Manitoba Beef Producers 2022 Annual Report

* There were vacancies in District 4 and 14. Please see page five for the full list of internal and external committee appointments.

Alfred Epp District 1 Nancy Howatt District 2

Mary Paziuk District 13

Arvid Nottveit District 11

Mark Good District 12

Trevor Sund District 9 Mike Duguid District 10

Tyler Fulton District 7

Matthew Atkinson District 8

Steven Manns District 5

Melissa Atchison District 6

Andre Steppler District 3

Beef producers Theresa and Jason Zuk (Photo credit: Donalee Jones/Great Tastes of Manitoba)

MESSAGE FROM THE

2022 was another busy year of responding to weather challenges, developing new advocacy priorities and working on existing ones. We were also able to expand our extension work, and to engage with our provincial and national counterparts and industry partners to collaborate on projects and shared priorities.

For me, the best part of being a director of Manitoba Beef Producers are the friendships that you develop working together with the staff and the rest of the board of directors. The year had its challenges, but when you work through them together, it creates a trust and connection that goes beyond the work.

The staff are extremely dedicated to our industry and we are very fortunate to have such a hardworking, skilled and knowledgeable team in Carson, Maureen, David, Jennifer, Deb and Ray. On behalf of the board and the whole beef industry I would like to thank you for your efforts, we truly appreciate them.

It was bittersweet when Melissa Atchison, left her position on the MBP Executive as Vice-President and her role as District 6 director to take on the new research and extension specialist role with MBP. However, in the short time that she has been in job, we have had some great attendance and feedback on the new extension events that she has already held. The rest of the executive made up of Matthew Atkinson, Mark Good, Mike Duguid and Arvid Nottveit can be described as thoughtful and full of integrity, which I greatly admire. The whole board is respectful and focused on improving our industry and it is their collective thoughts and efforts that deserve recognition.

Looking back at 2022 for me there were three highlights. First was the support and producer response to the spring storms. There was nothing about the string of bad weather that I really care to remember. It was physically and emotionally exhausting. For many producers that were considering retirement, the hardship felt during this period was the deciding factor in their decision to leave the industry. But what did come out of our collective experience was a stronger sense of community and support among beef farmers and ranchers. What I saw happening was producers checking on their neighbours and helping out wherever they could. I also received support and positive feedback from the public when media reported on the events and shared stories about the lengths that producers would go through to protect and save their livestock from the elements.

The second highlight was the work on the Front of Package Labelling issue. I had the benefit of having a behind the scenes look at the successful lobby campaign against proposed Health Canada regulations for Front of Package Labelling on ground beef. The development of the strategy, the nationwide collaboration on fighting the proposed regulations and the degree to which lawmakers and the general public responded to the campaign were remarkable. In fact, I believe that the campaign was so successful and helped raise our industry’s profile to a level where we benefitted from positive press that we would not have otherwise had, in addition to successful outcome of avoiding the regulations.

The third highlight was MBP’s summer BBQ. The event had the feel of a high school reunion, where old friends come together and share stories. It was an opportunity to have a laugh and also meet new people, at a great venue with great food. I can see this event being a mainstay in the years going forward, providing another opportunity to learn and connect with the whole beef community.

Looking forward to 2023, I am excited and optimistic. Market fundamentals are pointing to further improvements to cattle prices for the long term. With tightening cattle supplies and strong domestic and global demand, I believe that we are on the verge of an extended period of strong profitability. Increasingly I think that the positive sustainability story of the cattle industry is starting to resonate with the public as they learn more about the key role that cattle play on the landscape. And while I know that climate change is adding to the risk in our industry, I am confident in Manitoba’s beef producers to rise to the challenge.

Finally, thank you to our producer members for your ongoing commitment to our organization. Thank you to the consumers who purchase our high quality beef products. Thanks to those throughout the value chain, the partner organizations and the academic community whose work helps to support and advance Manitoba’s beef industry. And, thank you to the elected officials and the government staff with whom we engage throughout the year to talk about both the issues and the opportunities affecting the sector. All these interactions are very important to Manitoba’s beef industry and this is truly appreciated.

TYLER FULTON, PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT

Hello producers and other industry stakeholders. Having been with Manitoba Beef Producers for more than three years now, I have come to expect the unexpected, and 2022 was no different. I’m going to briefly touch on some of the issues and opportunities we’ve been working on over the past year, and more details about some of our advocacy and outreach activities follow in this annual report.

We had another wild ride weather-wise in 2022, starting with a cold and snowy winter that taxed feed supplies, followed by several strong spring storms that hit in spring calving season, leading to animal losses and damages from excess moisture conditions and flooding. This was an extremely stressful time for producers who were doing their best to care for their cattle under very tough conditions. MBP advocated for and helped secure assistance though the Disaster Financial Assistance program for both livestock losses and infrastructure damage. There was one silver lining though as all that moisture helped recharge soil and groundwater resources after successive droughts, leading to a very productive pasture and forage season. Also on the disaster front, we worked with the federal and provincial governments to secure adjustments to the 2021 drought-related AgriRecovery initiatives to get more of producers’ extraordinary costs covered.

Having more responsive business risk management (BRM) programs is a key goal of MBP and other national and provincial cattle associations. This work ramped up in 2022 as governments negotiated the next policy framework (the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership) to replace the Canadian Agricultural Partnership which ends in March 2023. The beef sector has been seeking improvements to AgriStability to make the program more responsive to the cattle industry’s unique needs. It is essential our sector has BRM programs that place it on a level playing field with other commodities. If not, we run the risk of more land that is well suited to beef production being converted to other uses that are more profitable.

The beef sector also provides many ecosystem goods and services, such as carbon sequestration, protection of critical habitat for many plants and animals, and preservation of wetlands which are important to resiliency during floods and droughts. Governments are increasingly acknowledging the value of this natural capital in terms of strategies to deal with climate change, and the beef sector is seeking financial recognition of these ecological services that producers provide.

Collaboration on a variety of issues carried on in 2022. For example, MBP collaborated with the Canadian Cattle Association and other industry groups to get the federal government not to act on Health Canada’s proposed mandatory front of package (FOP) labelling regulations that would have seen ground beef sold at retail carry a “high in” saturated fat label. The beef sector – with the support of many consumers, successfully convinced the federal government to recognize that a single-ingredient product such as ground beef is a nutrient-dense, affordable protein source important to many families’ diets and exempted it from FOP labelling.

Collaboration was also seen on files such as the need to train and retain more veterinarians in rural Manitoba, with commodity organizations successfully advocating for the provincial government to commit to fund five more training seats for Manitoba students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Groups representing livestock that could be impacted by an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) have been asking the federal government to establish a Canadian FMD vaccine bank. Manitoba

agricultural organizations are also discussing other issues such as labour shortages and strategies needed to address them. And we work together to raise awareness of agricultural production in Manitoba, such as through participation in organizations like Agriculture in the Classroom – Manitoba and in events such as Discover the Farm.

MBP knows the importance of getting the next generation of producers coming along, as well as those who will pursue careers that help support the beef industry. In 2022 MBP increased the value of its annual scholarships so that six deserving recipients now receive $1,000 each toward pursuing a field of study related to agriculture or for acquiring a skilled trade or pursuing a career beneficial to the rural economy.

