• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Dittmer

Bill

Well-known member
Hack away Sandhusker!

Colorado Springs, CO Jan. 11, 2007

Old Man Winter has been giving consumers supply chain lessons. Dubious economic information has floated around the national news with the snow flakes. The blizzards have generated talk show debate about farming, ranching, animal care and farm financial conditions.

With the first blizzard, it was the empty dairy cases. Days after produce and soft drink shelves were restocked, shoppers confronted dairy coolers empty, except for fat-free water-milk or maybe double-priced organic. The supply chain from distributors to each grocery store had allowed re- stocking everything else. But the fluid milk supply, dependent on getting trucks in to sometimes remote dairy farms and employees in to processing plants every day, was still snowed in. Consumers had bewildered looks, surveying empty cases. Yes, milk really comes from cows not in the rear of the supermarket. Even with modern roads and snow removal equipment, that taken-for-granted daily supply chain can break.

The second blizzard completed socking in ranchers and cattle. Yes, those picturesque, scenic bovines really require water and feed (NOT FOOD) on a pretty regular basis. And yes, that is where our eventual supply of beef comes from – albeit on a much longer time frame than the newscasters implied.

The national news further seemed to mislead consumers into thinking that ranchers will be able to “charge” more for their cattle and the blizzard would automatically translate to higher beef prices.

Such implications do not reveal much understanding of a true supply and demand system or the numbers involved:

In a true supply and demand system, the overall supply is the first, though not only, factor governing price. Producers offer their production (calves or yearlings) to the market (or to an alliance supply chain) and accept or reject offers.
Individual producers could be hard hit by such a storm, because they will have fewer animals to sell at any price. They may have also lost their production units (cows), which would mean no calf to sell plus the large capital cost of replacing the production unit.
While locally devastating for individual ranchers and some rural communities, the affect on the overall calf supply will be negligible. Even if all 300,000 cattle some estimate to be at risk were calves and all were lost, that is still less than one percent of the annual calf crop. The actual losses will be a fraction of that and negligible to the overall picture.


But the constant footage of choppers dropping hay and photos of snowmobiles crossing the countryside delivering medicine and food to stranded ranchers and hunting for lost cattle generated depressing discussions on talk radio. The questions ran the gamut:



Why were the cattle not brought in closer to feed, shelter and water before the storm?
Why should taxpayers have to pay for chopper hay delivery?
Are ranchers or farmers rich or poor?
Are farmers and ranchers well off because we pay them subsidies?

All this illustrates the widening gap in understanding and experience between rural America and urban and suburban America. Almost no city folks can pinpoint the difference between a farmer and a rancher and who gets what subsidies. Never did the implications of the drought surface, with cattle scattered far and wide picking for sustenance and hay shortages. No one mentioned the difficulty for ranchers in deciphering if the newest sure-thing blizzard is going to materialize or blow by like eight of the last ten sure things.

As agriculture concentrates and becomes a smaller percentage of a growing American population, our communication job intensifies. Political policy with direct impact on the economics of agriculture will increasing require the approval of citizens with fewer ties – but ironically more firmly held opinions -- about agriculture. Whether it’s stranded cattle on the news, empty produce bins and dairy coolers, jumps in cattle futures due to blizzards, E. coli food safety scares, ethanol, “natural,” “organic” and “sustainable agriculture” debates carried out in ads and news stories, many of the things that trigger agriculture in consumers’ minds tend to be negative or confusing. Old Man Winter is just one aspect of agriculture’s continual battle with Mother Nature that we need to keep explaining to America’s consumers and politicians.
 

mrj

Well-known member
Dittmer has some great points, as usual.

To illustrate even further, and that it isn't only the 'city folk' lacking information/knowledge about ranchers' problems:

This morning, some fool was talking on his radio talk show about how those ranchers whose cattle are dying must not be 'real' ranchers, because "anyone knows cattle cattle will come down out of the mountains on their own when the snow flies".....guess he hasn't seen eastern CO. I sure haven't seem many "mountains" there, have any of you?

He went on to say, "all ranchers have equipment and can take care of their animals during a blizzard".......again, he must not have noticed there were drifts fifteen to twenty feet deep. Not many ranchers can handle that quickly enough to find and feed cattle in large pastures.

It is tough enough to be fighting the weather, but when some of 'our own', (ranchers in easier living areas of the country) scoff at and denigrate ranchers dealing with real problems beyond their control which may ultimately force them out of business, it is beyond insulting!

MRJ
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
MRJ said:
Dittmer has some great points, as usual.

To illustrate even further, and that it isn't only the 'city folk' lacking information/knowledge about ranchers' problems:

This morning, some fool was talking on his radio talk show about how those ranchers whose cattle are dying must not be 'real' ranchers, because "anyone knows cattle cattle will come down out of the mountains on their own when the snow flies".....guess he hasn't seen eastern CO. I sure haven't seem many "mountains" there, have any of you?

