Let's stir it up some...

[rider]

There is always someone to complain about... Always someone to blame. Can't keep the hens all together!

 

[Red Robin]

So gentlemen, I don't see any plans put forth to keep (or make) the U.S. competative in the world beef market. Does that mean you don't have any ideas or that you don't perceive there is a problem?

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

So gentlemen, I don't see any plans put forth to keep (or make) the U.S. competative in the world beef market. Does that mean you don't have any ideas or that you don't perceive there is a problem?

Now RR your asking them to think. They have to get their heads around that and it is going to be tough. :roll:

 

[Mike]

So gentlemen, I don't see any plans put forth to keep (or make) the U.S. competative in the world beef market. Does that mean you don't have any ideas or that you don't perceive there is a problem?

Ben (the Reverend :wink: ) has laid it out in black and white.

It's been gone over so many times it's nearly to the point of redundancy.

Form "cattle" and "packing" co-ops on a national level, owned by the ranchers.

All we need is some astute leadership that we aren't getting from the cattle orgs today.

"Future Beef" (FBO) might have made a go of it but the big boys shot them down, along with some bad timing, and bad decisions, spelled out their doom.

Problem is...........ranchers don't like changes..........................

 

[Red Robin]

So gentlemen, I don't see any plans put forth to keep (or make) the U.S. competative in the world beef market. Does that mean you don't have any ideas or that you don't perceive there is a problem?

Ben (the Reverend :wink: ) has laid it out in black and white.

It's been gone over so many times it's nearly to the point of redundancy.

Form "cattle" and "packing" co-ops on a national level, owned by the ranchers.

All we need is some astute leadership that we aren't getting from the cattle orgs today.

"Future Beef" (FBO) might have made a go of it but the big boys shot them down, along with some bad timing, and bad decisions, spelled out their doom.

Problem is...........ranchers don't like changes..........................

Mike I don't usually visit the bullsession board. I do remember reading some thing from gentle Ben relating to this but I don't remember specifics. You got a link? I don't know that ownership from ranchers is a plan.

 

[Mike]

So gentlemen, I don't see any plans put forth to keep (or make) the U.S. competative in the world beef market. Does that mean you don't have any ideas or that you don't perceive there is a problem?

Ben (the Reverend :wink: ) has laid it out in black and white.

It's been gone over so many times it's nearly to the point of redundancy.

Form "cattle" and "packing" co-ops on a national level, owned by the ranchers.

All we need is some astute leadership that we aren't getting from the cattle orgs today.

"Future Beef" (FBO) might have made a go of it but the big boys shot them down, along with some bad timing, and bad decisions, spelled out their doom.

Problem is...........ranchers don't like changes..........................

Mike I don't usually visit the bullsession board. I do remember reading some thing from gentle Ben relating to this but I don't remember specifics. You got a link? I don't know that ownership from ranchers is a plan.

"Competitive" is a relative term. Are you trying to suggest that we have to raise the "cheapest" beef in the world market?

The U.S. nor Canada can do that given our climates, land values, and labor costs. etc.

What we have to concentrate on is producing beef that the world desires no matter the cost.

Either that, or produce just enough to feed our own demand. If say, Nigeria, won't pay any more than for our beef than our U.S. citizens will.........why bother?

 

[Sandhusker]

So gentlemen, I don't see any plans put forth to keep (or make) the U.S. competative in the world beef market. Does that mean you don't have any ideas or that you don't perceive there is a problem?

Our biggest problem is our leadership. We have to carve out our niche and then protect it. There's no way we will be able to produce the cheapest beef in the world. We need to work the angles of quality and service. Right now, our leadership is pushing this "sound science" & "Free Trade" horse crap that nobody buys into, anyway, and that hampers quality to a point and certainly service.

Service means you take care of your customer. Look at how much money we left on the table and how deep a hole we dug with the Creekstone fisaco because the USDA insisted on "sound science" (which they didn't even follow when they finally agreed to the 20 month deal). And there was the NCBA standing right behind them. We're STILL losing money on that decision and who knows if we'll ever be able to recover those markets. The heck of it was, it was just sooooooo easy to predict what would happen. US producers should be taking heads over that.

This free trade that our leaders are embracing undercut our quality niche. You certainly have to deliver, but a large part of quality is perception. How can we be preceived as the go-to source for quality when our import standards are among the lowest in the world and our government will not allow any "extra" safety measures? Our leaders (and I use that term for lack of a better word) have decided that quality and safety are secondary to the holy grail of "trade" and are trying to make us accept anything so that they can force others to do the same. They're trying to make it a price game even though that is not where US producers can win - it is where Tyson, Cargill, Smithfield win.

So, to answer your problem, Robin, I think we have a hell of a problem. Yet, even though it is causing us a lot of money and jeopardizing our futures, I think it is one that can be taken care of by producers. We can do it if we get together and "throw the bums out". We have to DEMAND, not suggest, not ask, that producer's interests be put ahead of the AMI's. If our leaders don't comply, they lose their position.

 

[Red Robin]

So Mike is your plan to restrict trade where our nation has to eat our beef ? I don't think that's possible today. Do you?

Sandhusker is your plan to wish for better leadership? Run for R-calf office or what? I dont' get it.

I'm not trying to be negative fella's . I usually agree with Mike in political bull and might here if he can convince me any plan will work to keep U.S. beef competitive in a world market. By competitive I mean that we are perceived by the world as a good value.

