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OK, Ben

Sandhusker

Well-known member
First of all, Ben, I want you to know that I respect you. I respect my elders - which you are one - and I respect you because you've been around since beef was invented. However, I'm going to get in your face a little;

You want all US producers to unite so lets say that happens. Let's say that all the producers and feeders in the country actually unite under the Roberts Partnership and that you even have enough of the non Tyson, Cargill, etc... packers on board so you've got hook space for all the cattle in the US. Here you are with all the US beef to sell and on the other side of the street is Tyson, Cargill, Smithfield that can match you pound for pound with cheaper Brazilian beef. Today, you said the housewife is going to buy the cheaper product, so what are you going to do now?
 

Ben Roberts

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
First of all, Ben, I want you to know that I respect you. I respect my elders - which you are one - and I respect you because you've been around since beef was invented. However, I'm going to get in your face a little;

You want all US producers to unite so lets say that happens. Let's say that all the producers and feeders in the country actually unite under the Roberts Partnership and that you even have enough of the non Tyson, Cargill, etc... packers on board so you've got hook space for all the cattle in the US. Here you are with all the US beef to sell and on the other side of the street is Tyson, Cargill, Smithfield that can match you pound for pound with cheaper Brazilian beef. Today, you said the housewife is going to buy the cheaper product, so what are you going to do now?

Thank you, and the same to you! Sandhusker, when I started this campaign in 1990, it came from many years of seeing what was going on in an industry that I have a great amount of passion for, it has done well by me. Sandhusker, have you ever read the investigation that started in 1917 by the Justice Department, for The Federal Trade Commission that created the Packers and Stockyards Admininistration or the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 or 1893. If you had, you could only draw one conclusion, the packers are in control of the cattle industry! I didn't realize how much until I read those documents. The only way you are going to change that control, is to control the packers! You can't control them by going into the meat packing business, tried many many times and failed, So as I see it, you control them with power in the cattle industry, the cow/calf producers have that power! You form a organization, that contracts with the packers to kill cattle for them. Packers are all corporations with not alot of investors, show them that it would be more profitable for them to work for you, and they will.

We are quickly running out of time here though, for the cattle producers to take back the control of our industry. 2010/2012 we will look back on our industry and say, what happened, I thought COOL and closing the borders would stop what has happened to us! But it won't.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
I have no doubt the packers have control, you're preaching to the choir there.

I can see small and medium sized packers going for your deal, because they're getting hosed same as we are, but why would the big three knowingly give up power? I see them saying, "No thanks, we can make more money selling Brazilian beef, we can undercut you guys and because of that, someday we will have a deal, but on OUR terms." I think Tyson, Cargill, Smithfield would laugh at you and begin to plan on how they are going to divy your assets between them.
 

andybob

Well-known member
If we look at the situation in Britain, there is a growing trend toward middle income consumers being willing to spend more on quality fresh food. The demand for local, traceable beef has been growing strongly since the beef industrys' recovery from the effects of BSE, to the extent whereby people trust local beef over imported, and recognise the better quality of British beef. There will always be a large lower end market for cheap beef, but we need to gain the confidence and recognition of the middle to upper end of the market, and secure that market for the American producer, the integrated companies cannot compete on quality, and there is the opening for a widespread, organised campaign to promote branded American beef.
 

Ben Roberts

Well-known member
andybob said:
If we look at the situation in Britain, there is a growing trend toward middle income consumers being willing to spend more on quality fresh food. The demand for local, traceable beef has been growing strongly since the beef industrys' recovery from the effects of BSE, to the extent whereby people trust local beef over imported, and recognise the better quality of British beef. There will always be a large lower end market for cheap beef, but we need to gain the confidence and recognition of the middle to upper end of the market, and secure that market for the American producer, the integrated companies cannot compete on quality, and there is the opening for a widespread, organised campaign to promote branded American beef.

In this country, we kill 680 to 720 thousand head of cattle per week. The middle and upper-end market that you speak of can't absorb that kind of volume. We need to take total control of our industry, why is that so difficult to understand.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Ben Roberts said:
andybob said:
If we look at the situation in Britain, there is a growing trend toward middle income consumers being willing to spend more on quality fresh food. The demand for local, traceable beef has been growing strongly since the beef industrys' recovery from the effects of BSE, to the extent whereby people trust local beef over imported, and recognise the better quality of British beef. There will always be a large lower end market for cheap beef, but we need to gain the confidence and recognition of the middle to upper end of the market, and secure that market for the American producer, the integrated companies cannot compete on quality, and there is the opening for a widespread, organised campaign to promote branded American beef.

