Dear fellow Hereford believers and cattlemen,

Choosing to disperse my herd has been one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. I have spent a considerable amount of time, energy and money to bring my herd to the level that it is today. However, many things have changed in the cattle industry since I returned to Herefords twelve hears ago.

Some of the factors I considered are specific to my ranch and my life and others affect all cattleman as a whole. Specifically, for those of you that have visited the ranch, you know how close the city is and how the encroachment continues. In reality, the quality of the land would better serve as home sites than pasture but that still means a significant relocation. There are also other business issues outside the ranch that cast shadows on the future. The less the ties to the ranch, the quicker and easier it will be to move.

Additionally, my family is still at a young age and the responsibilities of being a father and husband are ones that come before anything else. My life would be filled with regret indeed if 10 years from now, I had one of the top herds in the country, but no relationship with my family.

Lastly, there are issues that we as ranchers and cattlemen have done a very poor job of addressing and it costs us all significantly every minute of every day, both as Hereford breeders and cattlemen in general.

One of the issues is country of origin labeling. In today's political environment of the "mad cow" disease, hoof and mouth disease, 911 and terrorist threats, both abroad and at home, how do you think American consumers would respond if they knew that a stamp on beef that says "USDA choice" only certified the marbling content and nothing of where that meat was raised, nothing of the environmental standards of that country, nothing of pesticides, other accumulative toxins or feed additives that are forbidden by standards set in our country to protect American citizens? If cattle were labeled by their country of birth, not just where they were fed for the last 60-120 days, which beef do you think Americans would buy?

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Act) opened our northern and southern borders to the benefit of manufacturing and cheap labor, and to the detriment of the primary producer, especially the American rancher. Thousands and thousands of cattle cross our borders each year through Mexico and Canada coming from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. As the price of American born beef increased, the packing industry brings in more from outside the country keeping the price of beef down and putting an artificial ceiling on reimbursement to the American rancher. In a normal cycle of price highs and lows, the American commercial rancher today experiences the lows but has had the price highs removed from the equation. This has lead to a steady decline in the commercial growers financial reserve and in less ranching operations in general. If they have less money to survive, they have less to spend on quality breeding stock to improve their herds. This is not a concern for the packing industry. As U.S. ranching declines, they simply increase their supply of foreign beef. As a country that has always had the ability to feed itself, I would ask, is this right and is this what we want for our country? My answer would be a resounding "NO".

Now, some would say that I am demonizing the packing industry, damaging them. In truth, for them it is simply a matter of supply and demand, getting the best price, increasing their profits. The unfairness comes in by denying the American consumer the ability to make an educated and informed choice when purchasing beef in American today.

Country of origin labeling would level the playing field. When you look at the price paid for locally grown organic beef, those consumers vote with their dollars by paying for a meat product that meets their safety standards. If we had true country of birth, county of origin labeling for all beef, all cuts, steaks as well as hamburger, I believe Americans today would vote with their dollars for American beef. It is my estimate that the price on feeders would be twice what it is today for the American rancher. Ask yourself, "How would that affect your ranching operation? … How would it improve your bottom line?" Then pencil out how much money this difference is and multiply it by the number of ranching operations that you know similar to yours. Then take a guess at what it adds up to nationally. Think about it for a minute. Is this income that you would rather have in your pocket or someone else's? Is this a big enough reason for ranchers to pay attention and work together, to make their organizations represent them without compromise on this point? Is this a big enough reason to contact your senator and representatives?

I believe it is.

I believe in this strongly, as you can probably tell by what I have written. Some might say that my analysis is over simplified, that it doesn't take in the big picture. Perhaps, but no one can honestly say that U.S. ranching has a whole has not been significantly negatively impacted by the events I have described or that country of origin labeling would do much to level the playing field. Our nation is based on individual choice. Let the consumer decide.

I love ranching and especially Hereford cattle. I started with them as a child in the early 60's and I will continue to support ranching causes. However, given the turns that ranching in the U.S. has taken and especially the circumstances of my own ranching situation, rewards verses costs, my family comes first above all others and my choice is to disperse the herd at this time. While I still have occasional mixed emotions, I am at peace with this decision.

All cattle will be available through private treaty sale. A price list is posted. More information on individual animals is available on request. The sale ends October 1, 2002. I have spent years performance testing, ultra sounding, culling and breeding based on my data. My herd average EPD's are well above the national average. Some are exceptional. I have tried to ask reasonable prices. This is an opportunity to buy cattle that wouldn't otherwise be available. Nothing is being held back. All cattle are either available or have gone to the sale yard. I have put my heart into these cattle and they have done well for me. I believe they will do well for you too.

Sincerely,
Bill Vandermolen
Quick Mill Farms