Reading Time: < 1 minute A plebiscite on a non-refundable cattle checkoff will be held this fall and the leadership of Alberta Beef Producers is urging its members to get out and vote. Currently, the provincial portion of the checkoff is voluntary and ABP refunds about $2.4 million yearly (mostly to feeders). If the checkoff is made non-refundable, most of […] Read more
Beef checkoff plebiscite coming in fall

Have you been affected by drought?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is currently collecting information on conditions and impact of the drought in Western Canada. It’s asking producers to take an online survey, which takes about three minutes to complete. “This information helps justify and document the necessity for programs such as Livestock Tax Deferral,” it said, adding the results will be […] Read more

Alberta Beef Producers looking for candidates
Nominations close August 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers is currently accepting nominations for delegates to run in its 2018 fall elections. Producers in each of the nine geographic zones in the province can elect up to five delegates and one cattle feeder delegate to serve two-year terms. However, elections are staggered so this year, two producer delegate positions are open […] Read more

The situation is grim for many ranchers, ABP warns province
Provincial officials will need to quickly roll out assistance programs if drought continues, says Charlie Christie
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s main cattle group is warning the provincial government to stand ready as a severe feed shortage could soon lead to a major culling of herds. Many ranchers depleted their hay stocks after a cold spring delayed pasture growth, and have seen only meagre production this summer in the face of dry, hot conditions, said […] Read more

Even in Feedlot Alley, consumers don’t trust hormone use
The beef sector has long said hormone implants are safe, but most Lethbridge residents aren’t convinced
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s a pretty disheartening finding: Nearly two-thirds of residents of Lethbridge — located in Feedlot Alley — oppose the use of growth hormones in cattle, according to a recent survey. “I would suspect that a lot of people don’t understand,” said Roland Cailliau, a cow-calf producer from Valleyview. “They don’t read and they don’t understand […] Read more

Learning about grasslands at Glenbow Ranch
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers has partnered with the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation on a program that gives school kids a chance to learn about native grasslands and the role cattle play in these threatened ecosystems. The Explore Grasslands Program is open to elementary and high school classes, and includes a half-day program for Grade 4 students […] Read more

Only Alberta beef at Calgary Co-op stores
Reading Time: < 1 minute All of Calgary Co-op’s food stores will be exclusively stocking and selling fresh Alberta beef. The “Only Alberta Beef” commitment marks the first time a major grocery retailer in the Calgary area is promising only locally produced fresh beef to its members. The co-op is partnering with JBS Canada in Brooks to ensure all of […] Read more

ABP’s Young Guns Contest now open
Deadline for entries is June 1
Reading Time: < 1 minute Are you between the ages of eight and 21, and involved in Beef 4-H, junior cattle shows or beef production? This is your opportunity to win one of three prizes in the ABP Young Guns Contest. This year we want to know what connects you to the land in Alberta where we produce the best […] Read more

Nominations sought for environmental stewardship award
Deadline for nominations is July 15
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Beef Producers is seeking nominations for the 2019 Environmental Stewardship Award. The award recognizes producers whose stewardship practices contribute to the environment and enhance productivity and profitability. The nomination form can be found at the Alberta Beef Producers’ website, or by contacting the ABP office (403-275-4400) or your local delegate. The winner will […] Read more

The long decline is over as cow herd finally stabilizes
A lot has changed in the past decade and a half — but what comes next for Alberta’s cattle sector?
Reading Time: 5 minutes The big shrink seems to be over — but Alberta’s cow herd is considerably changed from the pre-BSE era. The latest Census of Agriculture found 1.57 million head in the province in 2016, a very slight increase (of 13,500 animals) compared to five years earlier. The herd is not only much smaller than prior to […] Read more