Puhallo is a cattle producer from Big Creek, B.C.
There comes a time when the little people of the world have to stand up and do something. This is the time.
If you have a product that you have taken over six months to bring to market, you would think you might have a bit of control over its price. Try being a cattle producer. We have no control.
Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the B.C. government said that to break even as a cattle producer your steer calves had to sell for $1.18 per pound. In 2007, the same types of steer calves are selling for $1.02 per lb.
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The prices have been down for a long time now. Yes, BSE was and is a big crisis. I understand what happened but now it’s time to say it is over.ÂÂ
Every time I look at my local cattle market report, I see listings for more ranchers selling their herds. … You do not see any young kids wanting to get in to the cattle business. I can tell you that both of our children have no desire to work as hard as their dad and I to be this far in debt at the end of the day.
The cost of doing business is out of control. The cost of fuel, the price of a new truck, the cost of feed – everything has gone up but the price we receive when we sell.
As cattle producers, we have had to jump through hoops. We have spent so much time and money following all the new rules and regulations. The funny part is that all this extra work is supposed to be bringing us top dollar.
So here is the big question for you: when are we, the cattle producers, going to stand up and do something about this?
Yes, we are in the cattle business because we love the lifestyle, but when you see yourself making less and less it can get to you. Anytime you get more than one cattleman in the same room, the talk turns to how bad things are.
Well, I dare you to quit sitting on the fence and be more active in finding a way to help ourselves.
There are government programs but they have really just been a Band-Aid on a bleeding wound.
I know I do not have all or any of the answers, but I am sending this out to tell people that I am willing to do what I can.
I hope my venting does bring some change. I am just one person but I know that most all things start with just one.