MBP covered a lot of other ground in 2022. For example, the provincial government continues to advance its Manitoba Protein Advantage Strategy. I have been participating in a component of that, Project ASPIRE: Accelerating Sustainable Protein Impact and Results. This involves the industry-led implementation of the Protein Advantage. MBP provided feedback as part of the federal consultations on fertilizer emissions, the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and the National Agricultural Labour Strategy. We provided input in advance of the provincial budget, we continued seeking changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program, and provided input as the province worked on a new water strategy.

A loosening of pandemic-related restrictions meant a welcome return to in-person events with the public and producers alike. This included our first summer producer-focused event held at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives’ Brookdale site where we had a chance for some in-person fellowship. It was also an opportunity to recognize former directors Peter Penner, Dianne Riding, Robert Metner, Kevin Duddridge and Jim Buchanan for their service to MBP. We look forward to more in-person events in 2023.

Doing all these advocacy and outreach activities takes the work of a highly dedicated team, including our board of directors and our staff. Thank you to all of them for pulling together as we worked to address the challenges that arose, as well as to get the message out there to elected representatives, policy makers and the general public about the very important role beef production plays in our province.

On a personal front, it was another busy year in the Callum house. Many thanks go out to my wife Britni and our sons Cohen and Sullivan for their love and support throughout the year.

Here’s to a great year in 2023, and hopefully the snow keeps building up towards the spring. I am very honoured to continue to work on behalf of Manitoba beef producers on many different opportunities and challenges.

Maureen Cousins Policy Analyst

Melissa Atchison Research and Extension Specialist

Deb Walger Finance

Jennifer Patryluk Administrative Assistant

Ray Bittner Livestock Predation Pilot Project Lead

David Hultin Communications and Marketing Lead & Editor, Cattle Country

CARSON CALLUM, MBP GM

YEAR IN REVIEW 2022

Executive Committee

Tyler Fulton

President

Melissa Atchison

Vice President until Oct., followed by Matthew Atkinson

Matthew Atkinson

2nd Vice President until Oct., followed by Mike Duguid

Mike Duguid

Secretary until Oct., followed by Arvid Nottveit

Mark Good Treasurer

Animal Health

Melissa Atchison

Chair until Oct., followed by Mary Paziuk

Mike Duguid

Vice-chair

Matthew Atkinson

Trevor Sund

AGM/Nominations/Resolutions

Nancy Howatt

Chair

Melissa Atchison

Vice-Chair until Oct., followed by Andre Steppler

Matthew Atkinson

Communications

Nancy Howatt

Chair

Andre Steppler

Vice-Chair

Crown Lands

Matthew Atkinson

Chair

Mark Good

Vice-Chair

Environment

Mike Duguid

Chair

Matthew Atkinson

Vice-Chair

Finance

Mark Good

Chair

Mary Paziuk

Vice-Chair

Governance

Arvid Nottveit

Chair

Alfred Epp

Steven Manns

Alfred Epp

Steven Manns

Mary Paziuk

Arvid Nottveit

Steven Manns

Mary Paziuk

Melissa Atchison until Oct.

Alfred Epp

Andre Steppler

Trevor Sund

Mike Duguid

Steven Manns

Arvid Nottveit

Vice-Chair

Nancy Howatt

Andre Steppler

Production Management

Mike Duguid

Chair

Trevor Sund

Vice-Chair

Research

Melissa Atchison

Who is MBP?

Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is the exclusive voice of the province’s cattle industry, representing approximately 6,000 producers in the cow-calf, backgrounding and finishing sectors. MBP is a non-profit organization with a producer-elected board of 14 directors representing different geographic areas of the province. Its vision is a vibrant, prosperous, respected, sustainable beef industry in Manitoba.

MBP’s mission is to represent the province’s beef producers through communication, advocacy, research, education, and leadership within the industry, to governments and to the public. These efforts take place to strengthen the sector’s viability, improve prosperity and ensure a sustainable future for the beef industry in Manitoba for the benefit of our beef producers and all Manitobans.

How is MBP’s work funded?

MBP’s activities are funded through the collection of check-off dollars. Two check-offs with a combined total value of $5.50/head are levied at the point of sale on all cattle sold in Manitoba. Of this, a $3/head mandatory, refundable provincial check-off goes toward financing MBP’s activities on behalf of the local beef industry, as well as its membership in organizations such as the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), the National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA) and others. MBP’s levy is collected under the authority of the Cattle Fee Regulation under The Cattle Producers Association Act, a piece of provincial legislation.

As well, a mandatory non-refundable $2.50/head Canadian Beef Cattle Check-off is collected on all cattle sold in Manitoba and the monies are transferred to the Canadian Beef Check-off Agency. Goals of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off are to increase sales of domestic and export beef and to find better and more efficient methods of producing beef and beef cattle. This checkoff provides industry funding for the Beef Cattle Research

Council which is responsible for the industry’s national research program, as well as Canada Beef for market development and promotion. Public and Stakeholder Engagement, which operates as a division of the CCA, is also funded through these check-off dollars.

For additional information about MBP’s 2021-22 financials, see page 10.

How are MBP’s activities organized and executed?

MBP’s activities are guided by the board of directors’ broad direction and executed by staff members and MBP’s Executive and Committee members. Full-time staff include general manager Carson Callum, policy analyst Maureen Cousins, communications and marketing lead David Hultin and research and extension specialist Melissa Atchison, who assumed that role in late October. Part-time staff are finance person Deb Walger and administrative assistant Jennifer Patryluk. At times MBP employs contract staff for certain initiatives, such as Ray Bittner who is project lead for the pilot Livestock Predation Prevention Project.

MBP also has two wholly owned subsidiary corporations – the Manitoba Livestock Cash Advance Program Inc. (MLCA) and Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Inc. (MBFI), each with their own independent staff and governance structure, but which do report information to MBP. Both the MLCA and MBFI boards of directors have representation from MBP’s board members.

MBP directors sit on internal committees where they provide input and help develop positions around specific types of issues or opportunities. Some committees serve an organizational function, such as helping to organize the district meetings and annual general meeting, or planning MBP’s participation in events and communications activities that promote the industry.

MBP is represented by directors or staff at several national and provincial organizations and external committees. This affords MBP the opportunity to bring forward Manitoba-specific perspectives on topics such as business risk management programs, traceability, animal care, research, trade, sustainability initiatives and more. Examples include:

Examples include:

• Assiniboine River Basin Initiative: Alfred Epp, Maureen Cousins

• Association of Manitoba Community Pastures: Carson Callum

• Beef Cattle Research Council: Melissa Atchison, Trevor Sund

• Canadian Beef Cattle Check-off Agency: Mary Paziuk

Alfred Epp

Mark Good

Arvid Nottveit

Chair until Oct., followed by Trevor Sund

Trevor Sund

Vice-Chair until Oct., followed by Mark Good

Matthew Atkinson

Mike Duguid

Nancy Howatt

• Canadian Cattle Identification Agency: Nancy Howatt

• Canadian Cattlemen’s Association: Tyler Fulton, Mike Duguid, Matthew Atkinson

• Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef: Maureen Cousins, Carson Callum

• Lake Manitoba Flood Rehabilitation Committee: Arvid Nottveit

• Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives: Matthew Atkinson, Melissa Atchison

• Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association: Mike Duguid

• Manitoba Livestock Cash Advance: Mark Good, Mike Duguid, Nancy Howatt, Steven Manns, Arvid Nottveit

• National Cattle Feeders Association: Audrey Kuik-Schweitzer, Carson Callum

• Verified Beef Production Plus Program: Alfred Epp

YEAR IN REVIEW 2022

Strategic direction

MBP’s activities focus around key objectives: telling the industry’s story via advocacy and enhanced communications; building the industry with innovation, improved economic competitiveness and profitability; and, serving MBP’s members by developing the organization and its capacity. These strategic objectives dovetail with MBP’s mission to strengthen the viability of Manitoba’s beef sector and to ensure a sustainable future for our province’s beef industry. The following is an overview of some of the key matters affecting Manitoba’s cattle industry in 2022 and activities undertaken by MBP in support of the sector.

