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

Traceability Announcement Concerns CCA

“We need a national program.” – JOE BOUCHARD, MCPA The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is concerned about a national livestock traceability program announced last week by the federal government. CCA worries the mandatory program, to be effective by 2011, will saddle financially stressed producers with more regulations and added costs without financial benefits. Ottawa announced $20


Own-Use Task Force Accused Of Foot-Dragging

“I don’t think there’s any way around this one.” – DR. CATHERINE DEWEY, ONTARIO VETERINARY COLLEGE A federal task force has been criticized for not asking Ottawa to close a legal loophole allowing livestock producers to import unapproved veterinary drugs virtually unrestricted. Instead, the task force calls for a three-year pilot project into the feasibility

Direction Of Government Programs Perplexes Cattlemen

“It could become a prerequisite for trade, as animal care has become. So do we take the lead, or leave it to the provinces?” – CCA’S ROB MCNABB ON DEVELOPING A NATIONAL BIOSECURITY STANDARD Whether it’s cattle price insurance, dis-a ster recovery or biosecurity, figuring out what direction government programs might take has proven a


Flooded Livestock Farmers Win Tax Deferral Battle

“To help just on one extreme and not the other really didn’t make sense.” – JOE BOUCHARD, MCPA Manitoba producers who couldn’t harvest hay last summer because of excess moisture will now qualify for income tax deferrals on proceeds from livestock sales. The measure announced March 5 corrects an imbalance between flooded farmers, who previously

Federal action urged to reopen beef markets

Canada’s livestock producers, fed up with international trade barriers, want the federal government to do much more to open up foreign markets for their products. A new industry report recommends 25 steps for Ottawa to take in gaining greater access for Canada’s agricultural exports, especially beef. That includes creating a separate bureaucracy for negotiating international