Ask Van Dyke

[Van Dyke]

Has the USDA shown you folks any of their "proof" of where the cattle came from, when and where they crossed, etc...?

We have received nothing from the USDA. They have not sent us a copy of the investigation. The only findings that we got about the investigation from the USDA was released to the media.

 

[Red Robin]

There were 11 purchases made to make up the 93 head that were fed in the lot. All of which came from the same South Dakota sale barn.

Were the only 11 other owners van dyke or does your barn comingle? If only 11 previous owners, do you know their names? Has anyone contacted them? Are any of them located at the border? or did they all originate in SD?

 

[Econ101]

It is highly unlikely that you will. Our government works with no accountability and with an eye to political pressure and embarrassment of politicians not input from small constituents, as you have found out.

Even a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request will likely get you nothing.

 

[Sandhusker]

Has Swift offered any explaination for changing their story from "We can account for all our Canadian cattle" to "There was just a mix up"?

If there was just a mix up, what happened to the other calves of yours that would of went into somebody else's pens?

 

[TimH]

Have you checked the rest of the remaining purchased cattle on your place for CDN eartags?? Perhaps there are more!! That would certainly prove you right.
Just a thought.

 

[Econ101]

Van Dyke,

Thank you for putting your input into this forum. It is valuable to see what is happening to real producers instead of depending completely on news reports and hypotheticals.

You might get a few questions seem like they are attacking you. Think of it this way: it just gives you a lot of experience in dealing with those type of people/questions.

Again, thanks for sharing your continuing story.

 

[Van Dyke]

Have you checked the rest of the remaining purchased cattle on your place for CDN eartags?? Perhaps there are more!! That would certainly prove you right.
Just a thought.

The rest of our cattle were federally inspected and no other CDN tags were found.

 

[Van Dyke]

Has Swift offered any explaination for changing their story from "We can account for all our Canadian cattle" to "There was just a mix up"?

If there was just a mix up, what happened to the other calves of yours that would of went into somebody else's pens?

That is what we would like to know. I don't think Swift can even account for them. Afterall we have not gotten a copy of the official USDA findings on how the cattle were co-mingled at the kill plant.

 

[Sandhusker]

This whole thing smells worse than Bill after a week of Hormel chile and cheap beer...

 

[TimH]

Have you checked the rest of the remaining purchased cattle on your place for CDN eartags?? Perhaps there are more!! That would certainly prove you right.
Just a thought.

The rest of our cattle were federally inspected and no other CDN tags were found.

OK. That information helps. Now we know that these cattle were most likely all about the same size and type when purchased, because they all finished at the same time and ended up on the same load to Swift's.
This would suggest that they may have been all in the same lot when they went through the salebarn.
Are there any of the 11 lots(93 head) purchased, that might fit this scenario?? This would make tracking them back through the salebarn a lot faster and easier.

 

[Bill]

I would like to say READ THE WORDS as they are, don't fabricate something different from what you are reading. Read and reread the posts to make sure you comprehend before typing something. This is part of the reason why stuff gets blown out of proportion. Too many times when a debate isn't going your way, emotion gets in the way. If anybody should show emotion over this whole story shouldn't it be me? None of you were harmed or stood loss. I WAS!!!! I was just trying to clear up some of the questions that were being asked because some of the stuff wasn't in media reports, but I you are going to attack me then I will quit posting.

I think a few things need to be explained to you.

Canadians have been slammed and battered by SOME Americans continually for over 3 years with their BS, sensationalism, half truths and outright lies. If you indeed have suffered loss you have my sympathy but don't ever underestimate the impact this has on Canadians in the midst of one hell of a time we are facing. This isn't some game of emotion for us nor is it simply a debate that is won or lost.

Take some time and read some of the posts and comments on this site from R-Calf supporters directed at Canada, Canadian producers and our ID system.

http://ranchers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15985&start=0

The press interview given by Rick Fox certainly was also less than favorable towards Canada and its involvement in this. Maybe that will give you an understanding of why many of us are more than just a tad suspicious.

If you are indeed Van Dyke and can disprove what USDA has reported you will have the support of many Canadians, until then we will remain skeptical.

 

[Bill]

This whole thing smells worse than Bill after a week of Hormel chile and cheap beer...

I didn't know you got that close to Bullard. You really ought to keep that sort of thing to yourself.

 

[ocm]

This is pretty sad. Mr. Van Dyke is telling his side of the story, but since it affirms what the R-CALF members here have been saying all along and paints R-CALF in a positive light, he's all but being called a liar! :roll:

:lol: :lol: :lol: With all the BS and half truths you, Oldtimer and others posted on this site to further the R-Calf agenda and you wonder why someone may even question this?

What's this painting R-Calf in a positve light crap? When I was on here a few days ago you R-Klowns were chirping about R-Calf NOT EVEN BEING INVOLVED!!!!!!!

