“Producer perspectives from across the country help ensure the code reflects the diversity of Canadian beef production systems and remains practical for producers who raise cattle,” Canadian Cattle Association president Tyler Fulton said in a news release.

WHY IT MATTERS: The national code serves as a reference point for provincial animal enforcement officers and courts and sets a basic standard of care for beef cattle in Canada, the Canadian Cattle Association says.

The current code of practice was published in 2013. An update began in 2023 with a 15-person committee that includes representatives from the cattle, processor and transport sectors, veterinary and animal welfare experts, researchers, government representatives and others.

The process involves “respectful dialogue, evidence-based decision-making, and shared accountability,” the news release said.

The draft code of practices includes changes such as:

• Added requirements for monitoring cattle “more frequently” during heat waves and cold weather
• Added requirements for natural or man-made shelter from wind in cold weather
• Expanded guidlines around low-stress handling
• Added requirements around not branding cattle on the face or sensitive areas, and use of pain medication when branding cattle under six months old
• An added section on spaying of female cattle — a practice it says isn’t common in Canada
• Expanded requirements and information around euthanizing cattle, including acceptable methods

Public consultation is open until June 12.

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“CCA has launched an online traceability feedback survey to ensure that producers have an opportunity to share their feedback,” the organization said on social media.

It includes 15 questions, including the importance of traceability to the Canadian beef industry, level of support for “enhancing” the current traceability system and the regulations’ importance to producers.

This gathering of information comes nearly one month after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced that it was pausing the publication of proposed amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations, which that was intended to occur this spring.

The move followed weeks of outcry from beef producers across Canada.

The proposed regulations are aligned with the Cattle Implementation Plan, which was established by all sectors of industry at the National Cattle Traceability Summit in August 2011 and adopted in 2016. A summary of the plan can be found on the CCIA website.

Many worry that the regulations will unnecessarily burdensome for those who raise, move, feed, and purchase animals.

Across social media platforms and at meetings, producers expressed concern with “government overreach” and said they would not comply with the regulations.

Many producers and provincial organizations also said there had been insufficient communication on the part of industry leaders, the CFIA and the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency.

“The Canadian Cattle Association has, and will continue, to advocate for traceability systems that work for ranchers and feeders and beef farmers,” CCA president Tyler Fulton said in an X video Jan 9.

“Given the Canadian cattle industry’s reliance on export markets, we need to be prepared and have the tools available to manage animal disease events quickly and efficiently.”

Local cattle associations such as Alberta Beef Producers and the Saskatchewan Cattle Association have scheduled producer meetings, with SCA hosting two traceability information meetings in February, weeks after the annual general meeting where traceability and the CFIA were the hottest topics.

“We encourage Saskatchewan producers to take a few minutes to participate and ensure your experience and concerns are reflected in ongoing discussions around traceability,” said SCA on social media.

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Glacier FarmMedia — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it will hold off on posting new traceability regulations for now.

The agency issued a statement Jan. 10 after public confusion about whether the amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations, announced in 2023, were actually in force. Some thought they took effect Jan. 1, but they had not yet been introduced in Canada Gazette, Part II, which is a key legislative requirement.

CFIA had expected to publish the regulations, developed along with industry organizations, in the spring. They would have included required premises identification numbers to purchase ID tags, movement reporting when cattle leave their home operations and reporting the arrival of cattle within seven days.

Producers said these regulations would be costly and onerous.

Last week, provincial and national beef organizations issued statements about the issue, noting the regulations weren’t in place but also that producers had concerns. Some asked for CFIA to postpone the introduction until these could be addressed.

On the weekend, CFIA said it was aware of the concerns.

“These amendments are not currently in place and have not been finalized,” it said.

“The CFIA has consulted with industry, associations and governments regarding the proposed amendments and will continue to do so. The CFIA will pause any publication of the regulations until the proposed changes are more widely understood and concerns are heard and taken into consideration.”

Some producers on social media suggested CFIA had “snuck” in the regulations late last year as a way to exert control over them. But the draft regulations were published in Part 1 of the Canada Gazette in 2023 and a 90-day comment period followed. The agency published a What We Heard report in 2024 to summarize what it had heard.

The proposed changes will be phased in once they are published.

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The regulations are not yet in effect and have not been published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. That is expected later in spring.

However, some people believe new movement reporting systems are already in place.

They are supposed to be phased in over time and help the industry respond more quickly to animal disease outbreaks and food safety incidents while maintaining market access.

The Canadian Cattle Association said it is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure the regulations follow the industry-led Cattle Implementation Plan.

“There is significant misinformation being shared on social media regarding CFIA’s proposed traceability regulations,” the organization said.