Production Challenges and Associated Programs

In 2021, MBP advocated for and secured assistance through governments for producers dealing with severe drought conditions, such as help for water source development, opening up land for haying/grazing, and access to alternate feeds, among others. This was important both in 2021 and heading into the winter of 2022.

MBP also advocated with the federal and provincial governments to secure two key AgriRecovery drought aid programs. Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance helped producers purchase and test feed for livestock to maintain their breeding herds, including transporting purchased feed from distant locations. Livestock Transportation Drought Assistance offered assistance to help offset freight expenses associated with moving livestock to alternative feed supply areas.

Through late 2021 and early 2022 MBP sought AgriRecovery program adjustments to help ensure producers could offset the cost of as many drought-related expenses as possible. MBP proposed adding a producer self-declaration of extraordinary expenses that could include water hauling, labour and own equipment use, pasture rental beyond normal production needs, temporary fencing equipment to gain access to feed sources not normally used, feed transportation for distances lower than 40 km, and, feed processing, such as custom chopping costs not normally incurred.

In early 2022 MBP successfully helped secure assistance for several additional extraordinary expenses. This included adding feed additives and premixes as eligible expenses, retroactive to June 1, 2021. Other newly-eligible expenses related to rentals of additional crop or pasture acres, temporary fencing for supplemental grazing, hauling water, harvesting extra acres, and, hauling self-produced feed from distant locations.

Some producers downsized or liquidated in 2021 due to uncertainty about feed and water resources. However, some wished to re-stock or re-enter in the future and MBP sought a program to assist with this. A Herd Management Drought Assistance program was developed under AgriRecovery to help offset the cost of replacing breeding animals.

MBP thanks the federal and provincial governments for listening to our concerns about how to make the AgriRecovery programs more reflective of the different strategies producers used to source critical feed and water resources. According to Manitoba Agriculture’s 2021-22 Annual Report (for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022), 4,934 AgriRecovery Drought Assistance claims were processed for payment and forecast claims for the Canada-Manitoba AgriRecovery Drought Assistance Program for 2021/22 amounted to $94,649,000 in expenditures.

Beef producers were cautious heading into winter 2021-22, wondering if they had sufficient feed and water supplies. A very cold and snowy winter followed, with most areas of southern Manitoba facing their third highest snowfall since 1872. In spring more challenges arose. A series of Colorado low weather systems brought considerable wet snow and rain, much of it coinciding with spring calving. Despite producers’ best efforts, some calves and cattle were loss, and some operations sustained infrastructure damage.

MBP advocated with governments to provide assistance, as had been previously done for spring blizzard livestock mortalities, and for storm and flood damages. In early May the Manitoba government announced Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) for farms and others affected. This included assistance with verified livestock losses. MBP recognizes governments for this valuable support as well.

As difficult as the spring’s snowstorms and excessive rains proved to be, there was a silver lining. Surface and groundwater resources recharged after successive droughts, making for strong pasture and forage production, allowing producers to rebuild needed feedstocks in advance of winter 2022-23.

In terms of Manitoba’s herd size, according to Statistics Canada’s July 2022 Livestock Estimates report, there were 928,500 head on beef operations compared to 1,006,300 head in July 2021. There were 717,100 head on cow-calf operations, down 70,700 head year over year. There were 141,400 head on feeder and stocker operations, down 11,000. There were 70,000 head on feeding operations, up 4,000. Some of this downsizing could be attributed to the successive droughts.

BRM Programs and Other Risk Management Tools

During 2022 MBP provided feedback as the federal, provincial and territorial governments worked to develop the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), which replaces the Canadian Agricultural Partnership when it ends in March 2023.

MBP continued to advocate for business risk management (BRM) programs and other risk mitigation tools that place beef producers on a level playing field with other commodities. These tools must be affordable, equitable, simple to use, trigger in a timely fashion if needed, and there should also be flexibility to address specific sectoral needs. Governments have been examining alternative insurance mechanisms such as a new revenue insurance program, but nothing has been announced.

The beef industry has made several recommendations to make AgriStability more responsive, such as increasing the compensation rate and increasing the payment trigger. Also very important is the need to either remove or significantly increase the existing $3 million payment cap as it discriminates against larger cattle operations, such as feedlots.

MBP continued to advocate for Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) being made a permanent program, for it to be made available to producers in provinces where currently not available, and for it to have a cost-shared government premium contribution, not unlike that provided for grain and forage production insurance. Initiatives like these would help increase producer uptake in LPI and reduce risk. They would also create greater parity for cattle producers compared to the BRM tools available to the crops sector.

Regarding AgriInsurance, work has been undertaken in Manitoba to improve the suite of forage and pasture insurance offerings, but there is always room for adjustments to ensure programs are as responsive as possible and to encourage greater enrolment. For example, expanding the use of satellite and other weather-based technology could help address challenges such as the lack of individual farm insurance coverage for forages which currently impacts insurance decisions. MBP is participating in the Industry-Government Forage Insurance Task Team examining challenges with and potential improvements to forage insurance offerings.

The AgriRecovery framework has been a valuable tool for Manitoba producers affected by natural disasters, but some adjustments would be beneficial. For example, a major flood’s effects can be felt for several production cycles, such as lands remaining flooded or pasture or forage productivity being drastically reduced. MBP has asked that consideration be given to multi-year AgriRecovery programs in situations like these where the recovery process may not be confined to a single production season.

In terms of other tools, while beneficial, Manitoba’s latest natural disaster showed that the Disaster Financial Assistance program has some limitations. A number of adversely impacted beef operations, particularly feedlots were deemed ineligible due to the program’s $2 million annual gross revenue cap. MBP, along with other provincial and national cattle associations share similar concerns and are asking federal and provincial governments to revisit the revenue cap to ensure it better aligns with current farm operations.

Canada’s beef industry is also seeking changes to the federal Livestock Tax Deferral (LTD) Provision to make it more responsive to producers who sell part of their breeding herd due to drought or flooding in prescribed regions. Challenges include: the timeliness of the provision’s triggering; some affected producers being excluded because they fall outside the prescribed regions; and, it only applies to breeding animals. Amendments

would be required to The Income Tax Act to make some of these changes possible, such as allowing producers the ability to self-elect rather than rely on a geographic determination.

Throughout 2022 MBP had regular engagement with Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) about its programs and services, identifying areas where they could potentially be more responsive to beef sector needs. Examples of topics covered included: quality verification for ration formulation; the value of the 2021 quality adjustment process which provided beef producers with greater access to alternate feeds during the drought; potential options for improving starting coverages for forage producers; needs related to polycrop insurance coverage; the Pasture Days program; and Livestock Price Insurance, among others. MBP also works with MASC staff on the pilot Livestock Predation Prevention Program. There were some MASC program changes in 2022. MASC introduced Polycrop Establishment Insurance. There was an increase in limits on direct loans and stocker loans, as well as increased limits on the Manitoba Livestock Associations Loan Guarantee program, which encourages feeding cattle in the province.

