2015 in Review and a Look Ahead Highlights of Some Key Areas of Work - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Manitoba Beef Producers

2015 in Review and a Look Ahead

Highlights of Some Key Areas

• f Work for MBP

Managing Risk ‐‐ Water

• Ensuring there are policies and tools to help producers

manage risk, like challenges related to water, is a key part of MBP’s work.

• In 2014 MBP worked to ensure flood‐affected producers

had access to AgriRecovery programs, specifically forage shortfall and transportation assistance.

• MBP also sought the enactment of the livestock tax

deferral for producers forced to sell breeding herd.

• This deferral is also available this year for producers in

designated municipalities hit by drought.

Managing Risk ‐‐ Water Strategies

• MBP seeks collaborative, long‐term strategies to help reduce

the risks associated with too much or too little water.

• Some areas of focus include: the Shoal lakes, Assiniboine

River Valley, Lake Manitoba, and other areas with ongoing or emerging water issues.

• MBP provides feedback on matters like: the Assiniboine

River Basin Initiative, the Aquanty modeling project proposal, sustainable drainage policies, Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin outlet channels, Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba Basins Flood Mitigation Study and more.

Managing Risk ‐‐ BRM Programs

• MBP made a detailed submission to the province’s

Agricultural Risk Management Review Task Force.

• Areas of focus included: concerns around forage

insurance, need for timely rollout of programs during disasters, livestock predation, producers’ desire for enhanced lending tools and training

• ptions, value of the VBP Program and more.
• See your November edition of Cattle Country for

more details about our submission.

Managing Risk – Herd Protection

• MBP co‐chairs the Livestock Predation

Protection Working Group (LPPWG).

• It is reviewing existing predator management

initiatives and providing recommendations to government around improved strategies and tools to deal with predation and reduce risks, e.g. predation management workshops, guardian animals, fencing, etc.

Managing Risk – Herd Protection

• MBP is currently looking at a potential pilot

project around predation challenges that would include components such as: on‐farm mitigation strategies; financial assistance/compensation; and problem predator management strategies.

• Key goals include reducing risk and ensuring

producers are fairly compensated for losses.

Animal Health – Vet Services

• Manitoba announced a Rural Veterinary Task Force.
• It is reviewing the current rural veterinary structure

and people’s needs ‐‐ with an emphasis on animal health and welfare ‐ biosecurity, food safety on farms and how to maintain a stable vet infrastructure.

• MBP has stressed the importance of having timely

access to vet services, from an animal care and trade perspective and for being able to access some BMP programs under Growing Forward 2.

Animal Health – Code of Practice

• Reminder: Elements of the Beef Code of

Practice dealing with pain management (dehorning and castration) take effect in 2016.

• If you need a Code, pick one up tonight.
• Check out the GF2 BMP Catalogue.
• MBP will be holding some workshops on the

Code of Practice in the new year and we encourage you to attend.

Animal Health – Bovine TB

• Progress is being made on the bovine TB issue.
• The TB Coordinator’s position has been continued,

and is very valuable to this process.

• MBP is involved in three different initiatives aimed at

ultimately eradicating the disease in Manitoba and bringing an end to ongoing surveillance of live cattle (with a focus instead on slaughter surveillance).

• Funding has been secured from both the federal and

provincial governments for these initiatives.

Bovine TB continued

• Elements of the projects include:

– on‐farm risk assessments in the Riding Mountain Eradication Area aimed at reducing the potential for wildlife‐livestock interactions – enhanced data collection to strengthen the linkage of farm data into traceability tools – creation of a scenario tree model that will also be used to assess risk MBP thanks producers for their ongoing efforts.

Animal Health ‐‐ Other

• Bluetongue was found in a herd of beef cattle in

Ontario in August. It poses no risk to human health

• r food safety. It is endemic in the US and Mexico so

little trade impact is expected re: exports of live animals, semen and embryos to these two nations.

• Producers are reminded to submit samples to the

BSE Enhanced Surveillance Program. Producers receive up to $75 to offset disposal costs and vets up to $100 for veterinary services.

Crown Lands

• MBP has met with the Minister of Agriculture

and Crown lands staff to discuss matters like:

– Securing informed access when people want to enter Crown land used by beef producers – Whether the 4800 AUM limit on Crown lands should be increased – Reduced lease rates for lands affected by flooding – Future increases to overall lease rates

Community Pastures Transition

• The Association of Manitoba Community Pastures

(AMCP) is a not for profit organization whose members are the patrons of the community pastures.

• In 2015 the AMCP operated 10 pastures: Gardenton‐

Pansy, Mulvihill, Sylvan‐Dale, Pasquia, Lenswood Birch River, Langford, Alonsa, Narcisse and McCreary.

• Rates for 2016 will be: 70 cents/day per adult and

$35 flat fee for calves. A deposit of $60/head is due March 31, 2016.

Community Pastures continued

• In 2015 there were 10,788 beef cows, calves, heifers,

steers and bulls on the pastures.

• AMCP is examining which other pastures it will be

managing in 2016, e.g. Bield, Ellice‐Archie, Wallace, Turtle Mountain, Woodlands, Dauphin‐Ethelbert, Libau, Spy‐Hill Ellice and Cote‐San Clara.

• Applications for grazing space can be obtained by

emailing amcp@pastures.ca or calling 204‐ 868‐ 0430.

Research

• MBP strongly recognizes the value of research to our industry’s

future success. Some recent areas of focus include: – Fetal Programming – Forage Variety Trials – Needle free injection systems – Bovine TB Visit the Beef Cattle Research Council website to learn more about coordinated research efforts in Canada: www.beefresearch.ca

MBP Member Needs Survey

• MBP, with funding from GF2, hired a

consultant to do a members need survey.

