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McDonnell, Co-Founder and Past President, Speaks in Kansas

Tommy

Well-known member
McDonnell, Co-Founder and Past President, Speaks in Kansas


Gas, Kan. – R-CALF USA Co-Founder and Past President Leo McDonnell recently spoke at a rollover calf sale at Allen County Livestock Auction that raised more than $6,000 for R-CALF USA and the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association (KCA), an affiliate organization of R-CALF USA.



“The Beef Checkoff was started in part to fund an effort to reach the consumer and then develop research that would allow industry representatives to sit down with consumer groups and dispel any myths they might have about our industry,” said McDonnell. “Who would have thought that cow/calf producers were inadvertently funding a major contractor for the Beef Checkoff program that would use its activist media publications to initiate a campaign against consumer groups that represent literally millions of U.S. beef consumers?



When asked about R-CALF working with U.S. consumers and their organizations, McDonnell said he is worried about the damage done to U.S. ranchers from some of their own industry groups that first opposed the investigations R-CALF USA filed to address the potentially damaging trade practices of Canada and Mexico.



“Those industry groups later joined with the largest packer groups to hire a law firm to lobby against Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (M-COOL), and they’re the same groups now opposing safeguards in trade agreements that would prevent harm to U.S. cattle producers from damaging trade practices,” said McDonnell. “These same groups also opposed allowing U.S. packers to voluntarily test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to gain access to the Japanese market, and the same groups that filed court documents in favor of USDA lowering our BSE import standards to below internationally practiced standards. These harmful actions will have a huge impact on producers’ livelihoods.”



R-CALF USA Kansas Region 3 Membership Chair Casey Kimberlin, who also is a KCA director, organized the fund-raiser. Kimberlin, of Buffalo, said McDonnell emphasized fair trade issues and was well received by the crowd.



“About 10 to 12 years ago, we had a surplus in agricultural trade, and now we’re at a deficit of $4.5 billion, which I believe to be the result of our liberal free trade agreements (FTAs),” Kimberlin said. “Our current U.S. policy on free trade agreements benefits only the big corporations, not the smaller producer.”



McDonnell also spoke to independent cattle producers at Larson’s Acres, in McPherson. Owner Daryl Larson sponsored the lunch and meeting. Dort Goodman, R-CALF USA Kansas Membership Co-Chair, of Sabetha, helped organize the meetings and fund-raiser. She said McDonnell noted the importance of rural areas staying profitable so rural towns can survive.



“We can all respond to the disappearance of our rural communities, and not just those of us who own cattle,” Goodman said. “After the meeting, people were saying R-CALF is an organization that isn’t controlled by anyone other than themselves. Getting involved is the most important action a cattle producer can take – just like Leo McDonnell did.”



David Pfrang, the other R-CALF USA Kansas Membership Co-Chair, also coordinated the events. Pfrang, of Goff, said nothing is beyond the reach of U.S. cattle producers who work hard, make a solid commitment and use common sense.



“Leo didn’t paint a gloom-and-doom picture, but instead was optimistic and gave examples of opportunities,” noted Pfrang. “He said even though those who work in agriculture make up only 2 percent of the population, R-CALF has accomplished a lot. R-CALF put together the largest coalition in history and got M-COOL on the law books.”



Contributors to the fund-raiser included: Peck Brothers; Kimberlin Cattle Co.; Justin Petterson; Hal Luthi; Edwards Land and Cattle; Kenny Wernli; Lee Robbins; Grisier Farms; Steve Kimberlin; Rife Land and Cattle; Nancy Boyda; Steve Johnson; C Bar C Ranch; Blender Ranch; D.J. Edwards; and Tommy Tuggle.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
“The Beef Checkoff was started in part to fund an effort to reach the consumer and then develop research that would allow industry representatives to sit down with consumer groups and dispel any myths they might have about our industry,” said McDonnell. “Who would have thought that cow/calf producers were inadvertently funding a major contractor for the Beef Checkoff program that would use its activist media publications to initiate a campaign against consumer groups that represent literally millions of U.S. beef consumers?

What a hypocrite!

It was Leo that stood hand in hand with anti beef consumer groups claiming that having BSE in your native herd meant your beef was "CONTAMINATED" and "HIGH RISK", it was R-CALF that said "USDA DOES NOT CARE ABOUT FOOD SAFETY" and it was USDA and NCBA that had to do the damage control for R-CALF"s stupid political move of using BSE "fear mongering" as a convenient excuse to stop Canadian imports and risking the integrity of 80% of our US beef consumption in the process.


Leo: "When asked about R-CALF working with U.S. consumers and their organizations, McDonnell said he is worried about the damage done to U.S. ranchers from some of their own industry groups that first opposed the investigations R-CALF USA filed to address the potentially damaging trade practices of Canada and Mexico."

Where was this concern when Leo was stating that having BSE in your native herd meant your beef was "CONTAMINATED" and "HIGH RISK".

Ooops! The US had BSE in their native herd too didn't they.