Agricultural Crown Lands

Advocacy efforts continued around changes related to the modernization of the Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) Leasing Program, this time with new Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson who was appointed to that role in January 2022. Key focal points of MBP’s efforts included: requesting changes to the steep rental rate increase given its negative impact on lease holders; seeking the restoration of unit transfers; securing the right to informed access whereby those wishing to access ACL would need to notify the lease or permit holder prior to entry; ensuring there is adequate staff to administer all program elements, including monitoring and enforcement and providing technical guidance; and, seeking clarification around potential opportunities for interested lease holders to more swiftly purchase ACL parcels.

MBP welcomed Minister Johnson’s September announcement of a three-year temporary rent reduction on ACL based on feedback from MBP and other stakeholders and also in recognition of recent production challenges such as drought and excess moisture. This includes a 50 per cent reduction in 2023, a 33 per cent reduction in 2024 and a 15 per cent reduction in 2025.

At the same time Minister Johnson announced a public survey as part of its exploration of “other policy, program, regulation and service improvements to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agricultural Crown forage lands including mechanisms for leaseholders to invest in productivity and adjustments to the terms and conditions of leases.”

MBP participated in this consultation process as well, restating its recommendations on matters such as: informed access; compliance monitoring and enforcement; extending lease lengths to at least 20 years; making adjustments to the ACL lease and permit auction process to make auctions more responsive to bidders’ needs; and, addressing concerns of outgoing lessees about being able to recoup the value of their ACL improvements.

MBP has long sought government recognition and incentivization of the ecosystem services lease holders provide in managing more than one million acres of ACL, and it would like the forage rental rate formula revisited to reflect this. The current formula takes into account three variables: the average price of beef, the 3.5% calculated rate of return for private use of a public asset (which captures factors such as public good and land stewardship), and, the forage capacity of the land. MBP has recommended the 3.5% figure be adjusted to better account for the ecosystem services producers provide.

MBP had requested the creation of a designated ACL sustainability fund producers could access to implement cost-shared beneficial management practices (BMPs) to enhance the carrying capacity of the land or provide environmental benefits. MBP was pleased in October 2021 when the federal and provincial governments announced investments in a one-year Agricultural Crown Lands Forage Productivity Pilot Program tailored to lease holders to improve pasture productivity. Forty-three applicants received funding through CAP-Ag Action Manitoba to implement BMPs in 2022, totalling $733,000 and covering 27,605 acres of ACL.

YEAR IN REVIEW 2022

Wildlife Matters

Predation-related challenges pose a significant concern for Manitoba’s livestock producers who pride themselves on providing quality animal care and husbandry. MBP continues to advocate for strategies to help reduce the risk of negative wildlife-livestock interactions. MBP co-chairs the Livestock Predation Protection Working Group (LPPWG), which includes representatives from Manitoba Agriculture, MASC, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Manitoba Trappers Association and Manitoba Sheep Association (MSA).

In 2020 MBP received provincial government funding for the three-year pilot Manitoba Livestock Predation Prevention (LPPP) Project. Added funding for this work is coming from MBP and MSA. The three main aspects of the project include: On Farm Predation Risk Assessments; evaluating various Risk Management Practices (RMPs); and, communication of potential risks and the management practices that could help reduce risk. MBP hired Ray Bittner as the project lead.

In 2021 and 2022 project participants implemented a number of RMPs to test their effectiveness in reducing the risk of negative livestock-predator interactions. These included: game cameras, predator resistant pens, deadstock pens, solar foxlights, GPS collars, fladry wire, electronet, and veterinary assessments. One hundred risk mitigation projects were implemented involving 44 individual farms around Manitoba.

Field days were held in 2022 at the Ethelbert, Pansy and Mulvihill community pastures to convey information about predation management to producers, including insights from trappers. Project information was also shared with via Cattle Country, MBP’s website, media interviews and other avenues as they arose. A brochure – A Quick Guide to Actions When Livestock Are Attacked by Predators – was developed for producers. MBP thanks the participating cattle and sheep producers for their contributions to the project. Final stages of the project will be completed in 2023.

Wild pigs are another area of concern. Besides the significant damage wild pigs cause to pastures, forages, crops and wildlife habitat, they have been known to chase livestock, posing a threat to animal health and safety. Potential disease spread is another key concern. In 2022, Manitoba Pork, in partnership with the federal and provincial governments, and in collaboration with Manitoba’s agricultural sector, launched the Squeal on Pigs campaign as part of the Manitoba Invasive Swine Eradication Project. The campaign’s goal is to identify where wild pigs are found, control their spread, and remove as many as possible. MBP has contributed to these efforts by sharing information about the initiative and encouraging beef producers to report wild pig sightings.

Environment and Water-Related Matters

In its outreach to governments and the public, MBP continued to focus on communicating the positive environmental impact beef production plays related to soil health, carbon sequestration, and maintaining biodiversity on grasslands. The sector has a powerful story to tell in this area, and significant headway is being made on this with both consumers and policy makers.

For example, it is important beef production is maintained as it is part of the nature-based solutions governments are examining to address climate change and the risks associated with this, including more frequent droughts, floods and threats to biodiversity. However, competition for land is only growing, and more and more grassland is being converted to other uses, diminishing the aforementioned environmental benefits. MBP and others continue to identify with governments the threats associated with land conversion and possible strategies to help reduce this challenge. This could include leveling the playing field when it comes to disparities in BRM programs in the cattle sector versus other commodities. As well, there needs to be financial recognition of the array of ecological goods and services the beef industry provides.

MBP has sought increased government financial support toward cost-shared environmental beneficial management practices (BMPs), such as has been offered through Canadian Agricultural Partnership Ag-Action Manitoba program, as well the flexibility to add new cost-shared BMPs as required.

Water management remains a key area of focus. In recent years the Manitoba government has been working to update its provincial water strategy and MBP has been

YEAR IN REVIEW 2022

contributing to these consultations. Of particular importance to Manitoba’s beef industry is building resilience to a variable and changing climate as it pertains to water resources, and addressing water infrastructure challenges and opportunities. Timely construction and completion of critical water infrastructure projects is important to the sector, such as the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin outlet channels project. MBP has also cited the value of investments in rural water infrastructure for agricultural production. In late 2022 the provincial government released its new water management strategy and announced it is seeking feedback on the development of a water action plan to fulfill the strategy’s vision and objectives. MBP will participate in this consultation in early 2023.

In 2022 there was a continuation of funding through Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to provide producers with new opportunities and cost-shared funding to create and enhance species at risk (SAR) habitat on their lands. MBP has partnered with Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC) for the delivery of this important initiative. There are two core elements of this program. One is the implementation of BMPs (such as fending and watering systems, management of woody, invasive plants, etc.) on pasture lands in southwest Manitoba (“Keep Grazing” project). The second is SAR extension and BMP delivery across Manitoba through range management planning.

As well, MHHC – in partnership with Manitoba Beef Producers/Conservation Trust, SARPAL, ECCC, and The Weston Family Foundation have supported the Grassland Stewardship Program to provide nature-based approaches to climate change. In total, 165 agreements with over $1.9 million of landowner incentive payments were signed between 2019-2022. These actions will enhance over 68,000 acres of grasslands in Manitoba’s Mixed Grass Prairie to support sustainable cattle operations with a focus on the co-benefits from multispecies biodiversity.

