Kathy said:
and what do the Canadian Cattlemen get that want to build their own "Canadian packing plants"?
June 10, 2005
Author: Canadian Cattlemen's Association
This is the daily update for Friday June 10 brought to you by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and BMO Bank of Montreal.
The Saskatchewan Government has announced a $37 million package to drive development of the meat processing sector in that province. The package focuses on expanding federally inspected meat processing. Slaughter capacity is expanding in Canada and shrinking in the U.S. due to the continued border closure. Yesterday another U.S. plant announced it was closing as a direct result of the border closure, with a loss of 200 American jobs.
Agriculture Canada announced $1.8 million in funding to assist packing plants, veterinarians and others to purchase radio frequency identification readers. This will enhance Canada’s tracking and tracing system for cattle and further enhance the age verification system.
The United States Department of Agriculture reconfirmed its position in favour of re-opening the border to live Canadian cattle at a U.S. Industry Roundtable convened by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. Panelists representing all sectors of the U.S. beef industry spoke in favour of re-opening the border and emphasized the safety of both U.S. and Canadian beef. Only two panel members, representing R-CALF and the National Farmers Union, argued for keeping the border closed. Implementation of the USDA rule to reopen the border is delayed by a preliminary injunction issued in U.S. District Court, Montana Division.
This update has been brought to you by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and BMO Bank of Montreal.