Posted on 05/03/2020 2:45:48 PM PDT by John S Mosby
there is a bill called the PRIME Act on the docket in Congress. It’s sponsored by Massie, S. King of Iowa and others. i think it will address this problem. i think the President has also forced open the big processors under his National Emergency Powers as well. i hope all of this is done quickly enough to make a difference.
Packing plants are slowing down due to employees suffering from Covid. Store shelves are empty because supply is hindered.
When twice as many cattle are available than what can be processed, you basically have to kill and bury half of the herd. Remember, there are plenty of cattle coming in behind it.
I’m thinking about going down to TX (from Chicago) to stay with my brother and go hog hunting with a buddy of mine who’s a few hours out from my brother. I don’t know if any hotels are operating in Texas.
Honestly, I’d get my friends together and we’d all pitch in for a cow and butcher it, then distribute amongst ourselves; most of us are hunters, and we could butcher it. With how densely populated the suburbs are here, it’s a feasible path that more people should consider.
We’d have to butcher on-site, though. None of us have a place big enough to butcher a cow, let alone a closed trailer for transport that hasn’t had automotive leaks happen inside of it.
“it seems really strange there are outbreaks of CCPVirus in the meat packing plants, when we haven’t really heard of “outbreaks” in other specific industries. Certain cities and localities, yes, but not targeted to a specific factory.”
No it isn’t. It’s being purposely done to interrupt and destroy the food supply chain. They couldn’t destroy the healthcare system, so they’re going after food, fuel and other industries.
I would be quite happy to pick out a live steer, shoot it, field dress it, take it home, and butcher it myself. I just need to pick up a couple of good sized chest freezers to put in my garage.
But doesn't meat appear magically packaged in grocery stores? I thought it was the same magic that powers electric cars.
I just don’t understand this. There are just as many people in the country eating just as many meals. I understand that the restaurants are closed, but people still EAT the same amount, yes?? And the truck drivers are trucking, and the grocery stores are open. None of this makes any sense to me.
I farmed and raised cattle for over 50 +years , got tired of fighting it and quit about 6 years ago. Think on the lines of deboning and grinding hamburger . Grass fed beef is the best . Kill Debone and ice down.
That is my thinking too, send them back out to pasture for a while. Look at thinning the herd around September.
On most normal contracts, that would be considered a breach of contract. Maybe these are prepaid contracts where the feedlots actually own the animals.
Do you recall the phrase:
“Give us this day, our daily bread”???
Well the Lord give the Entire World enough food for every single person’s daily needs.
He simply leaves the distribution task up to us
Ping
...regulation, regulation, regulation. ...
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Not real familiar with the regulations, but wasn’t there something about Federal Inspectors for those small butchers, so they can ship to a wider customer base?
Why can’t Texans drive over to these ranchers and select their choice of cow, have it euthanized and loaded into the car. A predetermined butcher would gut it, take off the hide and hang it for two weeks to age it. Then, cut and wrap half. The butcher would get the other half for his labor and the customer would get the wrapped half.
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That is indeed happening within communities especially after our chain grocers(HEB, Kroger) had shortages about 4 weeks ago. Feed stores became the “pickup location” for locals to pick up their meat and egg purchases. This is in south Texas but unless those in the OP’s story are totally detached from the local community, they should also be able to move product directly.
The USDA Emergency meat plan seems to not be working:
Emergency Response planning helps manage incidents reports (IRs) during a natural or manmade disaster. A natural disaster includes wildfires, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes or earthquakes. Manmade disasters present a grave, or potentially grave threat to public health and to the safety of FSIS-regulated products, or FSIS personnel (i.e. robbery, bomb threat, chemical spill, fire, unintentional product contamination, human pandemic, illness, injury or intentional product tampering). The SIPRS staff communicates the threat that has the potential to affect the food or agriculture sector and assists the FSIS personnel with preparing an IR so the information can be shared appropriately across the agency.
Continuity of Operations (COOP)
The Significant Incident Preparedness and Response Staff (SIPRS) is entrusted with Continuity of Operations (COOP) as required by Presidential directive. SIPRS serves as the Agency’s focal point for (COOP) Planning, Training and Exercises to ensure FSIS can perform mission critical essential functions during a wide range of emergency situations. SIPRS collaborates with the USDA Office of Homeland Security and various other agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to mitigate risks and safeguard FSIS personnel, customers, assets, and information during a continuity situation.
I am in Central TX. 27 states (TX included) have regs where state inspectors can be utilized for meat and poultry inspections rather than USDA inspectors.
A lot of places where I used to be able to buy a half a beef, no longer have that option, and just sell cuts of beef. Open to suggestions or sources.
Ranchers need only call me
Only Overflow ... I will find a home for that soon to be beef carcass ...
If it is off a pasture it will be easy to sell
If it is off a feedlot, not so much (better to put it back to pasture)
I can sell Beef (wish I could sell Wild Pork... cause there is an abundance... EVERYBODY wants to be rid of Wild Hogs, no market at all even if you kill, clean and butcher them.
I think the best way to put it is that he has gotten the ball rolling. Like everything else, the FULL fix will take time, and everybody wants instant results.
As with all things, we will learn from the experience and adapt. I’m sure FEMA and others are being educated daily in “what works and what doesn’t”.
Agree ranchers are not killing cattle that are out on the range. Thats just BS.
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