I think if we sat down and were honest with ourselves we'd say that we've known the real problem for a long time. It's just that up to now we've always found some way to work things around and pull rabbits out of our hats. We've been lucky so many times, like when the dollar tanked, and low grain prices masked just how vulnerable we are.
The plain truth is that what we have now does not work.
So what do we do? The more I think about it, the more it seems like the best way out of our troubles is for us to do it ourselves. We've seen what big business, and their buddies in government can come up with to blow new producer plants out of business. It's the same way they killed the fairly large Canadian packers that were here when the Americans moved to Alberta. They will do it again whenever they see a potential competitor.
I think Canadian cattle producers need to take the industry back one fat steer at a time. Quietly, and under the radar. People like Randy K and grassfarmer have already started doing it, and we need more cattle to go directly from the farm to the consumer. There has never been more interest in buying directly from producers, whether meat, fruit or vegetables. The time is perfect to capitalize on this.
Any overt move to set up a large operation will be a target for the Cargill's of the world, and would get pounded. However, if the culture of this country became one where consumers could connect easily and directly with producers, there is a possibility that enough cattle could come out of the corporate control that the market would not be so easy for them to manipulate.
We need to be front and center of the "Buy Local" movement. We need to encourage it, and participate if we can.
We have small abbatoirs all over the place in Manitoba. They've all been around for years. They have the skills to produce a processed product that's light years ahead of the stuff coming out of the big plants. Beef that's processed the way it's supposed to be. Hung for the right length of time, and cut to order. This is a huge advantage that we're ignoring. This would be a good direction for our producer organizations to focus on.
How much better for the economy if local cattle are processed at one of the many small abbatoirs that already exist in this country, thereby helping the local economy with that spinoff money. Instead of pumping millions in government and our checkoff money into large projects doomed to failure, we should be putting smaller amounts into smaller existing slaughter facilities that have been in business for years and are staffed by people who have experience in the business.
Money should be invested in inspection services and upgrades made to bring local facilities up to federal standards, so that the beef from these plants can find a home anywhere in or out of the country. Make it simpler for these plants to move the beef, and we may find them bidding on our cattle in competition with the big boys. Being closer to the final market could be the advantage they need to make it work, and it would all be under the noses of big business. These small plants can form business relationships with local buyers that the big plants just don't have the time or connections to make.
I know not everyone wants to get into the retail business, and everyone likely shouldn't. Individual cattle producers wouldn't have to get directly into retail if these smaller plants were allowed to function and expand.
If we had a business climate that made it easier for those who do want to go to retail to do it, it would have the effect of making things better for all of us.
Just my thoughts....
The plain truth is that what we have now does not work.
So what do we do? The more I think about it, the more it seems like the best way out of our troubles is for us to do it ourselves. We've seen what big business, and their buddies in government can come up with to blow new producer plants out of business. It's the same way they killed the fairly large Canadian packers that were here when the Americans moved to Alberta. They will do it again whenever they see a potential competitor.
I think Canadian cattle producers need to take the industry back one fat steer at a time. Quietly, and under the radar. People like Randy K and grassfarmer have already started doing it, and we need more cattle to go directly from the farm to the consumer. There has never been more interest in buying directly from producers, whether meat, fruit or vegetables. The time is perfect to capitalize on this.
Any overt move to set up a large operation will be a target for the Cargill's of the world, and would get pounded. However, if the culture of this country became one where consumers could connect easily and directly with producers, there is a possibility that enough cattle could come out of the corporate control that the market would not be so easy for them to manipulate.
We need to be front and center of the "Buy Local" movement. We need to encourage it, and participate if we can.
We have small abbatoirs all over the place in Manitoba. They've all been around for years. They have the skills to produce a processed product that's light years ahead of the stuff coming out of the big plants. Beef that's processed the way it's supposed to be. Hung for the right length of time, and cut to order. This is a huge advantage that we're ignoring. This would be a good direction for our producer organizations to focus on.
How much better for the economy if local cattle are processed at one of the many small abbatoirs that already exist in this country, thereby helping the local economy with that spinoff money. Instead of pumping millions in government and our checkoff money into large projects doomed to failure, we should be putting smaller amounts into smaller existing slaughter facilities that have been in business for years and are staffed by people who have experience in the business.
Money should be invested in inspection services and upgrades made to bring local facilities up to federal standards, so that the beef from these plants can find a home anywhere in or out of the country. Make it simpler for these plants to move the beef, and we may find them bidding on our cattle in competition with the big boys. Being closer to the final market could be the advantage they need to make it work, and it would all be under the noses of big business. These small plants can form business relationships with local buyers that the big plants just don't have the time or connections to make.
I know not everyone wants to get into the retail business, and everyone likely shouldn't. Individual cattle producers wouldn't have to get directly into retail if these smaller plants were allowed to function and expand.
If we had a business climate that made it easier for those who do want to go to retail to do it, it would have the effect of making things better for all of us.
Just my thoughts....
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