US ranchers-get real

[cowman]

This is a post for all the American ranchers who might be reading.
Hey we are just average guys trying to make a buck...just like you?
We didn't support the SOBs who tried to make your life tough. We have the exact same desires as you? To feed our families, to pay our bills, and hey at the end of the day maybe see the kids continue?
We face the same problems... you do? With big packers, big feeders, ganging up on us? And yes, we don't like how our governments seem bent on hell of giving us goofy liberal ideas like gay marriage, killing babies, and crazy environmental crap! You need to realize we are not the enemy? We are in fact...YOU!
Do you really think, because we live in Canada(Alberta), that we are one X#$@$#$#! bit different than you?
I attended an AI course several years ago...and there were many Montannans in that class...and they were no different than any of us Albertans! Not one damn bit!!!
We had a comaradie...well maybe we shouldn't go there...what happens in school should stay in school(we had some wild old times)!!!
Bottom line: Montana and Alberta cow people have a whole hell of a lot in common? ....we need to work on that?

[farmers_son]

I would echo those sentiments. I have made the point before that the U.S. cattle producer cannot increase the price of their live cattle by creating a pool of cheaper live cattle here in Canada.

As far as BSE goes, it is in the interest of U.S. cattle producers to take all possible steps to lower the level of media hype surrounding BSE. R-Calf has taken some very questionable decisions to challenge the safety of Canadian beef all the while gambling on their own domestic consumers confidence in beef. That should not be allowed to happen again.

We Canadians are very aware that it hurts producers on both sides of the border to see a case of BSE in the United States. Hopefully a similar sentiment rules the day when a case of BSE is found in Canada. While this latest case of BSE may be just what the doctor ordered to kick start further packing plant expansion in Canada the hoped for course of action has to be focusing on consumer confidence and bringing sanity to the BSE debate by pointing out that the necessary protocols are in place in both countries. BSE is really not a food safety issue on either side of the 49th parallel.

[cowman]

Golly farmer son: we are getting pretty close to seeing things the same way? Must be the Moon or something?
....Now if I can just get you thinking...CONSERVATIVE!!!! LOL

[wd40]

good point Cowman. Just one thing you don't understand.
Feedlots aren't out to get you.

Fact is, we are stupid people. We're just margin players. We don't care if calves are $65.00 cwt or $165.00 /cwt. As long as there is a $50.00 margin.

[Willowcreek]

cowman-- I wonder if things can ever be even close to what they were?

NAFTA, then 9/11, BSE, terrorist and Iraqui war issues, differing political philosophies- each did a little to change the US-Canada relationship and build up the border more..PreNAFTA I never even thought of the border being there- then after NAFTA many of the trading inequities came to light..It was soon evident the rules were made to benefit the corporate world, which took a toll on the common person...Then each time another issue came up, it seemed to build another board higher on the border fence...Also made people more aware of the differences, rather than the similarities of the two countries...Something both countries press were quick to pick up on and promote....

Now many new import export rules are going into effect thru Homeland Security, since the US goverment feels Canada has been lax with border security and immigration.. The topper is that the US is going to require Passports for border crossing, which will just magnify 10 fold the differences and the border....

I just don't see anything being the same again- two many burned bridges to get them all repaired...

[rkaiser]

Spoken like a tried and true bridge burning, Rcalf card carrying, Bush beleiving, bovine industry wrecking Montana Oldtimer.

[cowman]

Willowcreek: I know what you mean about the border. Before NAFTA the border was a piece of cake! You drove up and the border guard asked where are you from, how long are you staying, have a nice trip! Now they want birth certificate, picture ID, run everything through a computer etc...Like a middle aged couple, blond, blue eyes, new chev car...yep terrorists for sure!...and it isn't much better on the Canadian side!
Sure isn't helpful for commerce between our two countries?
I won't even try to defend the government we have up here or the policies of immigration and security that they have given us. I don't blame the USA for trying to defend themselves from our deficiency in tightening up the pipeline of criminals and terrorists! Hopefully the new government we have elected up here can get its act together and work in harmony with the USA. You should realize that we have a lot of anti-American lefties up here in Canada...but not very many in Alberta!

