R-CALF taken to task over Canadian cattle
By Jim Gransbery, The Billings Gazette and Journal Staff
BILLINGS, Mont. - Some members of R-CALF USA, which opposes opening the U.S. border to Canadian cattle because of mad cow disease in that country, have bought and sold cattle in Canada since the border was closed in May 2003, according to a Canadian feedlot operator.
Rick Paskal, a feedlot operator in Lethbridge, Alberta, told the Canadian Press last week that "members (of R-CALF USA) recognized an economic opportunity for their own gain. They were absolutely not concerned about food safety."
He told the Billings Gazette that the R-CALF members were being hypocrites for playing both sides of the border.
R-CALF USA president Leo McDonnell Jr. of Columbus, Mont., called the criticism off base. "This is a red herring," McDonnell said. "Or there is something I am missing here."
McDonnell said R-CALF members have done business in Canada for years, as have other U.S. cattlemen who are not members of the Billings-based R-CALF USA, or Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America.
McDonnell said he did not see any contradiction in the actions of those members.
The U.S. border was closed to all Canadian cattle and beef after an Alberta cow was found with mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in May 2003. Later that year, USDA relaxed the rules to allow importation of processed Canadian beef from animals younger than 30 months old.
A Washington state cow found with BSE in December 2003 was tracked to Alberta, and BSE was confirmed in two more Alberta cows this January.
R-CALF member Lloyd DeBruycker of Dutton said last Tuesday that he has about 150 head of feeder cattle in Canada.
He said he did not see any contradiction owning and selling cattle in Canada and opposing live imports.
DeBruycker said that last year, a Canadian packer refused to slaughter the cattle he had in a Canadian feedlot. He said the packer refused not only because he was a member of R-CALF but because "they were not killing for any Americans."
Norm Haaland, a Billings feedlot operator, said that last May, he had to sell his fed steers in Canada to another feeder at "half of their market." The cattle were eventually sold and slaughtered. He has no cattle in Canada now, he said.
Haaland said he found no contradiction on those cattle going into the beef market, with at least some of it coming south as boxed beef.
"They should have been glad we were up there," he said.
Both DeBruycker and Haaland have donated money to R-CALF and its legal efforts.
Haaland said he had given less than $10,000. DeBruycker said his family had given more than $10,000.
"Not just for the suit, but for their overall use," he said. "We have given $1 a head for the cattle we own, just like the beef check-off. R-CALF has done a tremendous job of getting the grassroots opinions out.
"I hope the government and USDA start paying attention to the people, the ranchers, out in the country," he said.
Tom Lane, a rancher and cattle buyer in Livingston, said he has traded cattle in Canada in the past but doesn't have cattle there now.
"We contracted for some yearlings last summer, but we did not get them because the border did not open."
Lane related a confrontation he had last summer with a Canadian producer at a sale yard in Lethbridge.
"I had an R-CALF sticker on my pickup," Lane said. "This guy really got in my face, and it almost came to blows." Lane's wife is Canadian, and they were in Canada visiting her family, he said. Lane said he has donated about $1,200 to R-CALF.
Ken Knuppe of Buffalo Gap, S.D., president of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, said he doesn't know anything directly about the issue but that he doesn't see an economic benefit from owning cattle in Canada.
Knuppe said anyone who owns cattle in Canada now must sell them to packers in Canada at the lower prices they bring in that country. He said any beef processed from the animals brought to the United States would be shipped in and sold by the meatpackers.
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association is affiliated with R-CALF.
R-CALF earlier this month persuaded a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture from opening the border as planned March 7 to Canadian live cattle younger than 30 months old.
During the court hearing, a Justice Department attorney for the Justice Department representing the USDA acknowledged that the amount of boxed, de-boned muscle cuts coming into the United States since August 2003 was 96 percent of the trade that existed before the border was closed.
By Jim Gransbery, The Billings Gazette and Journal Staff
BILLINGS, Mont. - Some members of R-CALF USA, which opposes opening the U.S. border to Canadian cattle because of mad cow disease in that country, have bought and sold cattle in Canada since the border was closed in May 2003, according to a Canadian feedlot operator.
Rick Paskal, a feedlot operator in Lethbridge, Alberta, told the Canadian Press last week that "members (of R-CALF USA) recognized an economic opportunity for their own gain. They were absolutely not concerned about food safety."
He told the Billings Gazette that the R-CALF members were being hypocrites for playing both sides of the border.
R-CALF USA president Leo McDonnell Jr. of Columbus, Mont., called the criticism off base. "This is a red herring," McDonnell said. "Or there is something I am missing here."
McDonnell said R-CALF members have done business in Canada for years, as have other U.S. cattlemen who are not members of the Billings-based R-CALF USA, or Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America.
McDonnell said he did not see any contradiction in the actions of those members.
The U.S. border was closed to all Canadian cattle and beef after an Alberta cow was found with mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in May 2003. Later that year, USDA relaxed the rules to allow importation of processed Canadian beef from animals younger than 30 months old.
A Washington state cow found with BSE in December 2003 was tracked to Alberta, and BSE was confirmed in two more Alberta cows this January.
R-CALF member Lloyd DeBruycker of Dutton said last Tuesday that he has about 150 head of feeder cattle in Canada.
He said he did not see any contradiction owning and selling cattle in Canada and opposing live imports.
DeBruycker said that last year, a Canadian packer refused to slaughter the cattle he had in a Canadian feedlot. He said the packer refused not only because he was a member of R-CALF but because "they were not killing for any Americans."
Norm Haaland, a Billings feedlot operator, said that last May, he had to sell his fed steers in Canada to another feeder at "half of their market." The cattle were eventually sold and slaughtered. He has no cattle in Canada now, he said.
Haaland said he found no contradiction on those cattle going into the beef market, with at least some of it coming south as boxed beef.
"They should have been glad we were up there," he said.
Both DeBruycker and Haaland have donated money to R-CALF and its legal efforts.
Haaland said he had given less than $10,000. DeBruycker said his family had given more than $10,000.
"Not just for the suit, but for their overall use," he said. "We have given $1 a head for the cattle we own, just like the beef check-off. R-CALF has done a tremendous job of getting the grassroots opinions out.
"I hope the government and USDA start paying attention to the people, the ranchers, out in the country," he said.
Tom Lane, a rancher and cattle buyer in Livingston, said he has traded cattle in Canada in the past but doesn't have cattle there now.
"We contracted for some yearlings last summer, but we did not get them because the border did not open."
Lane related a confrontation he had last summer with a Canadian producer at a sale yard in Lethbridge.
"I had an R-CALF sticker on my pickup," Lane said. "This guy really got in my face, and it almost came to blows." Lane's wife is Canadian, and they were in Canada visiting her family, he said. Lane said he has donated about $1,200 to R-CALF.
Ken Knuppe of Buffalo Gap, S.D., president of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, said he doesn't know anything directly about the issue but that he doesn't see an economic benefit from owning cattle in Canada.
Knuppe said anyone who owns cattle in Canada now must sell them to packers in Canada at the lower prices they bring in that country. He said any beef processed from the animals brought to the United States would be shipped in and sold by the meatpackers.
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association is affiliated with R-CALF.
R-CALF earlier this month persuaded a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture from opening the border as planned March 7 to Canadian live cattle younger than 30 months old.
During the court hearing, a Justice Department attorney for the Justice Department representing the USDA acknowledged that the amount of boxed, de-boned muscle cuts coming into the United States since August 2003 was 96 percent of the trade that existed before the border was closed.
