import-export

[cowman]

we have import canadian chick peas(garbanzo beans)

[jensend]

this is another instance of usda catering to the industrial agriculture interests. you can bet ag canada and cfia will go along in lockstep.

[grassfarmer]

That is a different take on the USDA's proposed grassfed designation. This story has been covered in the StockmanGrassfarmer magazine and from what I read in the last issue the likely "grassfed" designation that will emerge will be a joke, way more open ended than suggested in this article - it is being dumbed down to the point that the commodity market can participate. The driving forces that are pushing USDA to do this are the feedlots and their large scale packer masters. Grassfed has been a very in demand meat and these guys want to participate. The consumer will be tricked once again.
Organic status is equally a joke in Canada - it can be produced on a straight grain diet in a feedlot as long as the grain is certified organic. When I explain this to most customers they are surprised - they thought the way we reared them was what organic was about.(grass, fresh air etc)

That said the beauty of direct marketing is that I share with my customers how I produce my beef and they value that relationship, i'm someone they trust or they wouldn't be coming to me in the first place. I don't really feel the need to be regulated on this as the kind of customer we get tends to ask sensible questions before purchasing.

True quality grassfed beef isn't so easy to produce in Canada or the northern states because we have a winter.

[melvill]

Responding to this and your other message. Can you explain in more detail or clearer language what you are wanting to import?

Where are you located and what is your direct e-mail address?

[silverback]

good to see ivbin posting again!

Thanks

[ivbinconned]

Thankyou Silverback.

Its been a good summer, got lots of fishing done, traveling, chasen cows. Its gotten very dry here once again and we shor cud use some rain!!

[cowman]

I guess I might ask: Is there anything we really need from ANY national council?
Yesterday on the Rutherford show some guy phoned in and asked Dave "Is there anything we actually need from the federal government, that the province couldn't provide?" Now that is a good question and Rutherford had a hard time coming up with an answer! I think he finally came up with the army! Then he did his little song and dance about Alberta seperatism and how that kind of thinking was so wrong...although he could understand why Albertans were frustrated! I agree with most of Rutherfords thinking, but on this one he is just plain wrong!
Just my opinion.