MBP E-Newsletter: April 12/2024

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CCA Elects New Board Representatives for 2024-2025

(April 8, 2024 Canadian Cattle Association News Release)

The Canadian Cattle Association completed its 2024 Annual General Meeting on March 21, 2024 in Ottawa with a number of events, meetings and election of a new Board of Directors.

The CCA Board heard from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada representatives and were pleased to see that CCA’s partnership lobbying efforts had resulted in the Government of Canada extending the APP interest free loan portion to $250,000 from the initial $100, 000 in 2021 – an announcement that was made on March 25, 2024.

Agriculture Minister, Hon. Lawrence MacAulay joined the Board for a portion of its meeting and took questions from the Members about various topics including trade (science-based rules), Livestock Tax Deferral, and the environment.

CCA hosted a reception at which Minister MacAulay also presented CCA’s TESA (The Environmental Sustainability Award) recipients – Doug & Linda Wray of Irricana, AB – with a certificate and recognition for their environmental efforts.

Nathan Phinney (President) – NB Tyler Fulton (Vice President) – MB

Bob Lowe (Past President) – AB Jack Chaffe (Officer) – ON

Kirk Jackson (Officer) – QC Matthew Atkinson – MB Mike Duguid – MB

Arvid Nottveit – MB

Other provincial representatives include: Renee Ardill – BC, Larry Rast – BC; Jim Bowhay – AB; Jake Bueckert – AB; Sheila Hillmer – AB; Graham Overguard – AB; Doug Roxburgh – AB; Curtis Vander Heyden – AB; Miles Wowk – AB; Karla Hicks – SK; Philip Lynn – SK; Lynn Grant – SK; Ryan Beierback – SK; Craig McLaughlin – ON; Matt Bowman – ON; Jason LeBlond – ON; Philippe Alain – QC; John Schuttenbeld – NB; Victor Oulton – NS; and, Kevin Simmons – PEI.

For immediate release:

Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle to be updated

(Ottawa) 11 April 2024 – The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) is pleased to announce that Canadian Cattle Association has initiated an update to the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle. The update will be guided by NFACC’s Code development process.

The Code development process includes a survey, launched at the outset of each Code, to capture top-of-mind welfare concerns from any and all stakeholders. The input received will help the Code Committee understand the kinds of issues people wish to see considered in the update. Everyone is invited to participate; the survey for this Code is available at www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/beef-cattle.

“The safe care and handling of animals has always been a priority in our industry. This Code update is welcome and brings the industry into better alignment with responsible practices, many of which have been implemented by our producers. We appreciate the process and industry input involved and look forward to promoting the updated Code of Practice to our producers when completed,” stated Nathan Phinney, President, Canadian Cattle Association.

Canada’s Codes of Practice provide critical guidance for the care and handling of farm animals. They reflect our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices and serve as educational tools, reference materials for regulations, and the foundation for farm animal care assessment programs.

“The NFACC Code development process is based on stakeholder commitment to ensure quality animal care standards are established,” said Hans Kristensen, Chair of NFACC. “It’s about each of us taking responsibility – farmers, processors, food companies, consumers, and allied groups – moving beyond the hype and rhetoric and doing real things to support farm animal welfare.”

Canada’s Code of Prac�ce for the Care and Handling of Beef Catle to be updated

Five Codes – beef cattle, equine, pig, sheep, and poultry – are being updated. The pullet and layer Code is being amended. Visit www.nfacc.ca for more details and a timeline outlining the steps and progress made on the respective Codes.

About NFACC

NFACC is a collaborative partnership of diverse stakeholders created in 2005 to share information and work together on farm animal care and welfare. It is the national lead for farm animal care issues in Canada and operates as a Division of Animal Health Canada. For more information on NFACC, visit www.nfacc.ca

About CCA

Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is the national voice of Canada’s 60,000 beef farms and feedlots. Founded by producers and led by a producer-elected board, CCA works to address issues that concern Canada’s beef producers. For more information visit www.cattle.ca.

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For more information contact:

Jackie Wepruk, Division Director, National Farm Animal Care Council

Phone: 403-783-4066, nfacc@xplornet.com, www.nfacc.ca

Carol Reynolds, Communications Manager, Canadian Cattle Association

Phone: 403-451-0931 reynoldsc@cattle.ca, www.cattle.ca

How to Rebound From High Open Rates

(April 9, 2024 Beef Cattle Research Council)

This article is also available as a podcast.