[madcow]

Hey Guys ,been a while.
You all have your points,Randy you still have a way with words.
Hopefully things will improve now that we have a bit of a blue tide running,a red tide always was a bad thing!
I'm not anti-American,,I have friends and family there,from Scottsdale Az. to L.A.Ca. to Boston ,I am "Anti being bullied" who ever the bully may be.
Our N.S. Cattle Producers met with Peter MacKay and Bill Casey before the election,cattle prices here haven't rebounded like the west.Our January feeder sale averaged 99.78/cwt for 565 lb steers,and that's the best since Sept..I know that's a regional problem and we are working on it,BUT there is one thing no one has mentioned about our good ol' US/Can.buddy system,,,, GREEN BOX $$ south of the 49th. We are not all playing in the same league!

[mb_rancher]

Willowcreek- Things will never be the damn same because thats the way you R-calf buggers want it to be. Do you SOB 's really figure you run the US? Well I hate to burst your bubble but your not the US govt. your a bunch of backwoods, rednecks who think you can be cattle ranchers even though some of you are known to be horse ranchers. Whats next R-foal?

[cowman]

madcow: How is that new producer plant working out down there? Is it helping your prices any?

[Willowcreek]

mb-rancher--Not sure what you said...In one breath you're saying that R-CALF has control of and is the cause of everything--then in the next you say R-CALF can't and doesn't do anything....

I do realize who runs the country and actually the governments of both countries--the multinational corporate giants of many industries- oil, chemicals, beef, pharmaceuticals, etc...And this is shown in the border rules that exist...Economics and politics trumped science and/or fair trade long ago...

And R-CALF may have little effect in combating these giants- but manitoba rancher, at least they're fighting...They haven't become like many of my neighbors to the north that just smile while bending over and handing them the vaseline...

[redcountry]

The Atlantic Beef Products plant has completed the instalation of the "product traceability line" the only one in canada ( not sure if it will help with prices?)

With this we will be able to open more markets or at least that was the idea!

There was a neeting this month and they told of all the new customers they were signing up etc.all the provincial instutations will serve only ABP and LOBLAWS will feature a section of maritime beef in all their atlantic stores

The plant expects to reach full production by June

Our price is set at ontario average less .07 per lb for the following week

The real advantage is transportation cost (we are an hour from the plant) and shrink olso we used to get a lot of dark cutters and have never had one in the last year

[Horse]

Willowcreek I do have to agree with you I have said all along I dont agree with your stand but you at least are willing to stand up for yourselves and that is more than we do.

[cowman]

Not sure if R-CALF helps the American cattleman in the long term but difinitely some short term gains? Without a doubt they did keep that border closed last year with the Cebull challenge and that obviously put money in their members pockets?
A lot of what R-CALF stood for wasn't a bad thing, but I think the day when they started bad mouthing their own product was the day they stepped over the line? Hiring a lawyer who was an animal rights supporter...well what can you say!
Also their almost exclusive focussing on Canadian beef while George sold the cattle industry to the multi nationals, didn't go over well up here? Not sure how much support they have in the USA? Seems to me they are mostly confined to just Montana?

[rkaiser]

No doubt Rcalf has a few ideas that are interesting. The problem with Rcalf is their strategy. If the packer led USDA is the target, stay on target. They have been about 6 steps ahead of you all through this BSE debacle Oldtimer. Any mention that you make about Canada, or the border, or BSE, only bolsters the postion of the mutinational packer that you and I feel are challenging the producers of our countries.

If you are not protectionist, your rhetoric about Canada and your pathetic attempts to make this BSE thing into a security issue make you out to be that way.

If your goals include a better standard of living and a fair market for beef, Canadian ranchers are your ally, not your enemy.

You also have mutinational ass kissing American producers Oldtimer. And a lot more than Canada has producers in total. Look beyond Oldtimer. Or look back for crying out loud. I don't beleive that Rcalf was all that instrumental in keeping the border closed, but I certainly know that the media and the average producer in Canada does. Are you proud of that? Are you proud that your rhetoric has helped the mutinationals to now control 85% of the Canadian packing industry?

You have a message Oldtimer, but take another look at your strategy.