07/12/05 Canada develops beef contingency plans

American Rancher July 12, 2005 Canada is developing a contingency plan to deal with the possibility of losing more beef export markets that may result from upcoming U.S. court hearings. One of those is tomorrow when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals meets in Seattle to hear the USDA challenge a temporary injunction that has prevented the reopening of the U.S. border to live Canadian cattle. Then on July 27th a federal court in Montana begins arguments in R-CALF USA's pursuit of a permanent injunction against reopening the border. Canada's agriculture ministers met last week to do some contingency planning but as Alberta's Minister Doug Horner explained, they aren't revealing many details. Horner: "I think two points. One, there are so many different scenarios that may come out of this there is no one single answer any of us can give you. Second point is I think that strategically I am not thrilled about putting all my cards on the table at this point in time. Suffice it to say that we are working collaboratively with the industry to ensure that we are prepared." In addition to the continued closure of the U.S. to live Canadian cattle, Canada could be stopped from shipping boxed beef from cattle under 30 months of age to the U.S. Canada's Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell says things have changed since 2003. He points out that 15 countries around the world have resumed full or partial trade of Canadian beef since borders were closed in May of 2003. I'm Bob Hoff.