Trade and market access are always major topics at cattle industry meetings, but with the renegotiation of NAFTA becoming reality, there was a little extra emphasis on the politics of trade this week at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary. If there were any questions about how unified cattle producer groups from Canada, the… Read more »
Tag: Canadian Cattlemens Association
CCA urges federal response for ranchers affected by B.C. wildfires
With an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 cattle left behind in areas evacuated due to wildfires in B.C.’s central and southern interior, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says it has asked the federal government for a quick response to help affected ranchers. “As an initial start, the CCA is requesting the federal government provide a tax deferral… Read more »
Do No Harm: Ag groups remind governments of NAFTA benefits as 90-day countdown begins
As the Trump administration formally starts the process of re-opening the North American Free Trade Agreement, agriculture industry groups continue to remind the governments involved about the benefits of the existing deal. It’s a message that will be repeated often during the 90-day countdown to when renegotiations could begin, after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer… Read more »
With TPP In Trouble, Is a Bilateral Deal With Japan Possible?
President-elect Donald Trump says he plans to spend part of his first day in the Oval Office issuing a notification of intent to withdraw the U.S. from the “potential disaster” that is the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Trump has spoken in favour of bilateral deals, and possibly got a jump on one with Japan by meeting Prime… Read more »
A Memo Threatens to Revive COOL But John Masswohl Says There Are Other Motives
This past week it was reported by the Globe and Mail and others that CNN had uncovered a very secret internal memo from the Donald Trump transition team. The memo disclosed that a suggested tactic in the NAFTA renegotiation would be to reinstate Country of Origin Labelling (COOL). Don’t Miss: Shaun on RFD-TV this week… Read more »
Cattle Producers Welcome Expanded Beef Access in China
China has loosened its restrictions on imports of Canadian beef, coinciding with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Ottawa this week. The premier announced Wednesday that China will begin accepting bone-in beef from Canadian cattle under 30 months of age — effective immediately — for the first time since BSE was found in Canada in… Read more »
Health Canada Renews Proposal to Allow Irradiation of Ground Beef
Update: Health Canada formally announced its proposal to approve irradiation of fresh and frozen ground beef on June 17th. A 75-day consultation period with Canadians will end on September 1, 2016. The proposed regulatory changes are published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, for June 18, 2016. 18 years after formally asking the Canadian government for… Read more »
Darling Becomes President of Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
A cow-calf producer from apple country in southeastern Ontario is the new president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Dan Darling and David Haywood-Farmer of BC were elected by acclamation as president and vice president, respectively, at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s annual general meeting in Ottawa this past weekend. Darling, who served as vice president for… Read more »
MacAulay Commits $4 Million to Beef Projects
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay visited the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s annual meeting in Ottawa yesterday to announce $4 million in federal funds for three beef projects. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the three initiatives include: $2,601,500 million from the AgriMarketing Assurance Stream toward the development of tools to enable end-users (packers, retail food service), consumers… Read more »
Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program Wins National Award
The Ontario Corn Fed Beef program is receiving national recognition. The program, which is managed by the Ontario Cattle Feeders Association, received the 2016 Beef Industry Innovation and Sustainability Award at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s annual meeting in Ottawa on Thursday. “Ontario Corn Fed Beef is a success story that could serve as a blueprint… Read more »
WTO Considering Canada’s $3.1 Billion COOL Retaliation Plan
Update: A decision from the WTO on Canada’s COOL retaliation plan is expected on December 7. The Canadian government is making its case to the World Trade Organization this week on why should be allowed to impose C$3.1 billion per year in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports in the dispute over country of origin labeling (COOL)…. Read more »
BC Ranchers Win CCA’s Environmental Stewardship Award
A ranching family from southern British Columbia has been chosen as the 2015 recipient of the “The Environmental Stewardship Award” from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Darrell and Doris Squair, along with their son Travis and daughter-in-law Katie, operate Squaw Valley Ranch near Lumby. They received the TESA recognition at the CCA’s Semi-Annual Meeting in Winnipeg on Wednesday…. Read more »
Cattlemen’s Foundation Launched to Support Youth Mentorship, Sustainability and Research
Canadian beef industry leaders have established an endowment fund to support “the sustainable advancement and legacy of the Canadian beef industry.” The Canadian Cattlemen’s Foundation will have three main focus areas within the beef sector: youth and leadership development, environmental sustainability, and research. “If we want to see our industry thrive in the future we need… Read more »
Alberta Beef Industry Conference: CFIA Update on BSE Case, CCA Response
Delegates of the Alberta Beef Industry Conference heard from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD) on the latest case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) on February 20, 2015. The representatives gave an update on the case, and provided insight into the measures Canada is taking to reduce disease incidence. “The way that… Read more »
CRSB Requesting Beef Producers’ Help in Benchmarking Sustainability
With the overall goal to benchmark the sustainability of Canada’s beef industry, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is currently looking for producer participation. “Verifiable sustainability is a ‘want’ of our major customers, and we are being given the opportunity to define what that looks like,” said Cherie Copithorne Barnes, CRSB chair, in the Canadian Cattlemen’s… Read more »