High cattle open rates recorded in areas across Western Canada last year mean affected beef producers should be setting up their herds for success now.

A report from the Western Canadian Animal Health Network (WeCAHN) said that open rates were “all over the map” – from 2 to 3 percent up to 40+ percent in the third quarter of 2023. The averages were a bit higher at 10 to 12 percent versus 8 to 10 percent in 2022.

The Problem

Experts agree it’s a multi-year, multi-factor problem. Drought, early snow and other adverse weather conditions have resulted in poor forage quality and compromised water quality in many regions. The results have manifested in lower calving distribution rates.

“Herds with cows that have good body condition have an open rate of about 5 to 8 percent, and I’ve been hearing stories about herds with poorer body conditions that are as high as 50 percent,” says Barry Yaremcio, a Camrose, Alberta, based independent consulting nutritionist with decades of experience.

Dr. Jason McGillivray says that, in the Kamloops, British Columbia area, the problems started in the 2021-22 winter when there was lower feed quality followed by a dry spring.

“During the pregnancy checks of the fall of 2021, we noticed that more cows were going to be calving later, and the following year, more of those cows were calving later still,” Dr. McGillivray says.

In that area, November 2023 brought a big snowstorm, which disrupted ranchers’ extended grazing programs, which normally would go into January.

“In some of the herds, they had to feed earlier with lower quality hay, and those cows were in poor body condition,” he says. The multiple punches of later calving and an early winter followed by drought meant that open rates were up.

In his area, Dr. McGillivray said another contributing factor in some herds was wolf predation through the breeding and grazing season, which put cows under tremendous stress.

In Brooks, Tabor and Lethbridge, Alberta, Dr. Blake Balog says data from his practice indicated that, on average, open rates were about 12 percent for cows and 14 percent for heifers.

“In that mix, we had some pretty high highs and pretty low lows,” he says, adding that shorter breeding seasons had up to 90 percent bred and, on the other end, some groups went to 20 percent open.

“The trend in calving distributions is flatter and flatter,” he says. “Cows may have had good reproductive momentum for a while, but when they go more and more into that second and third cycle, eventually, they just fall off the map.”

In the southeast area of Manitoba, Dr. Kurtis Swirsky says his clients have experienced similar situations, with some chronically affected herds that run higher open rates and some that have lower rates. In 2023, there was an anomaly.

“This past May was one of the hottest on record and the flies were a big contributing factor to having cows being run down, less likely to cycle and then to get pregnant when they were bred,” Dr. Swirsky says. Generally, producers who pay close attention to body condition and cows have healthier, more resilient cows that have excellent pregnancy rates. Sometimes, bulls are infertile or injured, but mostly it’s about the health of the cows, he says. According to Yaremcio, extreme heat can also affect the bulls’ sperm motility.

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How to Rebound From High Open Rates

“One of the big things this year compared to previous years was that there was a lot of grass, but the energy density was lower,” Dr. Swirsky says, adding that supplementing cattle on pasture prior to turning the bulls out is also an option.

The Solutions

Keeping a close eye on body condition scores and improving nutrition and water quality are some of the best ways to decrease open rates in cows.

Both Dr. Swirsky and Dr. McGillivray point out that making sure the cows have good body condition before being put out on grass is important, even if it costs more in feed.

“The benefits are great – not only will the cows be more likely to get pregnant, they’ll milk better and have heavier calves,” Dr. Swirsky says.

“If you turn your cows out thin you are relying on Mother Nature to supply enough good quality forage to get cows to rebound condition to start cycling and breed,” Dr. McGillivray says. “With the last couple of late, cool, dry springs there has not been enough good forage or time to accomplish this at a desirable first cycle conception rate or overall pregnancy rate.”

Multiple studies have shown earlier bred cows produce calves that are born earlier, are more uniform and healthier and command better prices. The cows themselves are healthier, more productive and live longer. In fact, the BCRC has a video and a Calving Distribution Calculator to help producers determine optimal strategies for their herds.

