Kill the Qutoa System - We Want American Milk

[grassfarmer]

" American milk costs significantly more than CA milk at the retail level... and US milk producers receive almost half that of Canadian dairy producers."

Bingo, Tom4cwb - a perfect example of how the producer gets screwed when dealing direct with huge multi-national processors. Don't you notice the parallel with the CWB issue? If you get your wish you will be the producer getting screwed just like the US dairy producer at the moment compared to his Canadian counterpart with a high and secure income level. Be careful what you wish for.

[wd9]

The only difference grassfarmer is we are being screwed twice now. Get rid of the CWB and our problem will only be half as bad.

The advantage and the difference with the dairy farms is their system actually benefits them.

[silverback]

I look forward to the day when you ask the gov't to set up a "Canadian Cattle Board" so that they can market your calves for you grassfarmer.

Is that what you want? You ready to let someone else tell you what your calves are worth to the rest of the world? You have to trust them because they won't show you the records of the sales!

Maybe just for western canadian calves would be ok too?

Or do you want a quota system set up for you and your neighbors?

Please keep us informed how that is going for you.

[TOM4CWB]

Grassfarmer,

WD9 has this one bang on... and for those in industry who are able to build a trusting relationship within the supply chain... it is possible to be as efficient only be more market responsive than the SM5 people are now.

This is for folks in the supply chain who are mature, know what they need, and have the discipline and resourses to deliver with integrety. Get quick artists need not apply.

If any one of these components that build trust and integrety are missing on either side of the processor/producer relationship... an inefficient supply chain will result.

Would you risk your life for those in your business relationships grassfarmer? Would they risk their lives for you?

[grassfarmer]

Siverback
"You ready to let someone else tell you what your calves are worth to the rest of the world? You have to trust them because they won't show you the records of the sales!"
Don't you realise we have that already with the packer monopoly?

[silverback]

You are truly forced to sell your calves to the packers?

If you started your own packing plant, would you still have to sell your calves to the gov't first and then buy them back at the gov't approved price?

Just a little difference.

[Fransisco]

Its a real tough concept for some.

Monopoly.

Mono meaning one. Not two, not five, one. It is singular, it is solitary, it is individual.

And what happens to those cattlemen who decide screw them all and cut and package their own beef selling it directly?

They get to set their price, keep their money, and their freedom.

[wilagro]

Let's get real. I can just see my neighbour who sells over 200 calves a year butchering and packaging his own beef and selling it door to door.

We live in an area where one corporation controls most of the auction marts for hundreds of miles around as well as major shares in a packing plant. How do you fight THAT monopoly? Each and every buyer in those auction marts is "handpicked" and no independent buyer is allowed with out prior approval. One buyer tried to "sit in" and was physically thrown out and threatened. How is that for orderly marketing and supply chain dependability and viability?

Tom keeps talking about supply chains, but each chain is only as good as its weakest link.

[Fransisco]

<blockquote>Willagro-We live in an area where one corporation controls <b>most</b> of the auction marts for hundreds of miles around as well as <b>major</b> shares in a packing plant. How do you fight THAT monopoly?</blockquote>

"Most" does not equal all. "Major" does not equal all". You can legally sell outside of the area, you can legally raise and slaughter your own animals.

It is not a monopoly.

If you want more choices more competition fine work towards that. Here is a hint replacing few options with only one option moves you in the wrong direction.

[cottonpicken]

Dont bother with the monopoly concept wilagro.

I tried explaining it a few months ago and it didnt work with this bunch.

[charliep]

One if the big changes has been the opening of the border to the south. US buyers are one thing that adds competition into the cattle market. Cow calf, backgrounders and feedlots also have choices around satelite autions, contracting programs, rail grade and investing in processing facilities themselves. One of the good things out of BSE (likely the only) is that many cattleman got a lot more creative in their marketing including direct to consumer.

Started on dairy and went to CWB/cattle. Always interesting to see how topics shift.

[Fransisco]

Which brings up another good point that you interventionists always get backwards. The closing of the border and the remaining restrictions are the result of <b>government</b> actions not market</b> ones.

Government bad.

Market good.