Oldtimer
Well-known member
This echos much of what I have heard locally...
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Canadian beef ban?
Idaho State Journal
January 8, 2007
FORT HALL — D.J. and Ellen Ball of Fort Hall said lifting a ban on Canadian cattle could potentially jeopardize U.S. herds, hamstring U.S. producers in the global marketplace and pose health risks to consumers.
The Balls support label of origin packaging and a ban on Canadian cattle.
"I believe if given a choice, Americans prefer U.S. beef," Ellen Ball said.
D.J. and Ellen Ball are part of Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America.
With over 18,000 members, consisting mostly of cow-calf producers, the non-profit group, located in 47 states, represents U.S. cattle producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues.
R-CALF is currently appealing the 2003 decision to lift bans on Canadian beef and opposes expanding imports to cattle over 30 months old.
The appeal alleges that stricter standards have been placed on U.S. producers in the global market since the ban was lifted.
"Korea has said that as long as American cattle co-mingle with Canadian cattle they won't open their border to U.S. beef," D.J. Ball said.
According to R-CALFS reports, the full effect of Canadian bovine spongiform encephalopathy is still unfolding.
Nine cases of BSE, or mad cow disease were detected after feed bans went into place in 1997.
D.J. Ball said many Canadian cattle are sold to slaughter and mixed with U.S. beef.
"It could contaminate all that meat," he said. "The label says USDA, but it could be mixed with other beef."
Ellen Ball said she believes the USDA should be more attentive to providing safe food for Americans and the government should not enact policies that put U.S. producers at a disadvantage.
"I hope Americans will support American," she said.
D.J. Ball agreed and noted that the U.S. is the only country in the world that does not produce enough beef to feed itself.
The couple runs 250 head of Black Angus cattle on their family ranch, comprised of 60 acres off Mission Road and an additional 300 acres located on the Fort Hall River bottoms.
"That's our winter feed lot," Ellen Ball said.
The Balls have operated the ranch for the past 18 years, but they maintain full time jobs to keep the family business going.
Ellen receives a medical disability payment and works part time for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and D.J. is the Tribes' Director of Utilities.
The Balls grow their own hay, but the high cost of equipment and farm fuel caused then to reduce their herd by 30 percent.
"Every year we had to sell some cows to pay things," D.J. Ball said. "We couldn't always afford replacement heifers."
D.J. said the price of beef dropped 25 cents in a two-month period last year.
"There's not a big margin between profit and when you start losing money," he said.
D.J. said new animal identification system will ad labor and expenses for the family rancher and he believes that if everyone is doing their job, branding is just as effective.
"Branding does the same thing, the brand inspector inspects the cow, that brand stays with the animal," he said.
And he said new computerized identification systems still have some kinks that need to be worked out before they becomes mandatory.
"A buyer in Salmon bought 500 calves — out of 500, the scanner only worked on 134 calves," D.J. Ball said.
Ellen said it's often difficult to get financing for operations on the Fort Hall reservation so they work hard to stay on top of things, even when it means downsizing.
"We have a responsibility to our creditors — this is manageable," she said.
D.J. Ball said despite cold weather and lots of late nights, calving season is his favorite time on the ranch.
"I would love to do it full time," said D.J. Ball who grew up in a ranching family. "I like the idea of working for myself — you don't have a boss, except your wife."
Ellen Ball admits it's hard work keeping the ranch up and running.
"You have to love it in order to do a good job and stay with it," she said. "We work really well together."
Ellen Ball also grew up in a Fort Hall ranching family. Her grandfather, Ralph Dixey, helped to launch the Fort Hall Cattlemen's Association.
"Historically, we were encouraged to be ranchers and farmers," she said. "The people were really successful because they ran their cattle in common. It's a nice thing to be involved in."
journalnet.com
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Canadian beef ban?
Idaho State Journal
January 8, 2007
FORT HALL — D.J. and Ellen Ball of Fort Hall said lifting a ban on Canadian cattle could potentially jeopardize U.S. herds, hamstring U.S. producers in the global marketplace and pose health risks to consumers.
The Balls support label of origin packaging and a ban on Canadian cattle.
"I believe if given a choice, Americans prefer U.S. beef," Ellen Ball said.
D.J. and Ellen Ball are part of Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America.
With over 18,000 members, consisting mostly of cow-calf producers, the non-profit group, located in 47 states, represents U.S. cattle producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues.
R-CALF is currently appealing the 2003 decision to lift bans on Canadian beef and opposes expanding imports to cattle over 30 months old.
The appeal alleges that stricter standards have been placed on U.S. producers in the global market since the ban was lifted.
"Korea has said that as long as American cattle co-mingle with Canadian cattle they won't open their border to U.S. beef," D.J. Ball said.
According to R-CALFS reports, the full effect of Canadian bovine spongiform encephalopathy is still unfolding.
Nine cases of BSE, or mad cow disease were detected after feed bans went into place in 1997.
D.J. Ball said many Canadian cattle are sold to slaughter and mixed with U.S. beef.
"It could contaminate all that meat," he said. "The label says USDA, but it could be mixed with other beef."
Ellen Ball said she believes the USDA should be more attentive to providing safe food for Americans and the government should not enact policies that put U.S. producers at a disadvantage.
"I hope Americans will support American," she said.
D.J. Ball agreed and noted that the U.S. is the only country in the world that does not produce enough beef to feed itself.
The couple runs 250 head of Black Angus cattle on their family ranch, comprised of 60 acres off Mission Road and an additional 300 acres located on the Fort Hall River bottoms.
"That's our winter feed lot," Ellen Ball said.
The Balls have operated the ranch for the past 18 years, but they maintain full time jobs to keep the family business going.
Ellen receives a medical disability payment and works part time for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and D.J. is the Tribes' Director of Utilities.
The Balls grow their own hay, but the high cost of equipment and farm fuel caused then to reduce their herd by 30 percent.
"Every year we had to sell some cows to pay things," D.J. Ball said. "We couldn't always afford replacement heifers."
D.J. said the price of beef dropped 25 cents in a two-month period last year.
"There's not a big margin between profit and when you start losing money," he said.
D.J. said new animal identification system will ad labor and expenses for the family rancher and he believes that if everyone is doing their job, branding is just as effective.
"Branding does the same thing, the brand inspector inspects the cow, that brand stays with the animal," he said.
And he said new computerized identification systems still have some kinks that need to be worked out before they becomes mandatory.
"A buyer in Salmon bought 500 calves — out of 500, the scanner only worked on 134 calves," D.J. Ball said.
Ellen said it's often difficult to get financing for operations on the Fort Hall reservation so they work hard to stay on top of things, even when it means downsizing.
"We have a responsibility to our creditors — this is manageable," she said.
D.J. Ball said despite cold weather and lots of late nights, calving season is his favorite time on the ranch.
"I would love to do it full time," said D.J. Ball who grew up in a ranching family. "I like the idea of working for myself — you don't have a boss, except your wife."
Ellen Ball admits it's hard work keeping the ranch up and running.
"You have to love it in order to do a good job and stay with it," she said. "We work really well together."
Ellen Ball also grew up in a Fort Hall ranching family. Her grandfather, Ralph Dixey, helped to launch the Fort Hall Cattlemen's Association.
"Historically, we were encouraged to be ranchers and farmers," she said. "The people were really successful because they ran their cattle in common. It's a nice thing to be involved in."
journalnet.com
