RM: "Scott, you defeat your own argument...if there was such a "novelty'" market, wouldn't the packers have already exploited that market?????"
That's a good question but I did not defeat my own argument because the costs of segregating a novelty item have to outweigh the benefits of selling that novelty item.
If the gains of the novelty item outweigh the expenses of segregation, the packers would exploit those markets.
In the case of "M"COOL, packers are FORCED into expensive segregation and not given the option. That doesn't change the fact that the novelty item would not be discriminated against by most consumers and in some cases it would outsell U.S. product.
Look at the recent craze for Argentina "grass fed beef" on the East coast. There is a perfect example of what Agman is trying to tell you guys who refuse to face facts. The story of the success of Argentina "grass fed beef" made the front page of the Wall street journal. I didn't make that up!
Now if I was a betting man, I would bet that this beef was probably not aged and therefore hardly comparable in quality to U.S. corn fed non aged beef. Based on that, one can only conclude that Argentina "grass fed beef" happend to become the "IN" thing at that time as Agman has pointed out.
This real time example provides the proof that All U.S. consumers are not as loyal to U.S. products as you would like to believe, as does the success of Wal Mart's products from China, as does all the foreign cars going down the road, as does the Japanese motorcycles riding down the same highways as the Harleys.
Look at the world around you for once!
RM: "If Canadian beef was that much better, why not label that beef as "PRODUCT OF CANADA"???????"
If the benefits outweighed the costs, they would.
I think the Canadian producers should market their beef as a "PRODUCT OF CANADA" in the U.S. since they have the quality to back it.
The only downside to that would be the threat of the R-CULTers taking out more adds to lie about the safety of Canadian beef.
RM: "The question is...Why do they want all beef to be "GENERIC" and push for "FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS"?????"
Because Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand allows them to import a product that adds value to our surplus 50/50 trim.
Labeling this blended beef as "BLENDED WITH FOREIGN BEEF" would have as much impact as a "PRODUCT OF U.S." label on U.S. commodity beef containing a USDA inspection stamp.
Want to talk about a self defeating argument, as Agman pointed out, you guys already claim that consumers think USDA means U.S. product so what is the advantage of adding "Product of U.S." if consumers already believe USDA means U.S.????? Hello? Hello? Anybody there?
As far as Anheiser Busch's U.S. campaign, if there is a handful of "BUY U.S." consumers out there and this advertising didn't cost them a dime in segregation of U.S. barley, the small gain would be worth the limited expense of advertising. They really don't have anything to lose.
In order for the gains of advertising "U.S. Beef" to offset the costs of segregation of "U.S. Beef", you have to be differentiating your product from more than a measely 5% of the U.S. beef consumption.
When 95% of the labeled beef is "U.S. Beef" anyway, and according to you guys most consumers think USDA inspected means "U.S. product", what the hell have you gained by adding the expense of segregation?
Lastly, WHY DO YOU INSIST ON A GOVERNMENT MANDATE TO DO WHAT ANYONE CAN DO?????
Mike Callicrate's Ranch Foods Direct "born, raised, and processed in the U.S." beef proved that you don't need a government mandate to sell "U.S. beef"..
You R-CULTers are always looking to the federal government to solve your "PERCEIVED" problems for you.
~SH~
I have my doubts that cool would for the cattle producer in the USA be agood thing but I would like to know where the beef I eat comes from so Icould make up my own mind.Some of the beef Ihave had in restraunts and out of grocery stores needs the flavor covered up. Belerus tractors come from Russia I believe.SH is right about consumers and price.If you sell ahot dog for 2.50 and a roast beef sandwitch for 3.00 you will sell morehot dogs even tho the roast beef is abetter value.I support these statements from personal experience .