The industry target is a minimum of 60 percent of females calving within the first cycle. Yaremcio says some of his clients aim for 75 percent or more.

For practical purposes, producers need to balance any increase in revenue with the cost of achieving that outcome. Some of those costs could be:

• Pre-partum nutrition management to reach the desired body condition score

• An increased risk of open cows

• Time, labour and facility if estrus synchronization or artificial insemination is used

The cost of implementing any of these options will vary based on how the operation is set up.

Dr. Balog says the careful genetic selection of cattle to match changing environmental conditions, managing stocking densities and better managing grass will go a long way to helping alleviate problems.

“I’m worried that if producers see good calf prices, they’re going to want to retain more animals to cash in on the other side – but we may not have grass to accomplish that,” he says, adding that his more successful clients have aggressive culling strategies to weed out later calving cows and improve herd quality. Early weaning and better nutritional supplementation for the cows also shows up in improved results.

“In the last few years, improving water quality with structures has been important, too, along with better grazing strategies,” he says.

Body condition management during the winter and alternative grazing strategies including techniques like stubble grazing and cover crops would also help increase feeding options and reduce open rates.

In British Columbia, where Dr. McGillivray practices, the feed options are limited to hay, which is costly –and when it went from $200 to $380 a tonne, some producers limited feeding to save costs.

“Paying $380 a tonne for hay is better than having 20 percent open cows,” he says of the attitude many of his clients took.

Yaremcio also says when you work with the cattle every day it is difficult to recognize changes in condition. Having a second set of eyes on cattle can help evaluate body condition. It can be an extension agent, nutritionist, veterinarian, feed salesman or even a neighbour who comes in for a cup of coffee.

Hands-on body condition scoring is even more accurate, especially for evaluating the cows’ fat stores, and the BCRC has resources to help beef producers with that.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2024 CANADIAN BEEF CHECK-OFF AGENCY AWARD

It is no surprise that Canada’s beef industry continues to focus on the engagement of young entrants into the beef industry, whether that be grassroots producers, future leaders of our national and provincial organizations, or industry partners along the value chain.

The Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency (the Agency) continues to diversify its youth strategy with the renewal of the annual scholarship, aimed at students who intend to make an impact in Canada’s beef industry.

The scholarship is open not only to beef producers and those directly involved with their families, but it is open to students who can see unique ways to make an impact through marketing, research, public engagement, and other areas where check-off dollars are invested to generate value for the beef industry in Canada.

“We’re so grateful to have the opportunity to help young people stay interested and engaged in the beef industry through the continuation of our scholarship,” said Jeff Smith, Agency Chair. “There are so many ways that our industry can grow, and ensuring that we are attracting fresh, bright minds to beef in Canada is so important.”

Julie Mortenson, the Agency’s Youth Member and member of the scholarship committee, sees value in the extensive range of career paths that can help shape Canada’s beef industry.

“Last year we had over 20 applicants in a wide range of industry sectors, and we were so impressed by all of the applications”, said Mortenson. “We are really excited to be able to offer this scholarship to students who will impact the beef industry in Canada from a variety of different angles; it could be from a production side, a research angle, or even an environmental or human health path.”

While preference may be given to applicants who are beef producers or have a background in agriculture, it is not a requirement for the scholarship.

Applicants are asked to submit a 1-2 minute video, showcasing their desire to improve and grow Canada’s beef industry in a unique way. The investment of the beef check-off in Canada delivers value to the beef industry, and the scholarship seeks to support those who want to make an impact in the same way.

The deadline for scholarship applications is June 30, 2024 and the selected applicant will be announced at the Agency’s AGM in August 20, held in collaboration with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon.

Apply by June 30 at cdnbeefcheckoff.ca/scholarship.

Jeff Smith, Agency Chair

Julie Mortenson, Agency Youth Member

CANADIAN BEEF CHECK-OFF

SCHOLARSHIP

The Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency has established a scholarship to encourage and support students pursuing post-secondary studies in the field of agriculture, agricultural research, or with an agriculture background pursuing studies in marketing or other areas of impact to the beef industry.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for the $2000 scholarship, applicants must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

• be accepted to or attending a designated post secondary institution

• be accepted to or attending a full-time program relating to:

• agriculture or agriculture business

• marketing, communications or public relations

• science and research including veterinary medicine

• human health and nutrition

• policy and economics

Note: Preference will be given to applicants who are active beef producers or have a background in agriculture, but it is not a requirement.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must submit to the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency:

• an application form

• a link to a creative video no longer than two minutes, showcasing how their background in agriculture, paired with their education, can help grow the future of the beef industry in Canada

• an official acceptance letter or current enrollment document to a designated post-secondary institution

Videos must be posted to YouTube, marked as public, and the link shared in the application form.

