New rules for lamb chops?

[Smithy]

OTTAWA, April 16 (Reuters) - The United States has decided to allow imports of ground beef and beef on the bone from Canadian cattle aged 30 months or younger, effective Monday, Canadian officials said on Friday.

Does anyone know if this this means lamb as well? I think it would make a big difference to prices, as the boneless rule must have been a real problem.

[cakadu]

One would hope that it would also apply to lamb as well. Yes, the boneless thing for lamb has been a significant problem because the primal cuts on the lamb - i.e. the ones people buy the most - are the rack, the loin chop and the leg.

There has been enough downward pressure on lamb the past 18 months or so - it would be nice to see things open up a little bit. Even spring lamb is down here in Canada. Part of the reason for the downward pressure on price, the border thing notwithstanding, is that the americans are raising their lambs to about 130 lbs - so long as they stay under a certain age they are okay - which means that less lamb is having to be imported by the U.S.

Here's hoping things improve for the other ruminant species as well.

[woolpuller]

No Lamb is excluded. Problems between gov't and sheep associations.

[Smithy]

When it comes to dealing with this whole issue, it is starting to feel like logic is also being excluded.

[cakadu]

Science - logic - protectionism -- you can call it what you like there is no rhyme nor reason to this whole situation.

Our government relaxed the rules on bluetongue and anaplasmosis based on the hope that they would get something in return. Both of these are far more of a danger to sheep producers because sheep are more susceptible. What about the wild populations of sheep?

In the past while, we've heard about how various sheep organizations have gone on letter writing campaigns in order to get the sheep across the border. Where are some of the other actions? There is almost virtual silence on what is happening for the sheep industry in this country. As near as I can tell, the CSF website hasn't been updated for "news" since March 22nd.

In other posts on this site, we've heard rumblings about the lack (perceived or real) about what the various beef organizations are doing in this country and the provinces. Are the sheep organizations any better?

As of January 1st, we've had to pay a mandatory checkoff now for each animal via purchasing the ear tags. Just what are we getting for these checkoff dollars?

How are they going to be spent?