Frustration ABP concerned that the producers’ side didn’t get enough attention during the XL recall
Three industry issues dominated much of the discussions both inside and outside the meeting hall at the Alberta Beef Producers annual meeting earlier this month.
By far of biggest interest was the recent XL Foods recall and the subsequent involvement of JBS in taking over management of the Brooks plant. ABP chairman Doug Sawyer expressed his frustration with the lack of media exposure on the cattle industry’s position as the situation unfolded over a one-month period.
“We fielded many media calls and our executive director said he did more interviews on this topic than any other in his career, but we didn’t get the exposure,” Sawyer said.
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In the absence of media coverage, the office mailed out a letter to producers to explain the media situation and the efforts of the ABP, he said.
Sawyer reported on the ongoing discussions with the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association (ACFA) regarding the memorandum of understanding on the non-refundable national checkoff. That agreement will run out in March of 2013 unless the agreement is extended.
“We’ve had meetings with the cattle feeders’ executive for months and have not yet come to an agreement on the national checkoff,” Sawyer said.
Unless there is a new agreement between the two groups, the $1 portion of the checkoff will become refundable under the existing legislation. If that were to happen it could put into jeopardy the collection of approximately $600,000 of checkoffs on imported beef.
Sawyer indicated that discussions on the issue have continued for the agriculture minister.
Land-use framework
Sawyer noted the release of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan and its importance to the well-being of agricultural production in that area of the province. He encouraged producers to get involved with the process to protect their own interests.
“Producers need to get involved at every stage, I can’t emphasize that enough,” Sawyer said.
Also reviewed was Bill 2 and its possible impact on property rights. “There may be some things with this bill that we need to look at more closely,“ Sawyer said.
Other topics included Cargill, JBS, and the Land Use Secretariat. AdFarm reviewed the Alberta Beef: Famous Taste campaign and there were updates from partner organizations CCA and Canada Beef Inc. that were also presented.
Seventeen Alberta-based cattle industry recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals were presented with their medals by CCA president Martin Unrau and past president Travis Toews. The ABP 2013 Environmental Stewardship Award was presented to Gerry and Grant Taillieu of Tomahawk Cattle Ranch.
Doug Sawyer (Pine Lake) was re-elected chair, Greg Bowie (Ponoka) moved to vice-chair and John Buckley (Cochrane) has joined the executive team as finance chair. The newly elected 2013 board of directors are Cecilie Fleming (Granum), Brian Chomlak (Beauvallon), Rick McKnight (Jarvie), Howard Bekkering (Vauxhall), Bob Lowe (Nanton), Brian Edge (Cochrane), Judy Fenton (Irma), Rob Somerville (Endiang), Chris Simpson (Bentley), John Bland (Strathmore), Larry Delver (Calgary), Mark Francis (Taber) and Roland Cailliau (Valleyview).
