If this American corn subsidy is "green", like some experts say it is, then this Canadian duty is nothing more than a trade harassment, because it will be overturned? America has been playing this game for quite awhile on many products?
Dumping subsidized corn into our feed markets is definitely unfair, but what is the solution? Well one solution would be for our Canadian government to match the subsidy with their own "green" subsidy? The Liberals like to cry poverty but then we see these scandals and boondoggles where billions are stolen or wasted, so how much truth is in this "We are too poor to fight the American/European subsidies"?
As a cow/calf producer I really don't care where my calves are fed out. In 2002 they all went south to the USA...to be fed on that same cheap USA corn that was being fed here! However as someone who has an interest in some barley I saw prices drop from $3.30/bu to $2.80....due entirely to imported corn!
Quite frankly the economics of grain production in Alberta is so poor it is bordering on the ridiculous and often I wonder how we continue to basically work for nothing! But then for the last three years we've been keeping the cows for nothing too!
Feedlots could pay more for feed except for one thing? They have to sell that steer/beef into the American market...which means they have to compete with cheap subsidized corn fed beef. We will never have a level playing field as long as subsidies on grain are unequal?
A duty does not level the playing field, all it does is give the American hog/cattle producer an advantage over his Canadian counterpart? All a duty will do is drive the feeding industry south. The only way to level that playing field, for both the meat producer and grain producer is to match the American subsidy?
Dumping subsidized corn into our feed markets is definitely unfair, but what is the solution? Well one solution would be for our Canadian government to match the subsidy with their own "green" subsidy? The Liberals like to cry poverty but then we see these scandals and boondoggles where billions are stolen or wasted, so how much truth is in this "We are too poor to fight the American/European subsidies"?
As a cow/calf producer I really don't care where my calves are fed out. In 2002 they all went south to the USA...to be fed on that same cheap USA corn that was being fed here! However as someone who has an interest in some barley I saw prices drop from $3.30/bu to $2.80....due entirely to imported corn!
Quite frankly the economics of grain production in Alberta is so poor it is bordering on the ridiculous and often I wonder how we continue to basically work for nothing! But then for the last three years we've been keeping the cows for nothing too!
Feedlots could pay more for feed except for one thing? They have to sell that steer/beef into the American market...which means they have to compete with cheap subsidized corn fed beef. We will never have a level playing field as long as subsidies on grain are unequal?
A duty does not level the playing field, all it does is give the American hog/cattle producer an advantage over his Canadian counterpart? All a duty will do is drive the feeding industry south. The only way to level that playing field, for both the meat producer and grain producer is to match the American subsidy?
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