He went on to say, "all ranchers have equipment and can take care of their animals during a blizzard".......again, he must not have noticed there were drifts fifteen to twenty feet deep. Not many ranchers can handle that quickly enough to find and feed cattle in large pastures.

It is tough enough to be fighting the weather, but when some of 'our own', (ranchers in easier living areas of the country) scoff at and denigrate ranchers dealing with real problems beyond their control which may ultimately force them out of business, it is beyond insulting!

MRJ

I'll bet ol' Derry's Field is Brown, without several feet of white stuff on top. :wink:
 

Bill

Well-known member
MRJ said:
Dittmer has some great points, as usual.

To illustrate even further, and that it isn't only the 'city folk' lacking information/knowledge about ranchers' problems:

This morning, some fool was talking on his radio talk show about how those ranchers whose cattle are dying must not be 'real' ranchers, because "anyone knows cattle cattle will come down out of the mountains on their own when the snow flies".....guess he hasn't seen eastern CO. I sure haven't seem many "mountains" there, have any of you?

He went on to say, "all ranchers have equipment and can take care of their animals during a blizzard".......again, he must not have noticed there were drifts fifteen to twenty feet deep. Not many ranchers can handle that quickly enough to find and feed cattle in large pastures.

It is tough enough to be fighting the weather, but when some of 'our own', (ranchers in easier living areas of the country) scoff at and denigrate ranchers dealing with real problems beyond their control which may ultimately force them out of business, it is beyond insulting!

MRJ

Well put MRJ. Yep real ranchers. :lol: :lol: :lol: Reminds us all that there are women and men with cattle and then there are CATTLEWOMEN and CATTLEMEN.



Hey Sandhusker? Is Dittmer way off base again? Packer lackey... one man foundation.....all those things you said to discredit him.

Where is R-Klan in all of this. That storm has created a heck of a lot of grief and hardship for producers and you claim R-Calf is the ONLY NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S GROUP looking after their interests so what are they going to do pass a hat between the dozen or so members that show up in Denver?
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
I can't believe he actually wrote anything that wasn't an attack on R-CALF.

If he's not a one-man foundation, why don't you name a few others?
 

Bill

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
I can't believe he actually wrote anything that wasn't an attack on R-CALF.

If he's not a one-man foundation, why don't you name a few others?

Maybe you should subscribe to his e-newsletter.
 

Bill

Well-known member
So Sandhusker where is your great ONY TRUE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN"S ORG. when it comes to representing the ranchers and feedlot owners affected by the storms?

NCBA fired off a letter to Washigton well over a week ago and if I missed any type of R-Klan newsrelease or statement I would appreciate you posting it.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Bill said:
So Sandhusker where is your great ONY TRUE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN"S ORG. when it comes to representing the ranchers and feedlot owners affected by the storms?

NCBA fired off a letter to Washigton well over a week ago and if I missed any type of R-Klan newsrelease or statement I would appreciate you posting it.


How do you suggest we represent these cattleman? Have a "Stampede on Heaven" and lobby God to change the weather?
 

Bill

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Bill said:
So Sandhusker where is your great ONY TRUE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN"S ORG. when it comes to representing the ranchers and feedlot owners affected by the storms?

NCBA fired off a letter to Washigton well over a week ago and if I missed any type of R-Klan newsrelease or statement I would appreciate you posting it.

If that's the best idea you can come up with maybe it's best not
How do you suggest we represent these cattleman? Have a "Stampede on Heaven" and lobby God to change the weather?

If the same disaster had hit ranchers around Billings Leo himself would have led the charge to the pearly gates. Of course his hat would be turned up in his hand to catch any spare change or pennies from Heaven.
 

fedup2

Well-known member
Dittmer finally wrote something worth reading. But then, even a broken watch is right twice a day. I often wondered who read that idiots ramblings & now I know! :roll: :roll: :roll:

Give it up Bill! Your feeble attempts to use an article like this to discredit has almost become comical. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Why wouldn’t you use your time to work with a cattlemen’s group that represents your thoughts & interests?
Do you belong to any organization that represents cattlemen? Not trying to be a smarta$$ here, I don’t know what is available as far as Canadian organizations.
Many in my part of this state no longer belong to NCBA or R-Calf. They feel their local stockmen’s association represents their wishes the best. The people here are like most places, independent as hell. You couldn’t get most of them to agree on the time of day. Hard for anyone to organize a group like that.
 

mrj

Well-known member
fedup2 said:
Dittmer finally wrote something worth reading. But then, even a broken watch is right twice a day. I often wondered who read that idiots ramblings & now I know! :roll: :roll: :roll:

Give it up Bill! Your feeble attempts to use an article like this to discredit has almost become comical. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Why wouldn’t you use your time to work with a cattlemen’s group that represents your thoughts & interests?
Do you belong to any organization that represents cattlemen? Not trying to be a smarta$$ here, I don’t know what is available as far as Canadian organizations.
Many in my part of this state no longer belong to NCBA or R-Calf. They feel their local stockmen’s association represents their wishes the best. The people here are like most places, independent as hell. You couldn’t get most of them to agree on the time of day. Hard for anyone to organize a group like that.
 

mrj

Well-known member
Sandhusker, many ranches a "one man outfit", too. Do you denigrate them?