 

[Sandhusker]

Robin, I'm doing more than wishing for leadership, I'm acting. I belong to the only national organization that places US producer's interests above any others; R-CALF. I do what I can on R-CALF's marketing committee. I keep a stream of mail going from me to my reps. in Washington. If everybody did what I'm doing, I'm concinced we could turn this ship around real fast. I don't think anybody has to completely change their lives to make a difference if everbody just does a little.

 

[Econ101]

Before, there was no safe level for melamine in our meat. Now there is.

We have a situation where "sound science" is whatever sounds good to the big packers so they don't lose money feeding crap scrap to cattle, chickens or hogs.


The FDA/USDA should have to buy all those chickens and hogs and feed them to their troops in the cafeteria at the USDA and Congress. They could then assess the melamine levels in those animals.

At the very least, they should all be labeled "May have Melamine, a product not allowed in the food supply."

 

[Red Robin]

Robin, I'm doing more than wishing for leadership, I'm acting. I belong to the only national organization that places US producer's interests above any others; R-CALF. I do what I can on R-CALF's marketing committee. I keep a stream of mail going from me to my reps. in Washington. If everybody did what I'm doing, I'm concinced we could turn this ship around real fast. I don't think anybody has to completely change their lives to make a difference if everbody just does a little.

I'm kind of unconvinced it'll make a difference sandhusker. Good luck though.

 

[Mike]

So Mike is your plan to restrict trade where our nation has to eat our beef ? I don't think that's possible today. Do you?


I'm not trying to be negative fella's . I usually agree with Mike in political bull and might here if he can convince me any plan will work to keep U.S. beef competitive in a world market. By competitive I mean that we are perceived by the world as a good value.

If we only raise enough beef to fulfill our needs, why should we be importing 3 BILLION lbs each year?

I have mixed emotions on the "Globalism" that is being pushed on us. I can understand Canada wanting to export because they have a large surplus. But we don't.

We have been on the short end of the stick on each and every Free Trade Agreement we have initiated and signed.

 

[Red Robin]

So Mike is your plan to restrict trade where our nation has to eat our beef ? I don't think that's possible today. Do you?


I'm not trying to be negative fella's . I usually agree with Mike in political bull and might here if he can convince me any plan will work to keep U.S. beef competitive in a world market. By competitive I mean that we are perceived by the world as a good value.

If we only raise enough beef to fulfill our needs, why should we be importing 3 BILLION lbs each year?

I have mixed emotions on the "Globalism" that is being pushed on us. I can understand Canada wanting to export because they have a large surplus. But we don't.

We have been on the short end of the stick on each and every Free Trade Agreement we have initiated and signed.

I can't argue with that logic Mike. How will you sell that idea to your international trade partners? I'm sure we have a surplus of some commodity that we sell to a nation that exports beef to us? Will it not cause a problem?

 

[Mike]

How will you sell that idea to your international trade partners? I'm sure we have a surplus of some commodity that we sell to a nation that exports beef to us? Will it not cause a problem?

Are you worried about keeping beef "Competitive"?

Or are you worried about pissing off some trade partners? :lol:

Might as well order some more wheat gluten from China before they get mad. :wink:

 

[Econ101]

International exchange rates have little to do with the price of beef or any one commodity (except maybe for gold because of its money value) or how efficiently it is produced. Macro economic policies can make your commodity more or less valuable on the world market and it has little to do with production.



Why count on a business model of selling beef or any food item under these conditions? Your government has more control over the value you get on the world market than any real economics of the business.


Fiscal and monetary policy will decide your future, not how "efficient" you are at producing it.

 

[rider]

And yet it's not all about money...

 

[rider]

There is fairness, justice, and doing the right thing.

But do we know what the right thing is?

 

[RobertMac]

So gentlemen, I don't see any plans put forth to keep (or make) the U.S. competative in the world beef market. Does that mean you don't have any ideas or that you don't perceive there is a problem?

RR, I've been busy lately (and today) and have read the rest of this thread, but I wanted to give you something to think about...

We are slap dab in the middle of the largest beef market in the world...double the size of the next biggest market. Beef demand has been on a general decline for almost thirty years! Wouldn't the smartest thing we could do, would be to work on expanding our own market share here in the USA?????? 96% of the world population may live outside the USA, but the vast majority can't afford our beef at a price where we, the cattle producers, can make a reasonable profit. And most of those that can afford our beef, don't allow us to import to them. The question is where should we be putting our efforts...my opinion is that looking to expand exports will do more to help multi-nationals than producers.

Got to go for now.

 

[Ben Roberts]

There is fairness, justice, and doing the right thing.

But do we know what the right thing is?

Rider, What you say is true, in the emotional world of life. Corporations and the justice system, don't have emotions. Corporations exist only for their bottom line, and the justice system works only for those, who have deep pockets. It makes no difference who or what, is right or wrong.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts

 

[Sandhusker]

So gentlemen, I don't see any plans put forth to keep (or make) the U.S. competative in the world beef market. Does that mean you don't have any ideas or that you don't perceive there is a problem?

RR, I've been busy lately (and today) and have read the rest of this thread, but I wanted to give you something to think about...

We are slap dab in the middle of the largest beef market in the world...double the size of the next biggest market. Beef demand has been on a general decline for almost thirty years! Wouldn't the smartest thing we could do, would be to work on expanding our own market share here in the USA?????? 96% of the world population may live outside the USA, but the vast majority can't afford our beef at a price where we, the cattle producers, can make a reasonable profit. And most of those that can afford our beef, don't allow us to import to them. The question is where should we be putting our efforts...my opinion is that looking to expand exports will do more to help multi-nationals than producers.

Got to go for now.

Good points, RM.