Now Is The Time

[farmers_son]

Whether or not the speakers are interesting or the numbers of producers attending the meetings will be down this year or what Martin is doing that doesn’t change the fact that if producers want to see competitive pricing for live cattle in this country then they need to do something about it.

It is not going to happen all by itself.

The BSE crisis is not over by a long shot. Even if it was we will not have competitive bids for live slaughter cattle unless there is some mechanism established and in place to force competitive bids. If you believe that the packers are paying us a fair price for cattle then there is no need to change anything, you can stay home and watch TV if that is what you wish. But if you are of the opinion that the marketplace is not working to provide producers with an equitable return on live cattle then how can you not take whatever opportunities that present themselves to change that. The ABP elections are one way that a producer can make a real difference.

I do not know if anyone reads any posts in Agri-ville or not. But if someone reads this I hope they very seriously consider putting their name in for delegate. Or if you know someone who you think would be good (particularly if that someone supports the producer packing plant concept) then why not encourage them to take a stand and change our industry instead of just maintain the status quo. The status quo people are already lining up candidates who will work to see old ABP policies remain in place. But all it takes is four people in each zone who are sick and tired of receiving unfair prices at the hands of Tyson and Cargill to come forward and make a difference.

It is just like when the Tories beat out the Socreds in Alberta in the early 70s. A few people were elected in the earlier election and then they took over the province the next election. There are already delegates in the ABP that support producer packing plants and if delegates will come forward this year there will be a majority. Change can happen and now is the time.

[grassfarmer]

I'd like to see it happen farmers_son but how do you get producers to attend if it's not in their hearts to work for change? I spent time last year phoning producers and writing letters to papers trying to motivate people to attend with very little response. Apathy is our biggest problem.

[grassfarmer]

Apathy and complacency by those that are ready to get out of the cattle business and know their land is worth more today than it was in May of 2003.

[farmers_son]

I am not trying to get producers to attend meetings with these posts. I am trying to get a few good people who see producer packing plants as a viable means to inject a measure of competition into our industry to put their names forward as ABP candidates in each zone.

Just 4 people in each zone, but what that really means is one person says they are willing to make a difference and it happens 4 times.

That is all it takes to change the way our industry operates. It really is that simple. Whoever is reading this, please give running for ABP delegate some serious consideration.

No one should expect the packers are going to start paying fair prices for our live cattle just out of the goodness of their hearts or that some white knight is going to build a packing plant with the express goal of competing with the big packers for our live cattle. It will take an industry effort but it can happen. Who is willing to step forward? The nomination forms are available from the link at the top of this thread.

[grassfarmer]

I'm in no way trying to pick a fight or run down your idea here farmers_son but when you yourself mentioned in a previous post that "The status quo people are already lining up candidates who will work to see old ABP policies remain in place." that indicates to me that we do need more and different producers to attend and vote - it's clear the few that are regular attenders normally vote for the status quo people or they wouldn't hold the positions they do today. As I see it we need the 4 volunteers per zone but we also need a majority to elect them.

[cowman]

farmers son: Bad comparison there with the example of the Lougheed Tories! If that is your example I think I'll stick with the old ABP boys!
A good solid stable government that got good value for Albertans to a reckless, spendthrift crew who gave away the store! Yea maybe we'd better stick with the old boys?

[wd40]

emrald1 - I think you need a reality check as far as the ABP is concerned. I have talked to the E manager of ABP, one of the members of the finance committee, and several others who are high up in the executive. I have been at numerous ABP meeting and at Cam Oostercamps meetings. In all cases, and I might add - (the delegates freely admitted) that they would not take the sentiment of producers nor their loud and clear directive to support a producer owned packing plant to the Alberta Govt.

I don't care if the individual delegate is in love with his captors (IBP & Cargil), however I ademately believe that it is their JOB to carry the voice and opinion of producers to Govt.

When they refuse they should be fired or at least resign! &*^&%^

[farmers_son]

I was just trying to show that change can happen and all it takes is a few good people to make change happen.

If change does not happen then we are sure to continue to follow the same path as we have. We will continue to receive at least $100 less per slaughter steer/heifer than an American producer. We will continue to be dependent upon live cattle exports to provide even limited competition for live cattle in this country. We will continue to be vulnerable to the U.S. border closing to our live cattle.

Cowman: Are you saying we should maintain the status quo? There is a saying that you get what you ask for. If we want to see things continue as they were I am sure that is exactly what will happen.

But let’s not forget that our industry will never be the same after BSE as it was before. The status quo has simply vanished and we cannot just go back. Cargill controls a greater share of the live cattle market today than they did prior to May 20. Some of the U.S. packers that were buying our live cows have disappeared not to mention that the border is still closed to our live cows and might not reopen for a long time. We have to change. Part of that change needs to be a producer owned packing plant. The ABP needs to get onside with that reality and it will take delegates who support that change to see it happen.

Again, I do not know how many actually read Agri-ville but hopefully someone does and they will take a few days away from their farm and run as delegate to do their part to see change happen.

[farmers_son]

I certainly agree with your comment "As I see it we need the 4 volunteers per zone but we also need a majority to elect them." I guess I am thinking first things first. One step at a time.

Based on the way the delegates voted at the last AGM the majority do not wish the ABP to play a role in seeing change happen in the industry. Although the AGM votes were by no means unanimous producer resolution after producer resolution supporting producer packing plants were voted down. These were resolutions that grassroots producers passed in the country often by large margins. The same will happen at this falls Annual General Meeting unless new delegates come forward and are elected at the fall meetings.

[wd40]

When a jury of our peers "street peons" can have a decission over-rulled by a judge what hope is there.

You know who's in bed with who.

Cattlemen must pay Tyson's legal bills

by Pete Hisey on 8/26/2005 for Meatingplace.com


Plaintiffs in the captive-cattle case against Tyson Fresh Meats not only lost the case, but must pay Tyson $70,000 in legal bills, a panel from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled. According to Tyson, the appeals court rejected the plaintiffs' argument that the case was "close," deciding that the plaintiffs had "lost every aspect" of the case.

The cattlemen plan to appeal the panel's decision to uphold the finding of an Alabama judge, who overruled a jury verdict that would have paid the cattlemen over $1 billion. The cattlemen complained that Tyson's business practices harmed independent cattle producers.