The recipient will be selected by committee on the basis of video content, and desire to improve and grow Canada’s beef industry in a unique way. Knowledge and understanding of Canada’s national beef strategy, checkoff system and national beef organizations is preferred.

Farm Product Prices, February 2024

Source: Statistics Canada’s The Daily for April 9, 2024

Monthly provincial prices received by farmers in February for grains, oilseeds, specialty crops, cattle, hogs, poultry, eggs and dairy products are now available.

Slaughter cattle prices increased across all provinces in February compared with January. The price increases ranged from 1.0% in Manitoba to 13.7% in Quebec. February prices were at least 17.7% higher year over year in all provinces. The smaller cattle herd supported slaughter cattle prices.

Feeder cattle prices also rose across all provinces in February compared with January, with gains ranging from 5.1% in Manitoba to 28.9% in New Brunswick. February marked three consecutive months of increasing prices for Alberta, as drought conditions and elevated feed costs continued to impact the cattle sector.

Furthermore, all provinces reported year-overyear price rises of at least 17.3% in February.

Prices for most crop commodities continued to decline in February, mainly because of pressure from strong global supplies and international competition.

In February, prices for wheat (excluding durum) fell for the seventh consecutive month in all Prairie provinces compared with January. Saskatchewan (-3.1%) posted the largest decline, followed by Alberta (-2.5%) and Manitoba (-2.5%). International competition from Russia, as well as Ukraine's continued

ability to maintain export flows, put downward pressure on wheat prices.

Soybean prices declined month over month in most provinces in February. Manitoba (-9.0%) recorded the largest decrease, followed by Ontario (-5.0%) and Quebec (-4.4%). This was the fifth consecutive month-over-month price decline in Manitoba and the third in Quebec. On a year-over-year basis, soybean prices fell across Canada in February, led by Manitoba (-25.3%), followed by Ontario (-21.2%) and Quebec (19.3%). Higher domestic soybean production in 2023 and expected higher supplies from South America in 2024 continued to have a notable impact on prices.

In February, monthly canola prices fell across Canada. Quebec (-10.1%) posted the largest decline, followed by Saskatchewan (-8.1%). Monthly canola prices fell for the sixth consecutive month in Manitoba (-7.4%) and for the fourth in Ontario (-1.7%). Strong global supplies of canola and competition from other oilseeds put downward pressure on prices.

Compared with January, prices for dry peas increased in the Prairie provinces in February. Saskatchewan (+6.3%) posted the largest increase, followed by Alberta (+5.5%) and Manitoba (+4.1%). This was the sixth consecutive month-over-month price increase in Saskatchewan and Alberta and the third in Manitoba. In February, India announced its decision to extend the suspension of pea tariffs by six to eight weeks beyond March 31 and, as a result, the increased demand exerted upward pressure on prices.

Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project Public Comments

Invited on the Draft Report and Potential Conditions

(April 8, 2024 News Release) The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) is conducting a federal environmental assessment of the proposed Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project, a new permanent flood control management system located in the Interlake region of Manitoba.

The Agency invites the public and Indigenous groups to comment on the draft Environmental Assessment Report that includes the Agency's conclusions and recommendations regarding the potential environmental effects of the project and their significance, and the proposed key mitigation measures and follow-up programs.

The Agency also invites comments on the draft potential conditions for the project. Final conditions would become legally-binding for the proponent if the Minister of Environment and Climate Change issues a decision statement indicating the project may proceed.

How can I participate?

Comments should be submitted online by visiting the project home page on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (reference number 80148). The draft Report and potential conditions are also available on the Registry. Participants who wish to provide their input in a different format can contact the Agency by writing to LakeManitoba-LakeSt.Martin@iaacaeic.gc.ca.

