Cattle producers should band together as a single political force to get their message out more effectively and change agricultural policy, said agricultural economist Barry Flinchbaugh.
The Kansas State professor told a meeting of Saskatchewan cattle feeders in Saskatoon Jan. 30 that one voice would give the industry more potency in dealing with politicians.
“Politicians don’t like settling disputes in an industry,” he said.”You can’t win in that.”
He used the example of the Cotton Council in the United States, an umbrella group for related associations of seed breeders, producers, input suppliers, retailers and wholesalers.
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The powerful lobby group builds coalitions, reduces conflicts and explores issues to make decisions as an industry before approaching government.
“They fight like hell behind closed doors and then come up with a stand on an issue,” he said, noting wheat and cattle producers now spread across many varied organizations could take the same approach.
He said agriculture needs to practice “the politics of the minority,” likening the Saskatchewan cattle industry to a cartoon of a zebra on a motorcycle with a lion in close pursuit.
Define problems, address them issue by issue, be positive, bi-partisan and reasonable and work within the system, said Flinchbaugh. Base the case on the facts, not myths or emotions.
“Misinformation will backfire,” he said.
BSE is one issue that requires both sides of the border to work together.
“We are each other’s best customers but we spend millions in trade disputes,” he said. “Co-operating is in the best interests of both and we both lose in the long run when we do battle.”
Flinchbaugh praised both American and Canadian governments and their cattle industries for their rapid response to the BSE outbreak. Both convinced their consumers of the safety of the food supply and experienced little change in domestic beef demand as a result.
However, he criticized the U.S. for not adopting a cattle identification program when Canada did. Citing Japan’s request to test every animal for BSE, Flinchbaugh suggested both countries should give it what it wants and present it with the bill.
He said Japan has a need for high quality beef from North America and would likely back off on testing demands if that suggestion was implemented.
“You give the consumer what they want, if they’re willing to pay for it,” he said.
On the future of agriculture, Flinchbaugh predicted a continuing, albeit slowed, trend toward larger farms in the coming years.
He sees agriculture moving toward branded beef, differentiated products and a contractual system for commodities that will reduce the risk to farmers. He also believes biotechnology “will improve the welfare of mankind and fill hungry bellies.”
Brazil will become a larger agricultural player globally, but Canada and the U.S. maintain a competitive advantage through their stable currency and governments, Flinchbaugh said.
