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Ranchers.net

R-calf supporter: "Canadian imports are killing our markets"

Fact: In 2004, the US was not allowed to import Canadian cattle under 30 months of age.

Fact: In 2005, the US border re-opened allowing the importation of Canadian cattle under 30 months of age.

Fact: Feeder cattle prices were higher in 2005 than 2004.

Anyone want to debate that????

How do you argue against something so obvious and so blatant as comparing your own calf checks from 2004 to 2005 in contrast to what you want to believe about imports? Can't you remember your arguments from one year to the next?

Is this the time you're going to say, "well, well, there's a lot more factors that affect cattle prices than imports"?

Hey, wait a minute, if you're going to throw that argument out now, where was that same argument when any drop in the market was blamed on imports, packer concentration, market manipulation, or captive supplies??? Hmmm??? Either other factors affect the markets or they don't!

Here's a real head scratcher for you packer blamers, how do you explain $1.20 fat cattle prices a few years back with the same level of packer concentration and captive supplies? How does that work? Did packers suddenly loose their market manipulation leverage? Were packers suddenly struck with feelings of generosity? Did supplies dry up to the point where packers didn't care if they lost money on a few head? How do you explain it or don't you believe fat cattle prices reached $1.20?

If Packer concentration, captive supplies, and imports are the only reasons you mention for lower cattle prices, you better be prepared to explain how those factors changed when cattle prices move higher.

Oh wait, I'll bet it was the R-CALF lawsuits that scared them into paying up wasn't it?

When cattle prices fall, it couldn't be decreased consumer demand for beef relative to competing meats, it couldn't be attributed to increased carcass weights, it couldn't be related to increased corn prices, it couldn't be a decrease in export markets???? By Golly, it has to be "captive supply, packer concentration, and captive supplies" because that's what Johnny and Herman told us BY GOLLY.

Is it any wonder why R-CALf has lost every court case? It takes quite an imagination to believe that many judges and appeals court judges are wrong and R-CALF right. Yeh, I know, another corrupt system to blame....yada yada. 0 and 9 in court, there's not many NFL teams with records that bad.

What this industry desperately needs is a basic understanding of what factors do and do not affect cattle prices supported by factual information rather than a need to blame. Any volunteers to find out the facts or would you rather stick with the rumors and what you want to believe?

Do you honestly not believe, all other things being constant, that fat cattle prices do not track with boxed beef prices?? Seriously, do you? If you don't, why not just trend the two for a year and see how much correlation there is.

Hey Cinch, cattle numbers are only half the equation. How many pounds of beef you produce from those cattle numbers is the important part of the equation. Why do you think feedlots are so concerned about the "currentness" of fat cattle if it wasn't relevant? Don't you believe that carcass weights are part of the "SUPPLY" and demand equation? Do your calves weigh the same today as they did in those years of higher cattle numbers? I can't believe the cow numbers argument is still be thrown about like an old shoe without also mentioning carcass weights.

Do you R-CALFers ever stop to think how your arguments conflict eachother?

You don't want a traceback system or national ID yet you support brand inspection which is a widespread mandated ID system. You insisted that a beef animal had to be "born, raised, and processed in the US" before it could be labeled as US BEEF yet you oppose a national ID. Now, thanks to your inability to consider the consequences of your short sighted actions, we have "CAN-MEX-USA" on our beef. Gee, can't imagine how that happened??

Here's a hint, you can't prove origination of beef without a traceback system, period. Those import brands you keep parroting don't burn into the packages of beef those animals become. Don't take my word for it, go visit a beef fabrication plant and ask the managers how effectively they can trace beef origination through their system without a traceback system. Will you refuse to believe them? Do you think you know more about beef fabrication and beef sales than those who fabricate and sell beef?

Now don't try to spin that into a promotion of a national ID system. I support a voluntary ID system and I believe in letting producers decide for themselves whether the benefits of traceable ID are worth the costs. Id gladly be a part of a total process verified branded beef program while you continue to contribute to the generic beef market.

Blame yourself for the "CAN-MEX-USA" labels, not the packers. You didn't want the traceback system that was required to implement your beef labeling law.

You say there's no competition in the packing industry then you say smaller packers can't compete with the large packers. What's up with that? If smaller packers can't compete, there has to be competition. If there wasn't competition, smaller packers could compete.

You say that the packers and retailers realize the benefits of the beef checkoff and not the producer yet you support COOL as if that will benefit the producer???

Who actually thinks industry concentration is unique to the packing industry? Look at all the industries around you dominated by 3 - 5 companies and you think the beef industry is unique? Why aren't consumers complaining about coke and pepsi?

If you are so convinced that packers are making so much money off you, why haven't you invested in a packing company? Could it be that you don't really believe what you say enough to put your money where your beliefs are?

One of the biggest threats to the cattle industry is recreationalists buying ranches and running cattle when they don't have to make a living off cattle. Why don't you ever complain about that? At least that complaint has merit. If you complained about good northern cattle competing with dairy cattle, at least that complaint would have merit. The endangered species act and the Obama administration and their liberal agenda is a bigger threat to you than many of the issues you focus on. If you really need something to blame, blame something that facts can support.

If you would just take that blaming energy and direct it towards increasing consumer demand for beef, you'd be better off than blaming the other segments of the beef industry with opinions that cannot be supported by fact.

Hello walls......

I see Sandhusker is a "proud member of R-CALF". What's to be proud of Sandhusker? The lawsuit against the original founder of R-CALF? R-CALF's success in the courtroom? The internal implosion of the organization resulting in the US Cattlemen's Association? The ability to blame something you know nothing about?

I'm incredibly proud to NOT be an R-CALF member because I'd rather my views be based on facts as opposed to a need to blame.

There, I feel better now....

INCOMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And here you thought you had gotten rid of me for good? Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you and what you want to believe with the facts.


~SH~
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