Ranchers, consumers and others who have thoughts on how beef and its cattle should be sustainably produced in Canada are asked to speak up again, this time by early November at the latest. The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), in the midst of developing a Verified Sustainable Beef Framework, has released its new draft […] Read more
Public input sought on sustainable beef indicators
Canada ready to make ‘bold statement’ with sustainable beef program
After years of effort and unprecedented industry collaboration, a national sustainable beef program is poised for rollout
Reading Time: 3 minutes The long process to create a Canadian ‘sustainable beef’ program is nearing the finish line. “We will be launching in December a national framework — this is go time,” said Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, a Calgary-area rancher and chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. The effort to make Canada a world leader in producing cattle […] Read more
Put antimicrobials, traceability, and biosecurity on your to-do list
All three areas are undergoing changes that producers should be aware of, says the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
Reading Time: 2 minutes There are things that beef producers need to look out for in the coming months when it comes to herd health and biosecurity. “We do know that there are changes in play that will require all medically important antimicrobials to become prescription only,” said Rob McNabb, general manager of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Some medically […] Read more
Roundtable for Sustainable Beef wants your input
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is seeking feedback on its sustainability indicators for beef processing to ensure sustainability challenges and opportunities for this sector are addressed. The indicators reflect what will be measured to verify sustainable practices. The consultation runs until Aug. 29, and a link can be found on the home page of […] Read more
One last chance to comment on sustainable beef ‘indicators’
The indicators are ways to measure objects such as ecosystem health and animal welfare
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is seeking feedback on its revised “sustainability indicators” for beef production in Canada. The indicators are ways to measure sustainability objectives — such as ecosystem health and animal health and welfare. For example, one of the objectives is to maintain or enhance grasslands, pastures, and native ecosystems. Some of […] Read more
Keeping land in grass has a side benefit
Young beef producers need affordable access to grassland if the industry is going to grow
Reading Time: 2 minutes The beef industry has been struggling to retain and attract new producers while the average age of farmers, at 54, keeps creeping up. The next generation of cattle producers might be looking for something different. The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) released the National Beef Sustainability Assessment and Strategy this fall. The industry garnered […] Read more
Sustainable beef is ‘an incredible opportunity’
Canada’s beef sector leads the world when it comes to sustainability and needs to tell that story, says Cameron Bruett
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s time for the beef industry to speak up and explain itself to its detractors and the people who don’t understand it. “I become very frustrated when I see media and activists attacking the global beef industry,” Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs and sustainability with JBS USA, said at last month’s Canadian Beef Industry […] Read more
‘Sustainable’ beef pilot a success, but job isn’t done yet
McDonald’s pilot is complete, but now the Canadian beef industry has to create and implement its own standards
Reading Time: 4 minutes After being the first to source and track “verified sustainable” beef for McDonald’s, the Canadian cattle industry has a new challenge — create its own standards that all of its buyers can use. The wrap-up event drew more than 300 ranchers and industry players to celebrate the accomplishment — a sharp contrast to the quiet, […] Read more
VBP program being expanded
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Verified Beef Production (VBP) program is being expanded to VBP Plus. The new version of the on-farm food safety program will use third-party audits of production practices and include modules for biosecurity, animal care, and environmental stewardship. The expanded program will allow producers to demonstrate that Canadian beef is being “produced in systems that […] Read more
Public comments sought on definition of ‘sustainable’ beef
Committee seeks indicators which accommodate producers, consumers and the environment
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is seeking the public’s comments on the first draft of its sustainability “indicators” for beef operations. The indicators are part of the verified sustainable beef framework the organization is developing, and reflect what will be measured in terms of sustainability on individual operations. “The CRSB has developed indicators […] Read more
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