Canada-Crisis on beef farms.

CANADA.

BEEF PRODUCERS CLOSING.

There have been 13 beef producers in the Peterborough County region of Canada close down in the last six months, as they are losing up to one hundred dollar on every animal they produce, according to a report in the local Examiner newspaper.

The Ontario Cattle-mans Association, is lobbying the province and the federal government to help beef producers who are being forced to sell their cattle at 40c/kg under break even money.

Sam Wood, a past president of the association, said " These guys are losing money every day and they just can’t keep on doing that, down the road we will pay with a shortage of beef".

There are 800 beef producers in the region and albeit that they are mainly small, with an average of 35 cows here are also larger farms with 300-500 head of cattle.

Prices began to drop in the region in 2003 after the BSE restrictions, the trade has never fully recovered according to Sam.

Sam went on to say, that there was no drop on beef prices in the supermarkets and stores.

The new American COOL system appears to be the last nail in the coffin of many small Canadian farmers, unless the local beef industry can get its act together according to Sam.