“No new regulations were implemented on Jan. 1, 2026. CCA will continue to work with provincial members and governments to ensure that any proposed changes work for producers. We are calling for a pause to address the concerns that we are hearing.”

The proposed regulations would require premises identification numbers to be used to purchase identification tags, report movement of cattle and report arrival of cattle within seven days.

An online petition launched Jan. 8 to stop the changes said they threaten cattle operations.

“I believe that these regulations in the long term will lead to total government control, echoing concerns from the European agricultural sectors,” wrote Julia Fairbrother in launching the petition.

She said current tracking systems are effective, but the new regulations don’t consider that some producers don’t have cellular service or the proper technology to keep up.

“I don’t know a single rancher who doesn’t know where his/her cattle are at all times, or whose cattle they neighbour with, so why does the government need to know where everything is at all times?” she wrote.

The petition had 893 verified signatures the morning of Jan. 9.

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“When the board began discussing the future of our relationship with the Canadian Cattle Association, it quickly became clear that this was a decision that required broader input,” said Doug Roxburgh, ABP chair.

The board initiated a consultation process with its delegate body. There were several opportunities for discussion, most notably a virtual delegate meeting on Aug. 11.

“Following these conversations, the delegates voted strongly in support of withdrawal. With that clear mandate, the board proceed to vote and voted on the decision,” said Roxburgh, who raises cattle near Bentley, Alta.

He said the move was rooted in governance, transparency and accountability, adding the decision was not made lightly.

“These are values we believe must be reflected in any organization representing Alberta beef producers. We sent a list of the key factors that led to the outcome to the CCA. It is important to us that the CCA be the first to know the reasoning,” he said.

Roxburgh said ABP has significant concern regarding the fiscal transparency at the CCA and recommended the CCA form a dedicated governance committee.

“We also suggested engaging an independent third-party to conduct a comprehensive review of CCA’s governance structure, with input from elected representatives,” he said.

Provincial funding assessments need to be based on retained marketings across all provinces, to ensure fairness and consistency.

“We also urge the unfreezing of board seats and a revision of the representation formula,” said Roxburgh.

“None of our suggestions are new to the CCA. Despite our efforts in asking for change, we have not seen meaningful progression or willingness to address these concerns,” he said.

CCA does not have a finance chair, said Roxburgh.

“We certainly understand there’s a potential for reduced marketings across Canada as the cow herd across Canada decreases, and so at ABP, we’ve worked hard to start to put a plan in place as to what our fiscal projection looks like with the potential of reduced marketings,” he said.

ABP has not been able to get a clear answer on what CCA plans to do in the event of reduced marketings.

Tyler Fulton, president of the CCA, said ABP’s decision was both a shock and not a shock.

“It was a shock to get such a stark announcement,” said Fulton, who raises cattle and has a small cropping entreprise near Birtle, Man.

“We didn’t see that coming.”

However, CCA said they had been working on the matter with ABP.

Roxburgh said ABP’s concern with CCA began about five years ago. An interim agreement between CCA and ABP started three years ago.

“In fact, it was a primary agenda for our September meeting, where we focussed on addressing the funding issue, and Alberta had referenced the likelihood that they’d like to revisit their representation on the CCA,” he said.

Fulton said the issues raised by ABP are not surprise issues.

“They made it very clear we had to address it, and so we were down that pathway, but didn’t really expect the negotiating tactic that they announced,” he said.

Fulton said having a smaller herd in Canada will likely affect CCA.

“The last three years, we’ve been on what I call an interim agreement that Alberta’s contributions to CCA were dependent on their service that they were able to retain that didn’t get refunded. The three-year agreement ends in June of 2026, and reflected a temporary measure, with the understanding that we would work towards a longer-term solution,” he said.

CCA is supported financially by all the provinces, but Alberta contributes the most because it has the largest cattle population. The funding from Alberta represents half of CCA’s financial resources on an annual basis, and so ABP’s departure would have a significant effect on CCA’s operations, and cause disruption.

“It’s a complicated scenario when one of the provincial members is looking for changes, because it’s not CCA’s authority to go and unilaterally change something. It has to work with all its members,” he said.

Fulton said he has heard ABP wants CCA to have more fiscal transparency.

“I think that’s a valid criticism,” he said. “CCA has a really complicated organizational structure, not just with the relationship between the provincial associations and CCA, but also divisions within CCA.”

The divisions include the Beef Cattle Research Council and CANFAX.

Fulton added that there are 80-page financial statements available at all directors’ meetings and the semi-annual meetings. Audited financial statements are available to cattle producers across the country.

Brad Dubeau, general manager of ABP, said ABP has made significant changes to strengthen its organization.

