After overcoming a serious checkoff issue, Alberta Beef Producers delegates took time to savour that victory at their recent annual meeting and then quickly set their sights on other batttles still to be won. The biggest issue facing ABP in 2010 was the refundable checkoff, which became a financial fact early in the year and had serious financial consequences. Chairman Chuck MacLean said the first instalment of refund requests was around $1 million, which represented a 38 per cent refund level. ABP delegates expressed their concern with that issue by debating resolutions from zone meetings that wanted those who received refunds to be identified.
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“The biggest challenge we had was getting the $1 national checkoff non-refundability reinstated,” said MacLean. That effort began in the spring and continued on well into the fall with reinstatement effective as of November 30. “I give full credit to Minister Jack Hayden for his help in getting this matter resolved with the Alberta Cattle Feeders,” said MacLean. The Canadian cattle industry is now in a position to have the federal government collect the national checkoff on cattle and beef imports.
Executive director Rich Smith gave a progress report on the objectives the organization had set for 2010. Delegates debated a number of resolutions related to those objectives, including age verification; the regulatory burden; and traceability and risk management programs. Delegates also approved a motion to begin lobbying the government to reinstate non-refundability to the rest of the cattle checkoff.
The issue that brought some excitement to the meeting involved resolutions surrounding the Land Use Framework (LUF), a provincial government initiative intended to provide a “blueprint for land-use management and decision-making” across Alberta. ABP has struck a committee to deal with the matter and committee chairman Greg Bowie updated the meeting on its work and the status of a position paper that is being developed.
Several delegates expressed consternation with the government’s approach on this issue and said they feared there could be dire consequences for agriculture. Delegate John Buckley cautioned that the process has been in the works for many years and may well serve to protect agricultural interests. Delegate Gordon Graves said that the industry needs to get more involved with LUF before it is too late.
The annual meeting also saw presentations and reports from national agencies such as the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canada Beef Export Federation, and Beef Information Centre.
The board of directors elected the 2010-11 executive committee. Chuck MacLean (Bow Island) returns as board chairman for a second term. Doug Sawyer (Pine Lake) is vice-chairman and Dave Solverson (Camrose) is finance chairman.
