One Stop Livestock (OSL) has been designed to give Canadian buyers and sellers the opportunity to communicate directly. Although this concept may not interest everyone, it does offer some unique opportunities.

We are at a time when agriculture, especially animal agriculture, is facing some of the toughest challenges that anyone can remember. Regulations are up, costs are ever increasing, labour shortages, fewer young people entering the industry, and the list goes on. Times are changing, whether we want them to or not. Whether you raise calves, run yearlings, background or fatten, it is difficult to see a viable industry in the future.

Although things are awfully tough at the moment, it is during these tough times that you see some dramatic changes. Groups like the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association are forming to provide a unified voice to lobby government on behalf of the cattle industry. Progressive  steps such as this show that the industry is willing to work together to survive. This goes hand in hand with direct marketing. If a buyer and seller can negotiate a deal they are both satisfied with, both parties win. Too many times in agricultural deals there is a winner and a loser.

We are not saying don't use the auction market, or don't use a broker. What we are saying is there are probably some situations where buyer and seller dealing directly can be mutually beneficial, especially with traceability coming down the pipeline, dealing direct may eliminate a lot of paperwork. We hope this will be a valuable asset for Canada and our farming industry.

Good luck in your deals and be creative. Dealing direct can be challenging, but it is worth it. Learn from your mistakes, don't say 'this can't work', and don't listen to people who tell you it can't be done because they don't want to see you succeed.