Quote me correctly Bill. Van Dyke said essentially the same thing I did days ago. Some prominent R-CALF members were involved TRYING TO HELP THEM GET THEIR MONEY, but R-CALF as an organization did not take a position on this incident. I wished they had. But it remains true that R-CALF was not involved in any way more than I already said.

It paints R-CALF in a positive light because some R-CALF members showed a genuine concern for this producer's well-being.

Personally, I wish that R-CALF had done more than just personal involvement by some members. But as I also pointed out, not everybody at R-CALF sees this the same way. EXCEPT FOR GETTING THE GUY PAID. (Which has been done).

 

[ocm]

Vandyke do you care to answer any questions or are you just here to dance :???: Are you aware that the law in your state says the sale barn should have a description of the calves you bought? If you have a loss by theft do you have any means of description for your insurance agent?

6 st b/bb 3050lbs

would be a valid description

 

[mwj]

Vandyke do you care to answer any questions or are you just here to dance :???: Are you aware that the law in your state says the sale barn should have a description of the calves you bought? If you have a loss by theft do you have any means of description for your insurance agent?

6 st b/bb 3050lbs

would be a valid description

OCM do you use the same eye doctor as oldtimer :???: Read where Vandyke said ''NO DESCRIPTION'' to everybody but you and OT that means there was NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. He did not say brief description. Vandyke said to not read things into what was posted. I quoted his post that says no description was provided.

 

[ocm]

Van Dyke,

Thank you for putting your input into this forum. It is valuable to see what is happening to real producers instead of depending completely on news reports and hypotheticals.

You might get a few questions seem like they are attacking you. Think of it this way: it just gives you a lot of experience in dealing with those type of people/questions.

Again, thanks for sharing your continuing story.

Let me ditto that. I appreciate your willingness to share the truth (some are still going to call it your version). The fact is that a forum like this tends to be a very brutal place to do so. But one of the reasons I stick around is because it gives you a good sense of the worst you will face elsewhere. After this, the rest of the world is easy.

I was told some of the details of your story at the R-CALF convention by some of the people that helped you guys. They were actively involved in working on getting you the money even while they were there. On the second day of the convention I was glad to hear that the money had been Fed-exed to you.

I had kept back some of the details as far as posting on this forum, because when I heard that USDA and Swift were going to say there was just a mix up at the plant (which I heard the same day I heard you were getting your money) there were some who wanted to let USDA hang themselves with a false report before hitting the public with the overwhelming evidence you have, specifically the pictures and several family members recognizing the cattle and the tags in the pictures.

You have done an excellent job of fleshing out details that I heard back on Jan 17th and 18th. These things will go public even more than they have.

 

[feeder]

Van Dyke, check your private messages. Thanks.

 

[Red Robin]

Van Dyke,

Thank you for putting your input into this forum. It is valuable to see what is happening to real producers instead of depending completely on news reports and hypotheticals.

You might get a few questions seem like they are attacking you. Think of it this way: it just gives you a lot of experience in dealing with those type of people/questions.

Again, thanks for sharing your continuing story.

Let me ditto that. I appreciate your willingness to share the truth (some are still going to call it your version). The fact is that a forum like this tends to be a very brutal place to do so. But one of the reasons I stick around is because it gives you a good sense of the worst you will face elsewhere. After this, the rest of the world is easy.

I was told some of the details of your story at the R-CALF convention by some of the people that helped you guys. They were actively involved in working on getting you the money even while they were there. On the second day of the convention I was glad to hear that the money had been Fed-exed to you.

I had kept back some of the details as far as posting on this forum, because when I heard that USDA and Swift were going to say there was just a mix up at the plant (which I heard the same day I heard you were getting your money) there were some who wanted to let USDA hang themselves with a false report before hitting the public with the overwhelming evidence you have, specifically the pictures and several family members recognizing the cattle and the tags in the pictures.

You have done an excellent job of fleshing out details that I heard back on Jan 17th and 18th. These things will go public even more than they have.

I agee van dyke, thanks for telling us here what went on. MWJ I would have said the same as van dyke. The sale barn discription is not very discriptive. I wouldnt' even count it as a discription. If I lost a cow I wouldn't ask the neighbors if they'd seen a blk str . I'd ask them if they'd seen a big headed wooly kind of black steer with one horn and a pop eye come through here.

 

[Sandhusker]

I don't know where you folks live, but around here, we'll sell 2000, 3000+ head in an afternoon. If you think the description on your ticket is going to mention spots, lop ears, rat tails, etc.., you have another thing coming. You get the basics of sex, color and wt.

 

[Ben Roberts]

Sandhusker, I thought your post was funny..... But boy, you left yourself wide open on this one.



Amen, and keep those cash donations coming.