In this country, we kill 680 to 720 thousand head of cattle per week. The middle and upper-end market that you speak of can't absorb that kind of volume. We need to take total control of our industry, why is that so difficult to understand.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts

Why in the world would Tyson let you, Ben? If you think they'll just back down and be contract slaughters, you had better not let the law catch you with what you're smoking! :lol:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Sandhusker said:
Ben Roberts said:
andybob said:
If we look at the situation in Britain, there is a growing trend toward middle income consumers being willing to spend more on quality fresh food. The demand for local, traceable beef has been growing strongly since the beef industrys' recovery from the effects of BSE, to the extent whereby people trust local beef over imported, and recognise the better quality of British beef. There will always be a large lower end market for cheap beef, but we need to gain the confidence and recognition of the middle to upper end of the market, and secure that market for the American producer, the integrated companies cannot compete on quality, and there is the opening for a widespread, organised campaign to promote branded American beef.

In this country, we kill 680 to 720 thousand head of cattle per week. The middle and upper-end market that you speak of can't absorb that kind of volume. We need to take total control of our industry, why is that so difficult to understand.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts

Why in the world would Tyson let you, Ben? If you think they'll just back down and be contract slaughters, you had better not let the law catch you with what you're smoking! :lol:

The thing is this has been tried many times before and failed-- from the ranchers owned Packing Houses/feedlots (Future Beef) to the co-ops and the try at forming all into one big co-op (NFO)....

Biggest problem that occurs is that most farmer/ranchers don't have big enough pockets as the Packers/Multinatinal Corporations do to hold out for the higher money--they have annual loan and tax payments that have to be made at a certain time...Then you have the Soapweeds that will follow the advice of the NCBA, which they won't believe sold out years ago to the Packers/AMI- and are the ones fighting hardest to put the M-ID in place (which is what Soapweed opposed). :roll:

Just like now the NCBA is fighting tooth and nail spending large sums of money to kill M-COOL, while at the same time doing the Packers bidding and trying to tie it to mandatory ID- because of their packer backing and the beliefs they can still tie their organization into some of the big profit to be made from the Mandatory ID that they have invested heavily in....

While the USDA's own surveys of US cattlemen showed that 70-90% supported M-COOL and using part/all of the Checkoff money to promote USA beef-- NCBA still fights against it and toes the packer line.....

But some will not change with the changing times...
 

Ben Roberts

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
I have no doubt the packers have control, you're preaching to the choir there.

I can see small and medium sized packers going for your deal, because they're getting hosed same as we are, but why would the big three knowingly give up power? I see them saying, "No thanks, we can make more money selling Brazilian beef, we can undercut you guys and because of that, someday we will have a deal, but on OUR terms." I think Tyson, Cargill, Smithfield would laugh at you and begin to plan on how they are going to divy your assets between them.


Sandhusker, Tyson, Cargill and Smithfield are afraid of people like me! Not as an individual, but afraid that if we would organize into a group we would be in control, we already are in control, but give up that control as soon as a truck backs up to our chutes.

It's all about money and power and the most aggressive ones make the rules. You continue to want protectionism from the very government that protects the multi-nationals.

Hay Maker, wants fairness, well that's a dream if you believe that the multi-nationals are going to just give it to you because you ask, you want fairness, take it, fight for it, your fore-fathers did.

Like the Irish in the 1860s, the Mexican people are doing the hardest and dirtiest work we have, and are despised for doing it, by people like Oldtimer, another protectionist, who looks to people in our government like Tom Harkin, senator from Iowa, 38 years in Washington and we are no better off. Charles Grassley, senator from Iowa 23 years in Washington and we are no better off. The Mexican people are the aggressive ones, taking what they want because they are a very large group, with alot of power in the form of votes.

We're all aware that there are some serious problems in the cattle industry, some of us understand the gist of how we arrived at the doorstep we're currently at and many just know we're sitting on the bottom steps looking up.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
OK, Ben, but for your plan to take control to work, Tyson and Cargill are going to have to accept your offer for them to be contract packers. Why would they do that?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Ben- I have nothing but the greatest admiration for the Mexicans- Hondurans- or immigrants from anywhere in the world who are working hard---BUT I do despise the ILLEGAL immigrants that are illegally in this country and that are obtaining peoples Identifications by fraud (completely screwing up some peoples lives and credit)- and then sending all the earnings back to a foreign country...

Ben- I have no problem with our country allowing immigrants (my brother in law is one that lived in this country LEGALLY for 20 years before he became a US citizen-- which he is very proud of) but I have contempt for lawbreakers-- just like the Packer/Retailers that defraud the US citizens/consumers by removing country of origin labels so they can put a US stamp on meat to pass it off as US product.....

Ben you surprise me---I can't believe you are that much of a proponent of illegal activity :???:
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Then you have the Soapweeds that will follow the advice of the NCBA, which they won't believe sold out years ago to the Packers/AMI- and are the ones fighting hardest to put the M-ID in place (which is what Soapweed opposed). :roll:

Just like now the NCBA is fighting tooth and nail spending large sums of money to kill M-COOL, while at the same time doing the Packers bidding and trying to tie it to mandatory ID- because of their packer backing and the beliefs they can still tie their organization into some of the big profit to be made from the Mandatory ID that they have invested heavily in....

