for the farmers

I dont' beleive Maccas uses Australian beef.

I understand there is an overseas company called '100% Australian beef', which means niether the meat is 100% beef (because we all know it's not) nor it is Australian owned or Australian beef. They are not lying though when they say they are 100% Australian Beef patties because that's the name of the company that they source from.

If it s not true then it's a good rumour anyway

D-JAck

D-JAck
from Mcdonalds web site they buy Australian beef from Australian farmers
Foxer

Hi Moggs, yes, the potatoes are coming in from our cousins in New Zealand or perhaps the Eastern States of Australia where we in the dairy industry accept them as "nearly equals".

I chose not to eat McDonalds as I like food prepared for me and tasty. Their toilets are clean though so I have bought some fries twice in my life.

Australian farmers don't have much control what machinery they use for harvest or plant as there is an unprotected market for that. They are right to scream of the protection in the US, the EU and Japan. NZ incidently gave government wink and a nod to poor dairy equipment though back in the late 70s I am aware of for sale to Australia as well as their own, giving it a free kick it should not have had.

That was a grand trip mate, we are still talking about it. Hope the family are well and you may pop this way some time soon.

Understand what your saying, but we are in a serious dought here, and times are tough for them, and it is serious when one farmer is committing suicide every week due to this very thing, ( free trade agreement was force apon us with big bussinesses, and big bussinesses have interest oversea's).

Hi John, yep, I also had a ball on the trip. Was great to meet you and Heather and I look forward to pop in to say hello sometime in the near future. Hope all is well and you are enjoying some rain. BTW, I like the addition of Moses :)

Jim, I agree times are tough for farmers. I am a big supporter of Australian farmers and would like nothing more than to see them dominate their respective markets.

Just to clarify, I agree that farmers should lobby against protectionism. I don't know as much about this area as many here - however if there is going to be healthy debate over McDonalds decision to source product o/s then it needs to be balanced with the McDonalds perspective. If I was running the McDonalds business (or any other business for that matter) I would be seeking the cheapest source of product if the quality / grade was equal amongst the choices. It seems that because it is related to farming in this instance that a decision to boycott McDonalds is an emotive one with consideration to the hardship farmers are facing with the drought. I just think it is worthy of note that McDonalds are trying to run a business as well as they can. With this in mind though, would people be willing to pay more for their McDonalds if they sourced locally produced product at a higher expense???? Maybe...but knowing McDonalds, this was probably considered and discounted as a viable alternative.

Anyway, I hope that the local producers can regain the McDonalds contracts if they are able to meet freight/prodcut pricing issues.

Jim M the spuds were coming from Tasmania previous to the current agreement with McDonalds. Whilst they are Australian, the Australia and New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (known as CER) entered into force from 1983. A lot of intertwining of relationships has occurred since then - the most recent being the announcement this last week of Fonterra buying the final parts of Bonlac they didn't own, and announcing the purchase of Nestle dairy production assets at the same time.

Yes, there has been drought and is drought across parts of Australia and McDonalds may also want to ensure their supply too. Jim I am not sure of sources on the suicide stastics and I make no comment. I do have some interest in rural health and policy issues though.

I don't totally agree with Moggs but am aware that farmers do want to source where they can. The protectionist groups effect the prices of commodity of dairy, beef, sugar, grains. I do reserve the right trading in the area of dairy in the world to be able to offset my purchase price of grain by using the pressure of imports against extortionist prices charged by the large single desk exporter for grain from Australia. They screwed the livestock industries just three years ago, dairy included.

how about the most Australian family car ever built the vg valiant !!!!!!!!!!

or for the town runabout the Lightburn Zeta