• It has given us many useful insights into the

risks and opportunities you face, and the kinds

• f tools you need to tackle both.
• This is very helpful as we provide feedback

about government programs and policies, e.g. BRM programs, lending policies, water management, labour issues, etc.

Beef Demonstration Farm

• Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Inc. is a collaborative

research and demonstration farm based out of the Brandon area (Brookdale, Johnson and First Street sites).

• Core partners: MBP, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and

Rural Development, Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

• The three main objectives involve:

– Evaluation and verification of foundational research; – Knowledge transfer to producers to help build industry capacity; and – Knowledge transfer to the general public, policy makers and the media

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FARM continued

• It has been a busy few months developing the site
• infrastructure. Some research has begun re:

– Energy dense annual forages – How rotational grazing strategies effect forage health, soil health and cattle production – Pest management strategies re: Richardson ground squirrels and pocket gophers

• Future research will include forage evaluation work

and cow nutrition and needle‐free vaccinations. Valued research partnerships are being created.

Trade Files – COOL

• On May 18 the Appellate Body of the World Trade

Organization (WTO) issued a fourth and final ruling confirming that U.S. COOL discriminates against U.S. imports of Canadian cattle and hogs.

• Canada has sought authority from the WTO to

impose retaliatory tariffs in the amount C$3.1 billion per year of U.S. exports The US has disputed this figure and a WTO arbitration panel is examining this.

• The panel’s decision is expected later this fall, will be

final, and allow Canada to implement the tariffs.

Trade: Trans‐Pacific Partnership

• The TPP agreement was reached Oct. 5. It is

an agreement among 12 countries on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

• It ensures Canadian beef producers can gain

improved access to Japan and other growing markets in Asia. Under the deal, Canada could double or triple its annual beef exports to Japan to nearly $300 million.

TPP continued

• The TPP will gradually reduce a 38.5% tariff on

Canadian beef in Japan down to 9% in 15 years, including an immediate cut to 27.5% on day one of the agreement coming into force. This will restore our competitive position with Australian beef.

• The deal still needs to be ratified by

participating governments.

Market Access Updates — CETA

• Canada/EU Trade Deal (CETA)

– Agreement in principle with the European Union was announced in 2013 – Once ratified and implemented, the CETA will provide new duty‐free access for 64,950 tonnes of Canadian beef worth nearly $600 million annually – Work continues in the EU and Canada to complete the official processes to action the deal

Canada‐Korea Free Trade Agreement

• The final text of the Canada‐Korea Free Trade

Agreement (CKFTA) was signed in September 2014.

• Under the CKFTA, the 40 per cent Korean tariff on

fresh and frozen beef will be fully eliminated in 15 equal annual steps. The 18 per cent tariff on

• ffals will be fully eliminated in 11 equal annual

steps.

• Work continues to implement this agreement.

Other Issues We’ve Tackled

• MBP provided input on numerous issues over

the past year. Some examples include:

– Growing Forward 2 and initiatives under it – What Growing Forward 3 might look like – Addressing labour supply challenges – Workplace safety and health/Safety Council – Work with National Cattle Feeders Ass’n on regulatory burden affecting beef industry

Still More Issues

– Provincial environmental policies, e.g. changes to the Noxious Weeds Act, pesticide regulations, possible introduction of an environmental bill of rights, etc. – Changes to the province’s Animal Diseases Act – Livestock transportation policies – Traceability systems – And many, many more

Sustainability Initiatives

• The public is clamouring for information about

how all types of food gets to their plate.

• More and more companies are launching

sustainability initiatives, seeking to measure and verify industry sustainability in areas like animal care or environmental management.

• MBP is a member of the Canadian Roundtable

for Sustainable Beef, which is working on this important topic.

Sustainability Initiatives continued

• The Verified Beef Production Program is being

expanded to include new modules around animal care, biosecurity and the environment. This will be an important tool to demonstrate sustainability.

• The Canadian beef industry is working with

McDonald’s on its verified sustainable beef pilot project – www.vsbpilot.ca . They are looking for producers to help them with this important initiative. They want to begin purchasing a portion of their beef supply from verified sustainable sources in 2016.

Sustainability initiatives continued

• We have other tools at our disposal to

demonstrate our sustainability, like the Code

• f Practice, Environmental Farm Plans, the

Beef and Forage Demonstration Farm and more.

• Don’t be afraid to tell the story of beef

production to the public and to consumers every time you get the chance.

Outreach

• MBP staff and directors promote beef too:

– Great Tastes of Manitoba TV show – Displays at Amazing Ag Adventure, Amazing Rangeland Adventure, Livestock Expo, Cattle Tales, Ag in the City, etc. – Partnership with Canada Beef and CFL to promote beef at a Winnipeg Blue Bombers game – MBP Family of the Game promo with Blue Bombers – Eat Like An Athlete promotion on TSN Radio – Media interviews, Cattle Country, newsletter, social media, and more

Your Role in Shaping Ag Policy

Beef producers have an important role in shaping policy, government legislation, and regulations.

MBP is your organization. We work on your behalf. Please stay in touch with key issues facing you by: 1. Contacting your director 2. Calling MBP at 1‐800‐772‐0458 3. Drop us an email at info@mbbeef.ca

MBP’s 37th AGM

• Feb. 4‐5, 2016, Victoria Inn, Brandon
• Theme: From Our Gate to Your Plate:

Understanding the Evolving Customer

• $75 early bird registration (before Jan. 6) gets

you into all meetings and the banquet

• After Jan. 6 the cost is $90 for regular

registration, $40 for meetings only; or $50 for a single banquet ticket.

Questions?