Projects like these show that species at risk conservation and agricultural production can coexist. With the majority of native grasslands in Manitoba being managed by private landowners, these initiatives provide land stewards with tangible evidence that the public is willing to support and invest in the public good that results from their land management.

Animal Health and Care

MBP is one of a number of groups seeking strategies to address veterinarian shortages. MBP welcomed the provincial government’s commitment to fund the training of an additional five Manitoba students annually at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. These new intake seats will be targeted for an expansion of veterinary care for the agricultural sector. MBP believes the focus on recruiting students who have a direct interest and first-hand experience in working with animals, and who have been raised in a rural environment is important. MBP will continue to provide feedback on the importance of recruiting and retaining veterinarians and the allied staff who support them, as well as the value of the rural veterinary service districts and clinics.

Ensuring Canada’s beef industry is protected in the event of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) was a sectoral priority in 2022. MBP, along with the CCA and other industry associations has been advocating for the federal government to provide annual funding for the proposed Canadian FMD vaccine bank. Although Canada participates in the North American FMD vaccine bank with Mexico and the United States, in the event of an FMD outbreak this does not guarantee that Canada would be able to secure enough vaccine doses to meet its needs, hence the need for a Canadian vaccine bank.

MBP was pleased to be one of a number of entities providing financial support to the Manitoba 4-H Council toward the purchase of “Clover”, a Hereford Dystocia Simulator which includes a mock uterus, birthing canal and a realistically-sized calf model. It is a valuable instruction tool that can be used with 4-H members and with beef producers alike to demonstrate various calving scenarios.

At year’s end the beef sector was still waiting for the federal government to finalize expected changes around traceability/movement reporting for the livestock sector, such as move-in and move-out reporting requirements. These changes are intended to make traceability more accurate when issues arise, such as a disease trace-outs and the beef industry has been advocating to ensure any changes are least disruptive and burdensome to the sector.

As part of the changes to the federal regulations for the humane transport of livestock, there are new record keeping requirements for producers and commercial transporters. Producers who are transporting cattle to any destination where a change of ownership takes place, such as an auction mart or abattoir, must fill out a Transfer of Care (TOC) document to be handed to the receiver of the animals, who is responsible for their care from that point on. This applies whether you are hauling your own cattle, or a neighbor’s cattle to a place of commerce. The federal government did not provide a specific template for the TOR and the beef industry has asked for one to be created to ensure there is continuity of record keeping by all parties involved.

Building sectoral capacity: research

Among MBP’s strategic objectives are building Manitoba’s cattle industry through innovation, improved economic competitiveness and profitability. MBP strongly supports investments in research, innovation and knowledge transfer. Twenty three cents of every Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off (national check-off/NCO) dollar collected in Manitoba goes towards conducting and promoting research activities re: beef cattle, beef and beef products. See the Beef Cattle Research Council at www.beefresearch. ca for more details. A further 6.5 cents of every NCO dollar collected in Manitoba is retained for Manitoba projects that reflect MBP’s research priorities and which align to national priorities.

Over the past year, MBP’s direct investments and in-kind support have gone toward research projects such as: the Livestock Predation Prevention Project; expanding options for beef producers with dual-purpose grains; assessing the impacts of cattle grazing on the proliferation of foxtail barley in wet meadow rangeland communities; use of multispecies annual forage crops to promote healthy soil microbial communities and improve forage yield and sustainability; response of rangeland ecosystems to extreme drought; assessing the relationship between tick abundance on pastures and on cattle, and the risk ticks represent to cattle and livestock workers; a project re: cattle as a natural systems solution to effectively utilize resources and mitigate climate change; and, a study about the development of a new usage-based insurance (UBI) product related to forage crops.

MBP remains a key partner in Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Inc. (MBFI), the collaborative beef and forage research and demonstration farm at three sites in the Brandon area. The other partners are Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association and Ducks Unlimited Canada. MBP strongly believes the applied research and knowledge transfer activities being undertaken through MBFI can play a critical role in advancing Manitoba’s beef and forage industries, ensuring they are well positioned for future generations of producers.

Core funding for MBFI has been provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. As well, MBP provides financial, administrative and governance support to MBFI. Organizationally MBFI’s direction and activities are overseen by an elected board of directors which includes representation from MBP and producers. MBP thanks the core partners and all the other generous sponsors and contributors for their ongoing commitment to MBFI’s success. For more details on MBFI’s activities in 2022 see page 18 or visit www.mbfi.ca to learn more.

Telling our Story: Communications, Outreach and Sponsorship

MBP undertakes a range of activities aimed at communicating with its members as well as the public about various aspects of beef production.

With an easing in pandemic-related restrictions, MBP welcomed a return to in-person activities. For example, MBP took part in the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in March and Manitoba AG EX in October. MBP had the opportunity to set up displays at two Winnipeg Save-On-Foods locations in June, with beef tasting samples and conversations with consumers. MBP took part in Discover the Farm, a new one-day event at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre in September which offered a celebration of where our food comes from. MBP offered tasting samples and answered questions about beef production at this well attended event.

Also new in 2022, MBP hosted its first-ever summer engagement event and BBQ in July with producers and others at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives’ Brookdale site. Participants toured the research farm (of which MBP is a founding partner) and shared

fellowship, something that has been sorely missed due to the pandemic-related restrictions. MBP was pleased to have Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson speak, along with Wab Kinew, Leader of the Official Opposition, and local Member of Parliament Dan Mazier. MBP also recognized some recently retired directors and thanked them for their years of service.

MBP was involved in various radio, TV, social media, and other offerings.

Over the winter MBP joined the 4-H Manitoba Virtual Food Series where 40+ youth cooked ‘cowboy/cowgirl cupcakes’ over Zoom followed by a Q&A with MBP director Matthew Atkinson.

During the summer MBP participated in Bell Media’s Fields to Forks campaign to raise awareness of agriculture in Canada. The sector profile featured MBP director Mike Duguid and his granddaughter Keira of the Camp Morton area. This aired on CTV Winnipeg, on radio stations 103.1 Virgin Radio/99.9 Bounce FM/1290 Funny and the digital content was posted to the campaign’s website.

The fall featured a series of commercials on radio station QX104FM.

On the food front, MBP welcomed Anna Borys as the organization’s new food expert. She represented MBP as it continued its longstanding participation in Great Tastes of Manitoba (GTOM), a popular cooking show on CTV Winnipeg that just completed its thirty-third season. Videos involving two Manitoba beef-producing families accompanied the two beef GTOM episodes when they aired, providing viewers with the farm to table connection. This season’s participants included the Hamilton family from the Glenboro area and the Zuk family from the Arborg area. Liam and Andrea Hamilton spoke to how their production practices are targeted at mimicking natural ecosystems. Theresa Zuk is an advocate for mental wellness and spoke to the importance of people reaching out for help if they need it. Public reaction to these webisodes was extremely positive. Access these webisodes, along with GTOM episodes and recipes at greattastes.mb.ca

Media engagement is vital to MBP’s advocacy work. In 2022, there were approximately 186 digital or print stories, TV and radio interviews involving contributions from MBP directors or staff. Topics covered ranged from the spring storms and flooding, to the front of package labelling debate the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program, the shortage of veterinarians, livestock predation, environmental matters, animal health, the next Agricultural Policy Framework, and more.

