they just decided to put material out for people to take home.
I do think that the cost and the opportunity to pay the amount over a period of time makes it a positive opportunity for producers. Lord knows that there are enough producers in west central AB to get involved and get the thing built.

[kpb]

grassfarmer, I agree with you that the status of the proposed domestic packing plants makes for tough reading. Does anyone know what is going on with the proposed Sunterra plant near Calgary? I heard that Mountainview County had given approval but that was before Christmas and I've heard nothing since then. A lot of these plants cannot raise the funds to being construction--there's just no easy way of saying it other than that. The fact is that producers will not invest to a great enough degree and there are no other investors stepping forward because of the risk involved. As I said last fall, these plants cannot attract the type of outside investment needed for construction because they do not offer a good enough risk-reward profile. The only way they are going to get built is if some level of government steps forward with money. And I don't see that happening either, I'm sorry to say. It's kind of a bleak picture.

[mcfarms]

The Sunterra Plant will be constructed over this coming year, from everything I know. Saw Doug Price at eh ABP meeting and he said its been tough, though he said something interesting they thought the money would be the hard part and the regulatory and other hurdles(city people) would be easy.
It's turned the other way around, If anyone can get it done and do it right and suceed its the Prices. I have to admit I balked at the 100 grand at the time and now I am really questioning my decision, wishing they had 100 partners at 50 not 50 at 100 cause I would have been one of them. Went and listened to ranchers own and didn't come away way near the same optimism I get when I listen to Sunterra. They both have some self interest in their proposals granted.

[grassfarmer]

I was interested to read that Cor Van Raay is one of the major investors in the Sunterra plant - I would think he will contribute to it's success.

[grassfarmer]

The Sunterra Plant will be located in the MD of Rockyview not Mountainview County. It is to be located east of Airdrie.
The big issue was some of the conditions placed on the Development Permit including accessing water from the city of Calgary I understand.

[cowman]

Sunterra has been expanding their small plant in Innisfail to the point where very soon they will begin killing 300 fat cattle a day. This is a totally new kill line from the sheep/goat line. I believe they always did further process cow carcasses here?
Apparently the 300 head of cattle will go out as high end cuts for the restaurant trade. The proposed plant in Rockyview is quite a piece of work! As near as I can figure Price isn't putting up any money but has convinced some big feeders? Price is a pretty shrewd business man!

[mcfarms]

The plant is going to be just north of the calpine power plant on the southern boundary of the md of rockyveiw, was by there the other day and that whole area is beginning to develop into one more huge industrial area, I'd rather see a good packing plant than just another toyota dealership and pipe yards but to the city people thats progress............if you farm in the corridor between Calagary and Red Deer your land is going to do nothing but go up but your chances of expansion and quality of life is going to sure change.