I would agree that we need to get away from this idea that we are dependent on being a beef exporting country. History shows that it has been a spectacular failure as far as beef producers income is concerned. A few transnational corporations in retailing and processing have found it to be highly profitable though.
The numbers issue is going to be academic fairly soon in my opinion - I wouldn't be surprised if we have a huge sell off of cows again this fall which will bring our production down close to domestic demand. This may work to the advantage of the survivors if we can play the patriotic card as discussed above to make imports more difficult.
I like supply management - it works so well in milk and feathers but don't think western beef producers would ever accept it even in the unlikely event government were to consider it. The packer/processors would make sure government didn't look at it - it sure wouldn't work for them if they had to pay a price for cattle that was sustainable for the producer.
I don't know if the hog industry is heading for supply management but if they do they are about 20 years too late - they would be supporting corporate mega-barns versus family sized hog producers as they have largely gone by the wayside already.
It was hilarious at the Border Beef event to hear existing supply management raised by several speakers as a market access problem for the beef sector. What BS - I didn't challenge them on it this time but have done in the past. Just ask them to name one country that has indicated they would buy some/more Canadian beef if we got rid of supply management and they can't. It is another bogus issue. Trying to destroy other Canadian farmers incomes is working for the same transnationals that are screwing us over - and its being funded by our check-off money!
The numbers issue is going to be academic fairly soon in my opinion - I wouldn't be surprised if we have a huge sell off of cows again this fall which will bring our production down close to domestic demand. This may work to the advantage of the survivors if we can play the patriotic card as discussed above to make imports more difficult.
I like supply management - it works so well in milk and feathers but don't think western beef producers would ever accept it even in the unlikely event government were to consider it. The packer/processors would make sure government didn't look at it - it sure wouldn't work for them if they had to pay a price for cattle that was sustainable for the producer.
I don't know if the hog industry is heading for supply management but if they do they are about 20 years too late - they would be supporting corporate mega-barns versus family sized hog producers as they have largely gone by the wayside already.
It was hilarious at the Border Beef event to hear existing supply management raised by several speakers as a market access problem for the beef sector. What BS - I didn't challenge them on it this time but have done in the past. Just ask them to name one country that has indicated they would buy some/more Canadian beef if we got rid of supply management and they can't. It is another bogus issue. Trying to destroy other Canadian farmers incomes is working for the same transnationals that are screwing us over - and its being funded by our check-off money!
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