The site for a proposed federally inspected beef slaughter facility in St. Boniface was recently sold for half the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council’s asking price.  photo: shannon vanraes

Sale of MCEC property raising questions

The provincial government says the MCEC failed because federal funding never materialized, but it isn’t releasing details of a recent property transaction

It was supposed to be the site of a new, federally inspected cattle slaughter facility — one that would buoy a flagging industry in the wake of BSE. But now Manitoba’s opposition Tories say a property at 663 Marion Street in Winnipeg has been sold for half its value as the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council

Letters — for 2012-03-29

Full costs to farmers underestimated Some years back Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson quoted a farmer saying that basis is a licence to steal. Two March 22 opinions are cases in point where we as farmers take a back seat to the private trade margin traders. In “The $5-million advantage of local processing,” Manitoba Cattle Enhancement


The $5 million advantage of local processing

(Excerpts from the latest Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council newsletter) Alberta cattle fetch more at auction than Manitoba cattle. A lot more. “One of the main reasons why Manitoba’s prices are lower is because they are the furthest distance away from any federally inspected slaughter plants,” said Canfax market analyst Brian Perillat. The simple fact is

MBP Votes Thumbs Down On MCEC Checkoff

Co-operator staff / brandon The Manitoba Beef Producers has given a thumbs down on the $2-per-head voluntary checkoff for the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council. A resolution to eliminate the checkoff aimed at supporting beef slaughter capacity in the province was passed by a narrow margin of 24-21 after a vigorous debate at the recent MBP

Moving Beyond Invisible

Some are saying it s been a ho-hum campaign so far as Manitoba politicians head into the final stretch of their race to the polls Oct. 4. But from this desk, one of the outstanding features of the 2011 election has been the farm and rural communities collective efforts to move beyond invisible. For far


Letters – for Sep. 1, 2011

As the District 2 CWB director, I attended the three so-called producer information meetings set up by the CWB in Medicine Hat, Camrose and Falher. Having read some of the media reports of the meetings in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, I knew that these meetings were all about politics, and an all-or-nothing message from the CWB

MCEC Moving Ahead Following Funding Loss

Anew beef slaughter facility is still on track to open in Winnipeg in 2012, despite losing $10 million in funding from the federal government. “We’re as anxious to get out there and make an announcement as anyone else, and we hope to soon. Everyone is kinda anxious,” said David Wiens, a director with the Manitoba

Federal Funds Diverted From Beef To Hogs

While Manitoba’s hog industry celebrated some rare good news last week, the beef sector was reeling from yet another setback in the bid to re-establish federally inspected beef slaughter capacity here. Citing unspecified problems with the Keystone Processors Ltd. business plan, the federal government has withdrawn $10 million in financing it promised the beef-processing company


Time To Pack It In?

Word was barely out that the federal government was withdrawing $10 million in financing for Keystone Processors Ltd. beef-slaughter facility last week and Manitoba Beef Producers was calling for an end to the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council. The association that is the voice of Manitoba beef producers, and which is supported by its own voluntary

Flood Recovery Will Be Slow

Wi t h Heartland Livestock in Virden taking the week off, there were only two cattle sales in Manitoba during the week ended July 18, with light volumes being reported in both Brandon and Winnipeg. Although volumes were light, prices were holding firm, with even some higher prices seen in the slaughter market. But even