MITCHELL . $50 MILLION FOR AGGRESSIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR CANADIAN BEEF

[ConcernedCanuk]

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(Are we giving up on the USA? - hmmmmmm)

MINISTER MITCHELL ANNOUNCES $50 MILLION FOR AGGRESSIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR CANADIAN BEEF

Ottawa, March 10, 2005 – Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell today announced a $50 million contribution to the Canadian Cattlemen Association's Legacy Fund to help launch an aggressive marketing campaign to reclaim and expand markets for Canadian beef.

/snip/

"The uncertainty created by the closure of many borders, including that of the United States to Canadian live cattle, makes it imperative that we accelerate our efforts to regain and expand our markets," said Minister Mitchell. "Through the Legacy Fund, the industry and governments will work together to launch an aggressive marketing campaign to increase exports and reduce our reliance on any one single market."

/snip/

"We will continue to make every effort to get the American border re-opened for live ruminants but we are also stepping up our efforts to reposition our industry so that it can thrive whether that particular border is opened or closed," said Minister Mitchell. "Continuing to meet the needs of producers through this difficult period is a key priority for the Government. Our best position is a united one and we will continue to work with industry and governments on next steps."




Wunder which "border" he keeps referring to, eh? :shrug:

:eyes:

[Maple]

1. About time!

Good news! :D

[warrens]

2. Meantime, the bushies are playing hardball with Japan

And that does not work with the Japanese. Baker resigned as ambassador and Bush won't nominate anyone to replace him til Japan caves and lets our beef in. This is a big loss of face. So Japan had a meetup with the South Koreans and let the Koreans deliver the message. To wit, "fuck you, you smirking thug."

[daleo]

3. At $25 per test, this would test 2 million cows for BSE.

They have already thrown so much money at rancher's income supports, packing plant subsidies, advertising, and P.R. that they could have tested every cow that has ever lived on the Canadian prairies. Probably twice each.

[warrens]

4. The test will be below $10 soon

Actually, if they tested every cow, the price would instantly drop to $8 or so.

[daleo]

5. I was just ball-parking, but I think you are right.

The policy of testing every cow would drop the price of the tests, due to the economies of scale available. It would also open up world markets, and thus have a real practical effect on the cattle industry. The current "wait and hope" policy just squanders public funds.

[Dave Reynolds]

6. That would be a wise thing,

it would take away one weapon that our (US) government uses against yours.

On the negative side, US cattle industry has little competition, keeping the prices up.

[CHIMO]

7. Strain Lingers for Canadians on Cattle Ban

Both Cargill and Tyson, whose Canadian operations earned fat profits from the border closing, are now expanding their Alberta plants. Canadian cattle ranchers, who for decades focused on ranching and feeding but left much of the marketing and processing to the Americans, are now making moves to become more self-sufficient. Last year Canada processed 26 percent more cattle, in large part because of an expansion in slaughtering capacity.

Indeed, beyond the expansions by the American-owned operations, a handful of other plants have opened up. Plans for at least two dozen more are on the drawing board.

A group of seven investors, including the British Columbia Livestock Producers Co-op, put up the money for a small plant in Salmon Arm, about three hour's drive from Mr. Freding's feedlots in Oliver.

Near Toronto, a group of more than 1,000 farmers has invested in a plant that started slaughtering cattle last August. Later this month, a group of Manitoba ranchers are planning to truck the equipment from a mothballed plant in Ferndale, Wash., roughly 1,500 miles so they can open a slaughterhouse close to their ranches.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/business/worldbusiness/04beef.html?8bl=&pagewanted=print&position=

Looks like more value added for Canadians.