Collaboration is important when it comes to MBP’s ability to engage with diverse audiences. For example, MBP has a longstanding relationship with Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba (AITC-M) and was a Cultivator level supporter in 2022. Its work focuses on providing accurate, balanced and current information for use as education resources in school curriculum and on enhancing awareness of agriculture in schools. MBP is also a supporter of the Manitoba 4-H Council as 4-H activities are important to the children of many Manitoba cattle producers.

Member communications efforts remained a priority too. A primary outreach vehicle continues to be our newspaper Cattle Country which is distributed to producers, value chain members, government officials and others eight times annually. Subscribers to our biweekly e-newsletter continue to grow, as do the number of people gleaning information through our social media channels. To sign up for the e-newsletter contact MBP Communications & Marketing Lead David Hultin at dhultin@mbbeef.ca. You can also follow us on Facebook or on Twitter. In November MBP added a producer-focused Instagram account - check it out at: https://instagram.com/manitobabeef/. We appreciate the engagement through these channels.

Governance

Over the past couple of years the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association (operating as MBP) undertook a review of its administration by-law and recommended some amendments, the latest of which were considered at the 43rd MBP AGM in February 2022.

YEAR IN REVIEW 2022

AGM delegates approved amendments allowing for the option of one additional term of service for an interested MBP director. This means a director can now serve up to four consecutive two-year terms on MBP’s board, provided they remain eligible to serve.

A provision was added to the by-law around appointments to external committees. MBP’s board of directors may permit, from time to time, members who are in good standing in accordance with the by-law to represent the Association on provincial, national and other boards.

And, the list of 14 districts in the by-law has been updated to reflect municipal amalgamation processes that took place in recent years, including local government name changes. This also led to a slight reconfiguration of the local governments comprising Districts 5, 7, 8 and 13. The updated districts configuration list is available on MBP’s website.

Potential Extension of KAP Levy to Beef Sector

In late August Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), one of Manitoba’s general farm organizations advised MBP it was seeking to expand collection of its annual membership fee (as per the Agricultural Producers’ Organization Funding Act) to more commodities, including cattle. Parties that could be affected, such as auction marts and order buyers were alerted in mid-August. MBP was not consulted about this and does not support this approach. MBP has and will continue to provide feedback to KAP leadership about the potential implications such an extension of levy collection would have on Manitoba’s beef sector and MBP.

Serving our members: looking ahead

MBP will continue to advocate on behalf our members as we work to advance Manitoba’s beef industry in 2023. This will include continued work on key files such as business risk management tools, the environment, animal care, agricultural Crown lands, water management, livestock predation, public trust and more. There will be a provincial election in the coming year, and MBP will provide feedback to the political parties on beef industry priorities.

MBP will also be marking the 25th anniversary of our newspaper Cattle Country. It has been a reliable source of local beef industry information for its varied readers, including producers, elected officials, government staff, value chain members and others. The ongoing support of the readers and the advertisers has been integral to its success over two and a half decades.

MBP thanks our producer members for their ongoing support. Moving the dial on policy issues is not always swift or easy, but your insights and support of our advocacy efforts is sincerely appreciated.

Similarly, MBP appreciates the collaborative efforts between the various industry associations and other value chain members to help the sector respond to various challenges that may arise, such as natural disasters. This level of cooperation has been invaluable. And, MBP thanks elected officials and government staff at all levels for ongoing engagement on issues and opportunities affecting Manitoba’s beef industry.

As always, our organization is stronger when we hear from our members, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 1-800-772-0458 or via info@mbbeef.ca.

For more information, please visit MBP’s website at www.mbbeef.ca.

The information below is excerpts from MBP’s audited financial statement for the 2021-22 fiscal year as prepared by accounting firm MNP. To get a copy of the complete statement, contact the MBP office.

Non-Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at June 30, 2022

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Non-Consolidated Statement of Operations

Over the last year in 2022, Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI) saw the start of all new on-farm research demonstration studies, the re-opening of in-person events, and the launch of our Beef & Forage Roundup Podcast.

As a not-for-profit research and demonstration farm in partnership with Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA), and Manitoba Agriculture (MB Ag), we were well positioned to quickly adapt to changing guidelines to being host events again and support collaborators in their research needs.

The 2022 MBFI Board Directors was confirmed at our June Annual General Meeting including: Tracy Gilson (Chair; P.Ag. retired), Kristine Tapley (Vice Chair; P.Ag. DUC, beef producer), Tyler Fewings (Treasurer; P.Ag, beef producer), Melissa Atchison (MBP, beef producer), Matthew Atkinson (MBP, beef producer), Lawrence Knockaert (MFGA, dairy farmer), and Laura Plett (beef producer). MBFI is looking forward to continued work with outgoing director Melissa Atchison in her new position as MBP Research and Extension Specialist.

The backbone of day-to-day operations is MBFI’s staff Leah Rodvang, Clayton Robins, and Chantel McRae, with a big thank you to Ron Kristjansson who joined the team on a term contract until September. We are thrilled to have McRae join us this year in developing and hosting the Beef & Forage Roundup Podcast. The summer student cohort included Oksana Iwanchysko, and returning students Maeghan McDonald, Lauren McKee, and Josie Pedersen. This is a fantastic group of up-and-coming professionals that built on previous experience to excel in farm and field research work.

MBFI is deeply appreciative of our dedicated Board of Directors, Partner & Research Advisory Committees, staff, summer students, and collaborators that have contributed their time and worked diligently to fulfill our mission to advance Manitoba’s beef and forage industry by engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. In short, our mission is to Engage, Evaluate, and Extend

Engage

MBFI works to engage stakeholders in beef and forage production to build relationships across industry, educational centres, producers, youth, and the public. MBFI is delighted to partner with a diverse range of stakeholders to create opportunities for hands-on learning, build public awareness of agriculture, and collaborate in on-farm research project development. Highlights from 2022 include youth and young adult learning events with 4-H Manitoba, Assiniboine Community College (ACC), and DUC’s National Youth Advisory Council.

Hands-on learning with 4-H Manitoba showcased Clover, the full-sized cow dystocia model, in May for Beef Day and in October for a Senior Beef workshop. During the Beef Day 4-H members learned about the calving process and techniques to assist in-utero malpresentation, carcass ultrasound, low-stress handling, and forage quality. We were excited to host and share our career stories with youth across the province for the 4-H Agri-Career Quest in October. MBFI continues to be impressed with the high caliber of youth in 4-H Manitoba programs and looks forward to future opportunities.

Over the school year MBFI has guest lectured and hosted ACC student field trips in the Agribusiness, Communications Engineering Technology (CET), Geographic Information Systems, and Land & Water programs of study. Three ACC Capstone Student Projects were completed in the spring of 2022 including Joshua Gonzales Sadiamona’s Land & Water program project in bat habitat restoration. In the CET program Michael Goertzen and Ryan Kopytko developed a Rural Outdoor Wide-Area-Network for farm internet connectivity. In the fall of 2022, Jami Macnaughton was starting a Land & Water Capstone project to develop a decision tool for selecting annual forage and cover crop species.

Evaluate

Evaluation of on-farm innovations and proposed beneficial management practices at MBFI’s farm stations provide a place to see practices in action and a basis of observed data for management decisions to support industry and the environment. In the 2022 field season there were four Tier I demonstration projects, designed as case studies, and four Tier II projects designed with randomized treatment replication and or control treatment. There were also six active academic research studies carried out at MBFI farm stations over the last year.