“Those industry groups later joined with the largest packer groups to hire a law firm to lobby against Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (M-COOL), and they’re the same groups now opposing safeguards in trade agreements that would prevent harm to U.S. cattle producers from damaging trade practices,” said McDonnell. “These same groups also opposed allowing U.S. packers to voluntarily test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to gain access to the Japanese market, and the same groups that filed court documents in favor of USDA lowering our BSE import standards to below internationally practiced standards. These harmful actions will have a huge impact on producers’ livelihoods.”

No Leo, you have it all wrong.

Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling is an absolute joke when 95% of the beef at the retail meat counter is US BEEF and you were the hypocrites that wanted consumers to know where their beef comes from BUT ONLY WHICH COUNTRY, not which ranch. If consumers want source verified beef, they can buy it without adding an unnecessary expense to the industry to segregate 5% of the US beef consumption as a novelty item.

As far as damaging trade practices, it was R-CALF that opposed CAFTA due to their "fear mongering" campaign about South America using CAFTA as a means to access the US market WHEN THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING THEM FROM DOING THAT NOW. What CAFTA did was drop the 40% tarriff that we were paying to access these countries. Shows how much you knew.

BSE testing??? The tests that Creekstone wanted to use would not have revealed prions in cattle under 24 months of age. All you were doing was selling "THE ILLUSION OF SAFETY". Had your request been justified, Japan would not have accepted non tested beef.

These groups you criticize are the groups that have the objectivity to see that we cannot expect other countries to treat us any different than we treat Canada.


“About 10 to 12 years ago, we had a surplus in agricultural trade, and now we’re at a deficit of $4.5 billion, which I believe to be the result of our liberal free trade agreements (FTAs),” Kimberlin said. “Our current U.S. policy on free trade agreements benefits only the big corporations, not the smaller producer.”

Another "ILLUSION".

What should matter to R-CALF is our 7 year average beef, live cattle, beef variety meats, and hide TRADE SURPLUS to the tune of $1.3 "BILLION" dollars annually but then that doesn't paint the "GLOOM AND DOOM" picture that you are so fond of does it?

R-CALF: "SPREADING INDUSTRY MISINFORMATION ONE PRODUCER AT A TIME"


~SH~
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
SH, "It was Leo that stood hand in hand with anti beef consumer groups ....."

Consumer's Union is anti-beef? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: You set a new standard for lunacy each day.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Sandbag: "Consumer's Union is anti-beef? You set a new standard for lunacy each day."

Is Consumer's Union the only "so called" consumer group that R-CULT held hands with? NO!

More blind defense "ILLUSIONS" from the mindless follower.

Consumer's Union was not the only group R-CULT was holding hands with. Public Citizen and Consumer Federation of America were two others. Carol Tucker Foreman tried to get beef removed from the school lunch program. Great allies there Austin! Keep up the deception. I love watching you defend the indefensible.


~SH~
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
~SH~ said:
Sandbag: "Consumer's Union is anti-beef? You set a new standard for lunacy each day."

Is Consumer's Union the only "so called" consumer group that R-CULT held hands with? NO!

More blind defense "ILLUSIONS" from the mindless follower.

Consumer's Union was not the only group R-CULT was holding hands with. Public Citizen and Consumer Federation of America were two others. Carol Tucker Foreman tried to get beef removed from the school lunch program. Great allies there Austin! Keep up the deception. I love watching you defend the indefensible.


~SH~

OK, now that we've eliminated one of the three as anti-beef, you're going to have to offer a better case than the efforts of one person..... :roll: I don't think Carol Tucker Foreman is a one-person foundation like you're used to..... :lol:

Speaking of holding hands, I see the NCBA signing a letter with the AMI. Isn't the AMI the outfit that said Ranchers should quit worrying about their wallets? Lets apply your standard evenly here.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Sandbag: "I don't think Carol Tucker Foreman is a one-person foundation like you're used to....."

Where is your proof that Steve Dittmer is a "one person foundation"?

More cheap talk!

If Carol Tucker Foreman is not a "one person foundation" than R-CULT was holding hands with her supporters who also believe beef should be removed from the school lunch program.

BUT HEY, IF THE NARROW MINDED END (stopping Canadian imports) JUSTIFIES THE HYPOCRITICAL MEANS (lying about bse). Gooooooooo R-CULT!


~SH~
 

Econ101

Well-known member
~SH~ said:
Sandbag: "I don't think Carol Tucker Foreman is a one-person foundation like you're used to....."

Where is your proof that Steve Dittmer is a "one person foundation"?

More cheap talk!

If Carol Tucker Foreman is not a "one person foundation" than R-CULT was holding hands with her supporters who also believe beef should be removed from the school lunch program.

BUT HEY, IF THE NARROW MINDED END (stopping Canadian imports) JUSTIFIES THE HYPOCRITICAL MEANS (lying about bse). Gooooooooo R-CULT!


~SH~

He is not a "one person foundation". He probably has more than one packer backing him. His foundation is a joke though. It is a front organization for packer propaganda. Nothing more, nothing less.
 

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