Beef Mentorship Goes Nationwide

Following up on its pilot program this year in Alberta, the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program will now accept applications for mentorship spots available nationwide in 2011. Beef enthusiasts between ages 18 and 35 may apply online to seek one of 16 eight-month CYL mentorships available beginning in April 2011. Applications close Jan. 25, 2011. The

BIC To Merge With Cbef – for Aug. 26, 2010

Faced with declining checkoff dollars, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is looking to merge two of its marketing arms together. The roles of the Canadian Beef Export Federation (CBEF) and the Beef Information Council (BIC) are currently under review with an eye on cutting costs, according to Brad Wildeman, former head of the CCA who is


Certified Livestock Transport Training To Go National – for Aug. 26, 2010

Efforts are underway to gain industry funding and support for a national program to certify livestock transporters. Currently, existing Certified Livestock Transport training programs first developed in Alberta are being run all the way from British Columbia to Quebec, according to Lorna Baird, executive director of the Alber ta Farm Animal Care (AFAC), an organization

R-CALF Sets Sights On Packer Consolidation – for Aug. 19, 2010

Activist ranch lobby group R-CALF USA’s call for tougher enforcement of the 1920s-era Packer and Stockyards Act south of the border came under fire at the recent Canadian Cattlemen’s Association semiannual meeting last week. CCA director of international relations John Masswohl said that even though the discussion around the issue known as GIPSA – the


Ottawa Offers $6 Million For Beef Research

“The politics of market access often demand ministerial intervention to get over the hurdles presented.” The federal government is making $6 million available to boost research on beef cattle nutrition and productivity, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association March 22. The research will encourage “Canadian breakthroughs that make the farm gate more

Federal Beef-Packing Assistance Welcomed

“These measures address a real threat to the long-term profitability of the Canadian cattle industry.” – BRAD WILDEMAN Packers and cattle groups say assistance announced in the federal budget will make their sector more competitive. The budget allocated an extra $10 million for the Slaughter Improvement Program, $25 million for packing plants that handle animals



Ottawa Won’t Budge On Traceability Deadline

The Canadian government will not change its 2011 target date for mandatory cattle traceability, even though producers say it’s not achievable. “If we don’t have a target, it’ll never happen,” Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association national convention here. “The date is there. It is solid. We’re firm on it. We’re looking



Alberta Checkoff Change Could Affect CCA’s Finances

Canada’s national beef lobby group could experience a major financial setback following Alberta’s elimination of a non-refundable provincial checkoff on cattle sales. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is asking its provincial members for possible ideas on reducing programs because of a potential revenue shortfall stemming from the Alberta checkoff change. The Alberta government earlier this year