Study topics include continued work on strategic herd development, annual forages in diverse mixtures for greenfeed production and grazing, regeneration of saline areas, comparing different forage mixes for sod seeding in a marginal pasture, forage species demonstration plots at both the Brookdale Farm and First Street pasture, biocontrol of leafy spurge, comparing the impact of grazing at different utilization and rest periods, and, overall benchmarking of soil health, pasture health, and livestock performance.

As a component of a Canadian Agricultural Partnership strategic grant, MBFI has created capacity for precision ranching tools in livestock and crop monitoring research equipment. Investment in research tools and new technologies is focused on addressing current gaps in capacity and on creating opportunities beyond current projects to attract researchers and incentivize innovative studies. Virtual fencing is one highlight that we will be excited to showcase at MBFI as the technology becomes commercially available in Canada.

Extend

Extension and knowledge transfer programming at MBFI is founded in on-farm research and demonstration studies to promote excellence, efficiency, and sustainability of practices. Over 2022, an increased emphasis was placed on in-person events with the opening of pandemic-related restrictions. In partnership with Manitoba Agriculture and DUC, MBFI hosted a Grazing Workshop series from May to August featuring grazing principles with Steve Kenyon, fence and water solutions, pasture and soil health with Dr. Abbey Wick and Mae Elsinger, and grazing annual forages with Dr. Kevin Sedivec and James Frey. A highlight of the summer was the social networking at the MBP producer BBQ in July with recognition of past MBP directors.

Through the Farmers for Climate Solutions Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM), MBFI was eager to work with Manitoba grazing mentors Cameron Hodgins, Ron Moss, and Jonathan Bouw in collaboration with Manitoba Agriculture to deliver the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association’s Advanced Grazing Systems resources. It was wonderful having the opportunity to tour the Hodgins Farm, the West Interlake Watershed District field tour, and Edie Creek Grazing & Genetics Tour. The FaRM program supported one-on-one time with mentors and workshops focused on grazing plan development in September and November in Dauphin and the MBFI Learning Centre.

MBFI has been delighted to be meeting producers again through our booth displays at Ag in Motion, Ag Ex, and the Manitoba Association of Watersheds conference. It was also fantastic to have the opportunity to provide an update during MBP district meetings in Stonewall, Ashern, Miniota, Deloraine, and online. Thank you to all the producers and industry members that shared your questions and ideas on a wide array of topics, we look forward to continuing the farmer directed focus in all our work.

Looking forward to 2023, MBFI is eager to share findings, continue building partnerships, and delivering extension programing. Regular episodes of the Beef & Forage Roundup Podcast are released on the first and third Wednesday of the month, so be sure to listen, download and subscribe to keep up to date with project updates and industry news. Events are already off to the races in January with MBP calving workshops, Manitoba Agriculture Beef & Forage Days, followed by Ag Days. MBFI is also thrilled to partner with DUC for an inaugural Women in Beef evening networking event in January.

For more information or to start a conversation please email MBFI at information@ mbfi.ca or call at 204-761-3300.

DR. MARY-JANE ORR, MBFI GENERAL MANAGER

REPORT FROM

CANADIAN CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Last year ended on a very difficult note. The Canadian cattle community lost a tremendous leader, mentor, and friend, with the sudden passing of Reg Schellenberg, President of the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA).

Reg’s leadership and passion for our industry will be missed around the board table and at industry meetings and events. He cared about issues and worked hard for the betterment of our industry. His goal was to leave a vibrant industry for the generations to come. His legacy and contributions will be felt for many years.

I never imagined that this is how I would become CCA President. But I share the same passion as Reg for our cattle industry and it is an honour for me to lead an organization with such a strong and rich history. It’s important to me and our entire board that we move forward on the important work that CCA undertakes on behalf of cattle producers across Canada. We will be a strong voice on the issues that matter the most. Our board members and staff are committed to making positive things happen for our industry.

I am pleased to report to you for the first time as CCA President and share a few key highlights of the work undertaken by CCA in 2022.

CCA’s 90th Anniversary

This year marks CCA’s 90th anniversary and I am proud of our organization’s rich history. It is important for us to look at our past successes and how we overcame past challenges to guide our industry to new heights. To commemorate this milestone, a series of vignettes highlighting the defining milestones of our organizations and industry will be released in early 2023.

Adverse Weather

The impacts of adverse weather – drought to flooding to Hurricane Fiona – remain top of mind at CCA. To help with decision-making during urgent times of need, CCA continues to advocate for producers to have the ability to self-elect rather than rely on a geographic determination to access the Livestock Tax Deferral provision. In addition, we are requesting an amendment to the definition of “breeding animals,” cited in the federal Income Tax Act, so it includes all classes of cattle and not just the breeding herd.

CCA’s work on forage insurance continues through our involvement in the IndustryGovernment Forage Insurance Task Team. The team, made up of representatives from provincial crop insurance agencies, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the beef, dairy and forage sectors, is working to improve the uptake of forage insurance. The Task Team is chaired by CCA’s Ryder Lee, with Tyler Fulton representing the interests of Manitoba cattle producers. The team will report its findings in early 2023.

Don’t Label My Beef

This past spring, it was all hands on deck at CCA when it came to engaging Members of Parliament (MPs), Senators, officials at Health Canada, and consumers on the proposed regulatory change that would have seen a warning label for saturated fat placed on ground beef.

This successful outcome was made possible with the help of our provincial member associations, who shared our industry’s collective concerns with provincial government officials, as well as with local and regional media outlets. We are also humbled by the strong support that we received from Canadians, who sent thousands of letters to MPs across the country. In the process, we established an important connection on the nutritional value of beef in kitchens from coast to coast to coast. This initiative was truly a #teambeef effort and a win for the entire industry!

CCA’s new brand is here

In early July, CCA was proud to launch its new brand as the Canadian Cattle Association, paying tribute to our past, while looking ahead to the future. Our new logo is inspired by the key elements of importance to our organization: Our country, our cattle, and our environment.

The new brand will help open new opportunities to continue to tell our industry’s positive story when it comes to our environment, our economy, and our future as a country.

Trade Updates

International trade continues to be a key factor in our industry’s success. 2021 was the sixth year in a row of hitting record export values. In 2021, producers gained $1,044 CDN per animal through selling in international markets. As of June 2022, total beef and live cattle exports have reached $3 billion CDN. We continue to see increased growth in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia markets. Our staff is engaged in the ongoing free trade negotiations with the United Kingdom, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Indonesia.

The announcement of the Indo-Pacific Strategy in November was good news for the Canadian beef industry. It prioritizes trade and agriculture, and included key recommendations shared by CCA. CCA looks forward to participating in Minister-led trade missions with the goal of facilitating long-term trade and investment opportunities and working with the new agricultural office in the region on preventing and resolving non-tariff barriers proactively and quickly.

Priorities heading into next year

The release of the next federal budget is around the corner and with the Winter Session of Parliament set to resume on January 30, 2023, CCA will keep up advocacy efforts on our key budget recommendations which will help ensure growth and innovation in our sector. These asks include an investment by the Government of Canada in a Canadian FMD vaccine bank is a critical component in preventing catastrophic losses to the sector and the broader Canadian economy should FMD occur in our country.

We are monitoring developments concerning the rollout of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), with our attention focused on enhancements to the business risk management (BRM) suite of programs and actively participating in the consultation process on the review of the AgriStability program. We are pushing back on adding an environmental objective to BRM programming as this will inevitably increase the complexity of already complicated programs.