Submit your comments online in either official language by 11:59 p.m. on May 8, 2024. All

comments received will be published online as part of the project file.

Will there be more opportunities to participate?

This project has benefited from several public and Indigenous engagement opportunities. This is the final public comment period in the process.

Stay updated on this project by following the Agency on X (previously Twitter): @IAAC_AEIC #OutletChannels

What is the proposed project?

Manitoba Infrastructure is proposing the construction and operation of a new permanent flood control management system located in Manitoba. As proposed, the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project would consist of two new diversion channels each approximately 24 kilometres long: the first running northwards from Watchorn Bay on Lake Manitoba, to Birch Bay on Lake St. Martin (Lake Manitoba Outlet Channel), and a second running northeast from Lake St. Martin to Sturgeon Bay on Lake Winnipeg (Lake St. Martin Outlet Channel). The project would also include the construction of two combined bridge and water control structures, a 24-kilovolt distribution line, and the re-alignment and/or construction of provincial highways, municipal roads and three bridge structures.

SOURCE Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Manitoba RCMP warn public about banking scam

(April 10, 2024 RCMP News Release) Manitoba RCMP is warning the public about interac etransfer scams that are becoming more prevalent.

In these instances, the victim receives an email which appears to be from someone trying to send them an interac e-transfer. At first glance it appears legitimate and when the victim clicks on the link and enters in their banking credentials, the scammers are able to steal the banking login information. This gives the scammers access to the account which allows them to withdraw large sums of money.

Scammers are becoming more and more sophisticated, so extra caution is needed before you accept an e-transfer.

Here are some tips on what to look out for:

If you are not expecting any money don’t click on links and try to deposit money

• Check the email closely, even though it may be personally addressed it does not mean it is legitimate

• Use Interac e-Transfer Autodeposit. If you have Autodeposit set up, Interac eTransfer transactions sent to your email address will automatically be deposited into your bank account, Autodeposit is the secure way to accept Interac eTransfer.

• Create strong passwords

• Be conscious about what you share online, including personal identifiable information that hackers can use to access your accounts.

If you were defrauded, please contact your local police and report it.

For more information on how to protect yourself from frauds and scams please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. See: https://antifraudcentrecentreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

Canadian graduate students studying or interested in Canadian beef and forage production, the call for abstracts for the 2024 Canadian Beef industry Conference poster competition is open until May 17. Click on the image for more information.

Government to increase tax credits for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers

(April 10, 2024 Department of Finance Canada)

Volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers play a critical role in protecting Canadians. Every year thousands of Canadians volunteer their time, and sacrifice their own safety, to keep their neighbours safe. Whether responding to flooding in Nova Scotia or wildfires in British Columbia, these volunteers continue to go above and beyond to help with firefighting and search and rescue.

In recognition of this, today the federal government announced that Budget 2024 will propose to double the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit and the Search and Rescue Volunteers Tax Credit.

This means the tax credit will increase from $3,000 to $6,000 for 2024 and subsequent tax years, saving volunteer firefighters up to $900 per year. This increase will particularly benefit rural communities where firefighters are most often volunteers and they are confronting increasingly more frequent wildfires due to climate change. Over the next six years, this represents about $105 million in new support for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers across the country.

The’s announcement also includes $166.2 million over five years in new funding in support of First Nations emergency management and preparedness. Recognizing that many First Nations communities are especially vulnerable to the impact of natural disasters, this investment will better support First Nations to protect their communities.

These investments will help ensure that our essential first responder volunteers are better supported in the selfless work they do to keep all of us safe. Alongside these measures, in the upcoming budget, the government will announce further action to build more homes, faster, make life more affordable, and create more good jobs and economic growth to ensure every generation can get ahead.

Quotes

“Volunteer firefighters keep Canadians safe, while putting their own lives at risk. As wildfires and natural disasters grow more severe, these volunteers remain some of the only first responders in their community. The Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit and the Search and Rescue Volunteers Tax Credit are there to support the service of remarkable Canadians and encourage more people to do this critical, lifesaving work.”

– The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Thanks to the 601 cow-calf producers from across Canada who recently completed the Canadian Cow-Calf Survey, which was open from Nov. 21, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

BCRC looks forward to sharing the results, along with applicable research and extension strategies, in the near future.