“We’ve streamlined our operations, enhanced our communications, and focused on strengthening the producer driven commission,” he said.

Dubeau said the changes better serve Albertan cattle producers.

“We are committed to continuous improvement and progress at ABP, and we hope to see the same commitment reflected in the organizations that we support,” he said.

ABP has a short-term plan in place to ensure Alberta’s voice continues to be heard provincially, nationally and internationally.

“We’re committed to keeping producers engaged and informed throughout the transition,” he said.

ABP’s financial obligations to CCA will continue until June 30, 2026.

“We are fully committed at ABP to honour that agreement,” said Roxburgh.

ABP’s decision to leave CCA won’t affect funding to the Canadian Beef Check-off Agency or its service providers, including the Beef Cattle Research Council, Public and Stakeholder Engagement and Canada Beef.

Roxburgh said ABP will continue to talk to CCA in the next few months.

“Our hope is for a strong national organization that ABP is part of, that’s truthfully what we want to see,” he said.

“It’s my desire and it’s been communicated to me that there’s a desire from Alberta Beef Producers’ executive to really work through these issues, have them return as a full member, in whatever new arrangement can be negotiated,” said Fulton.

He said his desire is to work through this rift.

“We have a long history despite this. We have a long history of collaborating and cooperating on so many different files, whether it be business risk management, or international advocacy work,” he said.

Fulton said CCA would be reaching out to other provincial cattle associations.

“It’s a complicated process because everyone is going to have their own perspective on it, and quite simply, CCA is driven by all of those different interests,” he said.

“We’ll work through it. I’m optimistic that we’re going to be able to come out further ahead and really address the concerns ABP has put forward. I spoke to Doug Roxburgh yesterday in person. I’m confident that we’ll be able to resolve this, especially after speaking with him.”

The post ABP opens up about leaving CCA appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The decision was made following extensive decision and strategic review by the board of ABP.

In a press release, Doug Roxburgh, chair of ABP, said national organizations like the CCA must deliver value to Alberta’s cattle producers.

He said ABP has high standards for fiscal transparency, governance and communications, and they expect the same from the organizations they are involved with.

“The CCA does not meet those standards,” said Roxburgh, who raises cattle near Bentley.

“After seeing no meaningful progress or willingness to change, we’ve made the decision to withdraw our membership,” he said.

Roxburgh said ABP has a duty to Albertan producers to make sure their dollars are invested in organizations that reflect and advance the beef industry’s values.

ABP will continue to be fully committed to representing Alberta’s cattle producers and ensure that their interests are advocated for at the provincial and federal levels.

Brad Dubeau, general manager of ABP, said the organization will continue to deliver strong representation for Alberta’s beef industry.

“In light of the board’s decision, we have mapped a strong path forward to ensure Alberta’s voice continues to be heard — provincially, nationally and internationally,” he said.

ABP will fulfill all its financial obligations to the CCA until the conclusion of the agreement on June 30, 2026.

ABP currently funds over 50 per cent of the CCA budget through the $2 Alberta service charge. ABP’s decision to withdraw from CCA will not affect funding to the Canadian Beef Check-off Agency, or its service providers, which include Canada Beef, Public and Stakeholder Engagement, and the Beef Cattle Research Council.

ABP’s goal is to prioritize the long-term strength and viability of its provincial operations, a decision that will continue to build a resilient, transparent and producer-driven organization that will meet the evolving nature of Alberta’s cattle industry.

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“This is vitally important to cattle and beef producers,” said association president Tyler Fulton in an Aug. 5 statement.

“The North American beef industry is highly integrated,” he said. “CUSMA has played a key role in allowing beef producers from the U.S. and Canada to reap the benefits flowing from the economies created by that integration.”

Most agricultural goods, including beef, are exempt from current 35 per cent tariffs under CUSMA.

The Canadian Cattle Association will host the North American Beef Cattle Leaders’ trilateral meeting in September. The trilateral meeting brings together national cattle producer organizations from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

The group will discuss animal health, the competativeness of the North American beef sector and trade, Fulton said.

“CCA will continue to work with the Government of Canada, provincial members, and engage with stakeholders on both sides of the border to advocate for positive outcomes for the North American beef sector in preparation for the 2026 CUSMA review,” he added.

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Yet that is the focus of public policy, even as many producers enter another drought year and could be looking at downsizing.

“As a primary producer, I’m not convinced that more cows equals a better outcome for us,” Jeff Yorga told the organization’s annual meeting.

Instead, profitability, younger producers entering the business and keeping grass from being ripped up for grain land are all measures of a successful, healthy industry, he said.

SSGA calls for permanent tax deferral program

Yorga said the SSGA is working to change the policy mindset.

