National Farmers’ Union of Canada forms coalition with R-CALF

Submitted by the Canadian Cattlemen's Association

At home, the National Farmers’ Union of Canada (NFU) claims to be interested in advancing the interests of Canadian cattle producers. Abroad - they conspire with one of the most negative groups ever known to the Canadian cattle industry – R-CALF.
NFU shares a lot in common with R-CALF – putting it bluntly, both fringe groups prey on the emotions of honest cattle producers, many in desperate situations. In NFU Canada’s February 13 news release, Neil Peacock states the best way to advance their ‘shared interests for cattle farmers’ is by “Forming a coalition to pursue common objectives and speak to governments with a common voice is a critical step toward success for all North Americans”.

R-CALF and NFU Canada advocate trade barriers so that they don’t have to worry about competition. Unfortunately their beggar-thy-neighbour mindset fails to take into account that trade barriers generate far-reaching negative consequences within our industry and for other businesses in our inter-connected economies. Rather than creating opportunities for future generations of farm families to continue to work in the industry, the R-CALF and NFU Canada approach would eliminate them.

Long-term sustainability for our industry depends on increasing market opportunities to grow demand for Canadian cattle and beef. Statistics prove that the only way to grow demand for Canadian beef is beating out the competition in our domestic and international markets. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) knows this and puts it into practice.

That’s why we advocate government policies that competitively position Canadian producers at home and abroad.

The discriminatory stance shared by R-CALF and NFU says only some cattle producers have a right to be in the industry. For anyone who actually succeeds in making a profit, then re-invests it in their operation, resulting in growth, they suddenly become undesirable. Both organizations have stated many times that they consider growth bad - that large operations strangle out the small guy. Shouldn’t the small guy be able to get ahead, make a profit and grow his operation? Neither R-CALF nor NFU think so.

Well - as official allies now, NFU and R-CALF deserve each other, along with other anti-prosperity, protectionist groups they recently aligned with at a two-day conference sponsored by NFU Canada in Billings, Montana. Ironically named ‘Fair Trade for All,” the conference brought together like-minded, anti-prosperity activist groups, claiming to speak on behalf of consumers and livestock organizations from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The conference called on governments to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and address concentration in livestock markets.

The CCA believes that the conclusions of these groups are out of touch with the complexities of the world in which cattle producers must operate and compete. We encourage all cattle producers to examine their statements closely and decide for themselves.

The CCA issued a detailed response to NFU’s recent recommendations for the Canadian cattle industry. To view this, visit our website at www.cattle.ca.

A summary of CCA’s response is featured in our January 2009 Monthly Report, also available on our website.