The NCBA early on was for COOL, until they realized all the problems that would be associated with it, and that it would be an unrecoverable expense. They gave up on having it, but it was your beloved R-Calf that made the boondoggle deal into law. The only way M-COOL will ever accomplish anything is for M-ID to be part of it. Otherwise it will be to no avail.

For what it is worth, I haven't registered my premises and I don't plan to. I don't want either M-COOL or M-ID. You R-CALF boys are getting what you wanted, but sometimes it is better in the long run if dreams don't come true. I wish your cool COOL dream had not come true. :roll:
 

Ben Roberts

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
OK, Ben, but for your plan to take control to work, Tyson and Cargill are going to have to accept your offer for them to be contract packers. Why would they do that?

They would, if it were profitable for them, and they had no other choices.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Soapweed said:
Oldtimer said:
Then you have the Soapweeds that will follow the advice of the NCBA, which they won't believe sold out years ago to the Packers/AMI- and are the ones fighting hardest to put the M-ID in place (which is what Soapweed opposed). :roll:

Just like now the NCBA is fighting tooth and nail spending large sums of money to kill M-COOL, while at the same time doing the Packers bidding and trying to tie it to mandatory ID- because of their packer backing and the beliefs they can still tie their organization into some of the big profit to be made from the Mandatory ID that they have invested heavily in....

The NCBA early on was for COOL, until they realized all the problems that would be associated with it, and that it would be an unrecoverable expense. They gave up on having it, but it was your beloved R-Calf that made the boondoggle deal into law. The only way M-COOL will ever accomplish anything is for M-ID to be part of it. Otherwise it will be to no avail.

For what it is worth, I haven't registered my premises and I don't plan to. I don't want either M-COOL or M-ID. You R-CALF boys are getting what you wanted, but sometimes it is better in the long run if dreams don't come true. I wish your cool COOL dream had not come true. :roll:

But go take a good hard look Soap from day one-- It was your NCBA that was/has partnered with the tag companies and was pushing M-ID full force (even hoping to get monopoly control of it)-- and still are...
R-CALF, USCA, are still promoting the original M-COOL law without M-ID, and a ID that uses brands and other forms of traceback- which NCBA could jump aboard and it would be a done deal in Congress-- but they are going back the Packers all the way, screw it up royal with all kinds of new changes, and end up costing the US cattlemen a heavy price.... :(

And M-COOL will still come to be ( too late to stop now- as the consumer has been awakened) but at a much greater expense....
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Ben Roberts said:
Sandhusker said:
OK, Ben, but for your plan to take control to work, Tyson and Cargill are going to have to accept your offer for them to be contract packers. Why would they do that?

They would, if it were profitable for them, and they had no other choices.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts

That's an IF that doesn't exist Ben.
 

Ben Roberts

Well-known member
Oldtimer-" I have contempt for lawbreakers-- just like the Packer/Retailers that defraud the US citizens/consumers by removing country of origin labels so they can put a US stamp on meat to pass it off as US product....."

Oldtimer-"Ben you surprise me---I can't believe you are that much of a proponent of illegal activity" :???:[/quote]

So sue them! if you have so much contempt for law breakers!

I'm not a proponent of any illegal activity, that's why I only got a verbal warning, for driving 76 mph. in a 60 mph zone last week. The officer thanked me for being honest, and told me that I had better step-on-it if I was going to make my meeting on time.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts
 

Ben Roberts

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Ben Roberts said:
Sandhusker said:
OK, Ben, but for your plan to take control to work, Tyson and Cargill are going to have to accept your offer for them to be contract packers. Why would they do that?

They would, if it were profitable for them, and they had no other choices.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts

That's an IF that doesn't exist Ben.

By the year 2010 or 2012 you would be right, it won't exist.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts
 

RobertMac

Well-known member
Ben said:
...and they had no other choices.

For the packers to have no other choices, you would have to have all producers on board...not just in the USA, but in all beef exporting countries. Correct?
 

katrina

Well-known member
As a housewife and consumer I would buy American beef and I think you all are selling the american housewife short... I think they would prefer an american product and would pay more for it too....
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Ben Roberts said:
Sandhusker said:
Ben Roberts said:
They would, if it were profitable for them, and they had no other choices.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts

That's an IF that doesn't exist Ben.

By the year 2010 or 2012 you would be right, it won't exist.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts

So what's going to come about to make that happen? They've got plenty of other choices today.
 

Ben Roberts

Well-known member
katrina said:
As a housewife and consumer I would buy American beef and I think you all are selling the american housewife short... I think they would prefer an american product and would pay more for it too....

With all due respect Katrina, It would be hard to find very many consumers that live in your area to buy imported meat (even from another state if they had that choice), but, do you believe the housewife, in the large cities across this nation would?

Best Regards
Ben Roberts
 
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