In jeopardy
In recent media reports U.S. president George Bush has said that BSE is a North American problem, but the border to an integrated North American industry still remains closed for the Canadian livestock industry and probably will until after the U.S. election.
It is interesting why Canadians are so afraid to stand up for ourselves, even if it steps on American political toes, even though they have broken many Canadian livestock producers’ backs.
We are conservative in our opinions so we don’t offend anyone, yet when the shoe is on the other foot, all hell breaks loose and Canada is again to blame.
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Worrisome drop in grain prices
Prices had been softening for most of the previous month, but heading into the Labour Day long weekend, the price drops were startling.
The recent claim that several feed producers were turned away at the U.S. border without any sound evidence is another example of the effectiveness of political globalization and free trade agreement that has devastating results due to political games.
To think, should Canada need to eliminate cows seven years and older to please the international world, there is going to be a shortage in breeding stock, supply of beef to the consumers and many years of proven genetics gone, due to poor judgment.
And are taxpayers going to be pleased, since they will be flipping the bill for compensation?
Then there will be the need to rebuild these herds. Where are we going to get the livestock from – internationally? Interesting concept, to become dependant on other countries for our food source.
The international world has set a very dangerous example of when science and common sense doesn’t matter, only politics. For a developed country to suddenly become dependant on foreign food supplies because of ignorance, we are leading ourselves to a road of foreign dependency.
Canada has stringent rules in agriculture and farming practices and unfortunately this has very little bearing. The livestock industry is in jeopardy in Canada and our only hope is to continue pressuring governments, media and consumers that in order for the Canadian livestock industry to survive, we need their continued support.
Yes there are supporters in the U.S. and internationally and for their sake I hope this never happens to them.
With the long lasting border closure to the U.S. and internationally to our livestock, perhaps the international world is sending Canada a message.
If they cannot support the Canadian livestock industry, I have now changed the way I spend our limited and hard-earned beef dollars, as I especially pay attention to the labels of Made in Canada and Product of Canada.
– Sue Taylor,
Prince George, B.C.
Stop destruction
I thought the agricultural community should hear from consumers from time to time. That is the reason of this letter.
For some time it has become clear to me that today’s industrial, chemical farming is not sustainable. While experts still argue whether we will run out of oil and natural gas in 30 or 50 years, we do know that we are running out and that will be the end of chemical farming.
Would it not be easier to switch to sustainable organic farming?
Let there be no doubt, the destruction of our planet is going on all over the world and industrial farming and factory beef and pork production are large contributors.
Poisonous herbicides and pesticides, huge factory beef and pork production and turkey and chicken factories are polluting soil, air and water.
Pesticide poisoning has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the world. Genetic engineering is polluting our land and can eventually make sustainable organic agriculture impossible.
Is this what we want to leave for future generations? I guess not. We do know that we cannot go on destroying our planet.
Could we start an agricultural turnaround now? Could we stop subsidizing today’s unsustainable chemical farming step by step and use this funding to support the changeover to sustainable organic farming? Full cost accounting of today’s unsustainable agriculture might confirm that organic products, organic food is not expensive.
How much of this subsidization funding flows into the coffers of those huge multinational corporations to make them more powerful than governments, undermining sovereignty and democracy?
Can farmers be accused of being masters of their own demise by supporting these corporations and destroying farming communities and eventually making family farms impossible?…
– Henry Dahle,
Wynndel, B.C.
Problem spreads
After reviewing many of the letters to your magazine on the BSE issue, I thought I would throw in my two bits worth. I am a manager of a petroleum service and construction business and yes, we are seeing the effects of BSE as well.
Because of decreased fuel sales, the retail petroleum corporations have had to cut back on capital projects as well as facility maintenance.
I feel for the cattle producers, but I feel more for all the other companies who close their doors from lack of business. Do we ever see the government subsidize the companies which are downstream that are affected by economic disasters such as BSE?
No, they say that these businesses failed as a result of poor management.
The business which I am managing is doing fine for now, but the future is not looking great.
I agree with all the people who say we should be putting tariffs on our products that are high in demand.
I agree that we have a problem with our present government and they are not looking after us.
What I don’t understand is why provincial governments don’t put the squeeze on our federal government by shutting down some of our energy resources from the West so that the people in the East sit up and pay attention to our problem.
Do they not realize how important it is to have the West as part of this country? Maybe we should separate. Is that what they want?
I hope that a solution to our BSE problem is resolved soon. If it isn’t, I can see economic disaster worse than what was felt in the Dirty Thirties.
– Adrian Schuurman,
Coalhurst, Alta.