Fact is, there are MANY businesses, ranches, and others who felt the need to have a voice to counter false information about cattle/beef/food.

With a "one man foundation" most of our money is spent on research and publication of facts, not overhead.

Fedup2, don't your neighbors have an problem with situations affecting raising cattle from the national level?

Local/state organizations are the backbone of NCBA and it is those local/statem members who bring the policy to the national org. so we will have a strong voice in national affairs. But, for those to whom total independence is the end all.......who fights their fires for them?

MRJ
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
One man calling himself a foundation is misleading at best. It's an effort to create credibity via title alone. When you have to do something like that to manufacture credibility, it tells me something. It should tell you something, too.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Sandhusker said:
One man calling himself a foundation is misleading at best. It's an effort to create credibity via title alone. When you have to do something like that to manufacture credibility, it tells me something. It should tell you something, too.

Actually Sandhusker I think I remember reading somewhere that AFF was now a two person foundation :roll: That they had hired Jan Lyons (former NCBA President) to work with the "foundation"....Probably the Packers way of rewarding her for her loyal backing back prior to the time the members almost revolted and she was forced to make her teary eyed "we weren't listening to our membership" speach.....

MRJ- Its sad that the NCBA doesn't have the cajones to come out and openly say what it wants put out -- and has to go thru the back alley approach by funding a mystery "foundation"..... :(
 

mwj

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Sandhusker said:
One man calling himself a foundation is misleading at best. It's an effort to create credibity via title alone. When you have to do something like that to manufacture credibility, it tells me something. It should tell you something, too.

Actually Sandhusker I think I remember reading somewhere that AFF was now a two person foundation :roll: That they had hired Jan Lyons (former NCBA President) to work with the "foundation"....Probably the Packers way of rewarding her for her loyal backing back prior to the time the members almost revolted and she was forced to make her teary eyed "we weren't listening to our membership" speach.....

MRJ- Its sad that the NCBA doesn't have the cajones to come out and openly say what it wants put out -- and has to go thru the back alley approach by funding a mystery "foundation"..... :(

Are they related to r calfs mystery members :shock: :roll:
 

fedup2

Well-known member
MRJ writes: [“Fedup2, don't your neighbors have an problem with situations affecting raising cattle from the national level? “]

Many of these people dropped from the NCBA because they felt they were no longer being represented. Many joined R-Calf. In the past week, I talked to 2 that were not renewing their membership to R-Calf. The reason given is that they do not want to belong to an organization that they feel is calling beef unsafe. Burning too many bridges for short term gains. (again, their story, not mine)

As far as debates, NCBA is losing badly, not only at a local level but on this forum. You have one little ‘wanna-be’ bad guy who couldn’t sell ice in hell because of his attitude. I will guarantee you that if this man ever showed up in this part of the country & talked to people like he does on this forum, you would be scraping him out of the gutter! :twisted:

As far as the check-off, they feel ‘that’ is what is supposed to be representing them on a national level. Most agree that it needs changes, but that the check-off is needed.
On the positive side, Hanta Yo posted some pictures along with a short story of a group putting on a meal and promoting beef. I believe this was on the ranchers forum a long time ago & I believe it was by a school. If you want to know what impressed them, it was seeing things like that in action. They ‘saw’ beef being promoted rather than reading a bunch of mumbo jumbo like the atta-boy NCBA type posts that are promoted on this site.

It should not your opinion of the readers of this site that counts! (I said readers not posters!) It is the opinion of those readers, of the organization you represent that should be important to you. There is a major communication problem that should be addressed if you are going to convince anyone of anything. (I’m sure I have the same problem communicating but I‘m working on it!) :shock:

Sorry if I have once again offended you. (and probably most everyone) You asked & I answered as honestly as I could. Fire away all! :help: :lol: :lol:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Fed Up: "I will guarantee you that if this man ever showed up in this part of the country & talked to people like he does on this forum, you would be scraping him out of the gutter!"


Anytime you want to meet me one on one, you name the time and place and I'll tell you to your face exactly what I think of packer blamers and import blamers that lie to your face and change their stories with the blowing wind. My intolerance for liars and deceivers is no different in person that it is on this forum. Name the time and place you want to discuss this one on one Fedup! If you tell me the same lies, you'll get the same response. We'll find out whether I get scraped out of the gutter.

If you think your neanderthal threats are going to have any impact on me you obviously don't know me very well. Again, name the time and place you want to meet and we'll discuss this face to face.


~SH~
 
Top