“We grow grass and the cows turn it into protein, and the only way to save the grass in a drought is you have to be able to move the cows,” he said in an interview.

“So when we think about metrics, having policy that is designed to keep the cows around doesn’t keep the grass around.

“What ends up happening is things get exacerbated because the owner wasn’t able to make a clear decision when drought first happened.”

He pointed to Australia, where if it doesn’t rain by a certain date, producers begin to sell off cattle immediately. If and when it rains, they buy back in.

That’s why he introduced a resolution calling for a permanent, 10-year tax deferral program so producers who have to sell because of drought aren’t forced to buy back in at a higher price. Right now, tax deferral areas are announced by the federal government each year. That resolution was passed.

Yorga also said the high prices and strong demand in the industry right now are positive for those who are still in beef production and for those who want to get out.

“I’m not comfortable saying that we need more cows, given the situation that we’re in right now. Bigger picture, I don’t see the herd growing at all this year,” he said.

Detriments of lower cattle numbers

Saskatchewan agriculture minister Daryl Harrison said he had heard Yorga’s message and would consider it.

“I always keep an open mind,” he said.

Saskatchewan Cattle Association chair Chad Ross also addressed the meeting and pointed out the detrimental effects of lower cattle numbers.

SCA collects the provincial and national beef levies, at $2 and $2.50 per head, respectively. Ross said total collections were down about $406,000 last year and are expected to drop another $600,000 this year.

The provincial portion is set to rise 75 cents as of Aug. 1 after extensive debate about raising it to $1.50.

SCA has already cut staff, research spending and third party funding.

“We want to stay positive, but we’ve got work to do to represent our producers. If we’ve got a million less dollars to do the marketing, to do the research, to do the advocacy, it’s tough,” Ross said.

He said producers are doing well and able to pay down debt due to the strong prices, but a 30 per cent decrease in marketings means that $1.50 is probably going to come back into play in future.

The Canadian Cattle Association gets 53 cents out of the $2 provincial levy, and it also had budgetary concerns. Saskatchewan director Lynn Grant told the meeting the organization has begun using a reserve fund it accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel was curtailed.

“In about four years’ time, it’s going to be crunch time,” he said.

Then, CCA will have to cut back activities or seek a revenue increase. He noted that Canadian producers pay less than one-quarter of one percent in checkoff compared to other commodities that pay more.

Grant also suggested that SCA will need the full 75-cent increase to keep operating.

Yorga said associations may have to look at how they are spending the money they have. SSGA is a voluntary membership organization. The provincial checkoff collected by SCA is refundable, but the national portion is not.

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“The chance to demonstrate our commitment to such an important market is an opportunity that we are very excited about.” said David Typer, chair of the Canadian Meat Advocacy Board, in a Canadian Meat Council news release.

“We will soon begin our search for a China representative. Once the hiring process is complete, operations will be launched.”

The Canadian Meat Advocacy Office is a collaboration between the Canadian Meat Council, Canadian Pork Council and the Canadian Cattle Association.

The group called the office a tangible demonstration that the Canadian pork and beef sectors are eager to have a stronger presence in the Chinese market.

Goals of the office include advancing the interests of Canadian red meat in China, establishing and enhancing the presence of Canadian meat in the Chinese market, addressing market access issues, mitigating potential trade disruption, and building trust with Chinese officials, industry leaders according to a job posting on recruiting website Glassdoor.

Red meat is just one sector that has struggled with fraught relations between Canada and China. In 2019, China blocked shipments of Canadian pork and beef, citing bogus export certificates, as tensions escalated following the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. China also stopped purchasing Canadian canola seed, citing pest concerns.

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“Canadian beef has earned a top spot on the world stage because of the commitment to quality and sustainability that our producers hold themselves to,” said agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay in a news release today.

Canada Beef and the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) are receiving up to $5,865,110 and $453,364 respectively for marketing activities such as advertising, trade missions, technical training and educational seminars.

“By continuing to promote Canadian beef in key foreign markets, we can make the sector more competitive, put more money in the pockets of producers and drive demand for our world-class Canadian beef,” MacAulay said.

Expanding and opening new markets requires proactive relationship-building, said Canadian Cattle Association president Nathan Phinney in the release.

“These local, national and international relationships open doors to trade and collaboration and the AgriMarketing program support will help to ensure Canadian beef producers are represented at these global tables.”

“This funding will support initiatives that increase awareness of the value proposition of Canadian beef and veal exports in international markets vital to the success of Canada’s beef industry,” said Eric Bienvenue, president of Canada Beef.

The funding comes via the AgriMarketing Program, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (S-CAP). The initiative is intended to increase and diversify exports to international markets and seize domestic market opportunities.

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