Test all Canadian Beef for BSE

[cswilson]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5016508/
This ban is far from over.

[Joe-2]

Ask yourself this,If the USDA,the Bush administration,NCBA and the packers are so supportive of "normalization in beef trade with Canada",why are they continually supplying R-calf and the protectionists with ammunition such as this???????
Do you actually think that the USDA is so stupid that they thought nobody would notice their little "rule changes" on April 19???? How the hell is it that a little piss-ant outfit like r-calf has enough stroke to make the mighty USDA roll over so easily???
The game is to keep the border closed as long as possible.All the right people are profiting from the closure.USDA is using r-calf to do its dirty work.WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!

[jensend]

we aren't talking about negotiation here; r-calf et al are into eye-gouging and hair-pulling so let's do the smart thing for us and not count on good faith from south of the border.

[jensend]

I was thinking this morning about democracy, and the freedoms it supplies. Do you think that if we did test all of our beef that some of the sane, business minded companies, that we all know exist, in the USA would buy our tested product? I think they would. I don't think this is an America vs. Canada thing, I think it is all about money and greed.

[kato]

If our beef was tested, they'd have to take it because there would be no legal reason not to.

Then all our packers, not just the ones with friends in high places who get special permits would be able to sell beef, and maybe there would be some competition back in the market.

[cowman]

Where in the world did anyone ever think that international trade ever had anything to do with any kind of law?
The fact is America, or Europe for that matter, can do whatever they want?
Give it up on the test! It is NOT going to happen, already!
I believe I was calling for the test from a very early stage? Rsomer, through his various posts, convinced me that just isn't going to happen(not that it shouldn't)! Actually rsomer has a very good grasp of the whole situation...although I don't buy into his optimism! But he has the basics down pretty close to "how it is".
And rsomer, don't let this swell your head...but you are a pretty convincing guy!

[rsomer]

Yea and I am the guy that said the border would be open by today or tomorrow, so what do I know? I guess only a fool tries to make sense of out nonsense. I don't consider myself an optimist but I can't help thinking maybe the border will still open tomorrow so maybe I am.

[cowman]

Hey rsomer, you can't get it right all the time! But I do appreciate your insight and the way you spell it out that 1 2 =3! And I also appreciate your optimism! Hey if there was only sour old pessimists like me around it would be a pretty boring forum?
You keep me hoping that you will be right!...I just wish you were more right!

[kato]

It's the threat of testing, as much as the testing itself that will open the border.

We need our negotiators to go to the table with the news that there is an overwhelming demand by the Canadian producers to test the beef. And the determination to actually DO IT!

As it stands right now, what leverage does Canada have? Asking politely, like good minions grovelling for scraps at the foot of the great American corporate machine? Sorry, that ain't going to cut it.

Successful negotiations require that both sides have something the other side needs. Right now, they hold all the cards. We are empty handed. There is no reason for them to open the border. They've got it too good now.

Testing is the only thing we have that stands a chance of making an impression.

[grassfarmer]

I appreciate the valiant efforts of RPK and others to push this testing agenda further and agree it would be great if we could do it and steal the Japanese market from the Americans. Unfortunately I don't see any way around the Packers - these guys will not test beef because they are under their US bosses orders not to. All talk of testing beef and exporting it to willing customers is worthless unless we can get around this problem. The new plant in the Peace country wants to sell tested beef but I expect Canada will not permit it to do that just like USDA didn't with Creekstone.