Cattle country crisis

[CHIMO]

PONOKA, Alta.- Stan Pugh is every bit the lifelong cattleman, from his white Stetson, brown boots and big silver belt buckle to his firm handshake and no-nonsense opinions.

But despite more than a half century in the business, 71-year-old Pugh is finding it almost impossible these days to display one of the most enduring trademarks of a farmer: Optimism.
Last week, Prime Minister Paul Martin used a speech at a business conference in Sun Valley, Idaho to denounce U.S. "special interests" for blocking free trade between the two countries. He went on to say Canada will soon be forced to build large processing plants to deal with the oversupply of cattle, targeting large American markets such as Japan and South Korea.

But the cattlemen here in Ponoka know building meat packing plants is an expensive, long-term proposition. Besides, they've heard many hollow promises from politicians throughout the crisis.
http://thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1089929437556&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467

Threat of blockade latest anti-R-CALF salvo
Nanton - A group of ranchers and feedlot operators threatened Friday to prevent a shipment of cattle it believes belongs to an American from going to slaughter.

About six people were going to block the road from the Chinook feedlot, so that Cargill couldn't
http://edmonton.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ed_madcow20040716

Just a bit for heads up.
What with peak oil and all.