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Ontario producers
are "cautiously optimistic" after partial US border opening
August
8, 2003 (Guelph) – Ontario
beef producers are cautiously optimistic following today’s announcement
that the U.S. borders will partially reopen to Canadian beef by the end of
August.
Secretary Ann Veneman of
the United States Department of Agriculture made the announcement late
Friday afternoon. The announcement is expected to cover about 40% of
Canada’s total beef and cattle exports to the U.S.
The Ontario Cattlemen’s
Association (OCA) stressed that while the news is positive, the BSE crisis
is far from over. Ian McKillop, OCA’s Vice President said, "Clearly
we’re pleased with today’s announcement. It’s a good start towards
the resumption of normal trade between Canada and the U.S.A. Until the
borders are open to live cattle exports, however, we’ve still got a huge
over capacity of cattle in this country that we need to deal with. He
added, "Continued support from both our federal and provincial
governments will be critical in ensuring the survival of the Canadian beef
industry."
McKillop noted that it
could still take several more months until the borders are reopened to
live cattle and producers are already facing significant cash flow
problems. This will intensify when the industry’s cow/calf producers
send their calves to market this fall. The current disaster program only
applies to feedlot operators with cattle in feedlots not cow/calf farmers
or backgrounders.
OCA will continue to stress
the need for additional disaster assistance for all Ontario beef producers
in lobby efforts with the federal and provincial governments. OCA
president Ron Wooddisse and Executive Director Mike McMorris are scheduled
to accompany Helen Johns, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, on
a trip to several northern U.S. states early next week to continue
discussions on resuming full beef trade between the two countries.
Beef exports from Ontario
to the U.S.A., in 2002, were valued at $354 million in live cattle and an
additional $292 million in beef product. The current crisis is estimated
to be costing Ontario’s 21,000 beef producers in excess of $3 million
per week – and the wider Ontario beef industry about $11 million.
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OCA Website: www.cattle.guelph.on.ca
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