Lunacy

[Sawbones]

That should be a perfect scenario, Perfecho unfortunately we are in a situation where retailers can be blackmailed into remaining with the status quo. Canadian Legacy Partners tried to put such an arrangement together with Federated Coop but was met with a luke warm reception. There are 1.3 million shareholders in Western Canadam ,most of them in rural Saskatchewan (56%)Manitoba(16%)Alberta (15.5%). They currently have a 6.7% of the beef market share in Western Canada Federated officials told CLP that until they could supply all fresh beef products and guarantee supply, they would not be interested in changing suppliers. We cannot at this point in time get our branded products in our own local stores. We can't even eat our own beef unless we go to a local abbatoir. CLP has signed delivery contracts with producers, a brand, and several innovative products. We need a producer friendly plant that will give us guaranteed access and a guaranteed price of slaughter and then maybe we can get the retailers to work with us.

[perfecho]

Agreed Sawbones, it is frustrating.
During Camrose Bull Congress, I spoke to John Knapp who was there to expound on the ALMS(A) initiative.
My question was,” since we jumped on board with age verification and premise ID, when can we expect labels in grocery stores that show age and location?” His reply indicated that it that will be consumer driven. Great……how many years will this take? Consumers don’t even know they have this choice unless they are already purchase one of the branded label products.
Now my “beef” is not with John Knapp….he is only cleaning up the mess left by a minister that pushed producers onto the wagon, instead of pulling them, however I am getting tired of us, the producer, jumping through hoops to help others in the production chain to maintain their margins and we get the “dictated” price of the day.
The only way out of this mess, is to get the consumer on board. To have the consumer (voter) become aware of the situation, educate them on their choices and have them demand a change.
Out here in Leduc, we have a little “Ag Initiative” project being formed. I was pleasantly surprised by the positive response to “local” products compared to even a year ago. I do think now is the right time….but we have to get consumers on board? To bad check off dollars couldn’t be directed to this task, …oh, I forgot…this wouldn’t help the major packers. ;-)
Have a warm one,...at last!
Larry