Showcasing the great work cattle producers are doing across the country through a digital campaign will continue in 2023. The campaign is aimed at raising awareness amongst decision-makers and Canadians about how sustainable cattle production is a part of the climate change solution. We are proud to share our story. If we don’t tell our story, we know someone else will.

You can count on us to be at the table representing your interests and ensuring the best outcome possible for cattle producers across Canada, whether it is at home or on the international stage.

NATHAN PHINNEY, CCA PRESIDENT

Tyler Fulton (far right) at FPT ministers' meeting

Reg Schellenberg

REPORT FROM

CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION AGENCY

In-house distribution brings tags closer to industry

In early July, CCIA’s Distribution Center officially opened for business, opening doors to producers to access all approved CCIA tags on the market at competitive prices. With tags now in-house, there is a direct line with manufacturers, which helps issues get resolved as quickly as they arise and ultimately promotes a higher level of service to industry.

After launch, one of our first priorities was to catch up on backorders and build up tag inventory well in advance of the Fall run. By the end of summer, almost all backorders had been filled and the warehouse shelves were sufficiently stocked and ready to meet anticipated demand.

Ultimately, our goal in cutting out the distribution middleman was to keep revenues closer to home, improve access to all tags and accessories and promote efficiencies that are most important to industry, such as issue resolution and product delivery. One of the new benefits that has received acclaim from local producers and dealers is the option to pick up orders in person at the warehouse in Calgary.

Aligned with the Distribution Centre initiative was a revamp of tags.canadaid.ca –industry’s online webstore, designed to provide a seamless shopping experience for all tag purchasers. As more and more producers make the shift to self-serve ordering, feedback indicates that clients enjoy the convenience of being able to order from anywhere, anytime and they appreciate the value of a speedy delivery straight to their mailbox.

UHF tag numbers now supported in CLTS

Responding to a need brought forward by industry and under the direction of the CCIA Board of Directors, on November 10 CCIA announced the launch an initiative that links non-approved Ultra High Frequency Technology (UHF) secondary tags to approved CCIA tags in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS), database. This new feature allows UHF users to link the UHF tag to the CCIA tag, so when either tag is read, it points to the same animal in the database.

UHF technology is of interest to some segments of the industry where the technology is being leveraged for better record keeping. Key features of a UHF technology-based system include a longer read range and the ability to read many tags at once, making handling more efficient.

This new feature in the CLTS was made possible with the financial support of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada under the AgriAssurance Program.

CCIA Board elects new members

At April’s Annual General Meeting, CCIA elected a new Executive Committee chaired by Lyle Miller, representing Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association. Other Executive include Vice Chairman Howard Bekkering of Alberta Beef Producers; Finance Chairman Dr. Oliver Schunicht, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association; Ivan Johnson, Maritime Beef Council; and Ken Perlich, Livestock Markets Association of Canada. We also welcomed the following new Board Members; Matt Bowman and Brad Osadczuk - both representing CCA; David Saretsky, Canadian Livestock Dealers Association; and Associate Member Shawn Wilson of Canadian Beef Breeds Council.

The balance of the CCIA Board remains the same with Don Hargrave, Beef Farmers of Ontario; Duncan Barnett, British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association; Yvonne Mills, Canadian Bison Association; representing Canadian Meat Council, Cam Daniels and Kim O’Neil; Corlena Patterson, Canadian Sheep Federation; Sylvain Bourque, Les Producteurs de bovins du Québec; Nancy Howatt, Manitoba Beef Producers and Shane Jahnke, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association.

CCIA partners with Cargill to promote sustainable beef

We are thrilled to become the chain of custody verification provider for Cargill’s delivery of the Certified Sustainable Beef Framework, established by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. CCIA and Cargill entered into a service agreement in (2022) that enabled all ear tag birthdates and movements recorded in the CLTS to be recognized when confirming eligibility of cattle harvested at either of Cargill’s two Canadian abattoirs. As part of the agreement, Cargill receives sustainability qualification status directly from CCIA for all processed ear tags of age-verified cattle.

CLTS enhancements progressed through the year

We are always looking for ways to enhance the functionality of the CLTS and leverage technology to help manage and protect the data. Here is a summary of some key enhancements which took place throughout the year.

Notably in 2022, the business rules regarding Age Verification were modified. Birthdate information entered after the animal is 9 months of age is identified with a note “Entered or modified after the animal was 9 months of age.” Also, additional tutorials for event submission directly online and birth date certificates were developed.

Your feedback is important

Board members and staff are always looking for ways to improve our service and support, and value your feedback. Please contact a director or the CCIA office any time at 1-877-909-2333 or info@canadaid.ca.

CCIA Board Chair, Lyle Miller of Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association

ANNE BRUNET, GM

Alex Timmer, CCIA Distribution Manager puts away the first shipment of tags in the CCIA warehouse.

Some of the CCIA Team on hand when the first shipments arrived in early July.

REPORT FROM

JEFF SMITH , CBCA CHAIR

Last fiscal year, April 1 2021 to March 31, 2022, the total revenue for the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency was $18,875,500 on cattle marketed, net of the provincial portion of the federal levy.

The total check-off funds collected from cattle marketings were allocated as:

• 55 percent to market development and promotion

27 percent to research

• 12 percent retained by provincial cattle associations for regional marketing and research

• 6 percent to public and stakeholder engagement

The import levy on beef cattle, beef and beef products imported into Canada was collected at a rate of $1 per head equivalent, for a total of $1,065,008. These funds, net administration, are allocated to unbranded, generic beef marketing such as nutrition marketing, recipe development and culinary skills education.

$675,464 was spent on the administration of the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency and the Board, which was under budget by $200,686.

With the continuation of interrupted business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was up to the Agency to find ways to ensure that business could continue as usual, while reducing time in the office and face-to-face meetings as much as possible. The Agency held over 30 virtual board and committee meeting in the past 12 months, but the level of engagement of Agency and Committee Members stayed strong, proving that meeting remotely allowed Members to accomplish more with less. The Agency made a partial shift back into the office and in-person meetings, and will continue to find the right balance to be as efficient as possible, while fostering a culture of collaboration and transparency.

Through the increased board engagement, the Agency was able to develop a new set of strategic five-year goals. It includes many aspects of the Agency’s business, including succession planning both at a board and staff leadership level, obtaining national treatment with check-off collection and the import levy, a strong plan for the growth of the Agency’s audit and inspection program, and a strategic communications program that will gain strength over the next five years.

The Agency focused again on regulatory compliance of both check-off and import levy collections. Two new inspectors were trained for the Agency’s audit and inspection program, which works on improving remittance compliance through an “education first” approach with a combination of field inspections and desk audits.

The Agency is now also managing the administration and collection of the pork import levy in Canada, which serves as a new source of revenue for the Agency. By working closely with the Canadian Pork Promotion and Research Agency (PPRA), it was determined that the processes and procedures in place at the Agency, as well as the relationships already formed with importers, would make for a simplified process in the collection of both levies by the same organization. The Agency signed a service agreement and began setting up the pork import levy process in 2021, and will be going live with collections in 2022.

The Agency also completed another study to evaluate the benefits of the beef check-off in Canada, with the results ready just after the close of the fiscal year. For this study, a new methodology was put place by new researchers, and involved the analysis of more data

than ever before in these studies. Ultimately, researchers found that the total benefit-cost ratio of the check-off and import levy in Canada was $33:1, which shows there is strong value for the investments made into the Canadian beef industry. More details on the methodology and results can be found online at cdnbeefcheckoff.ca/value.

The Agency Committees continue to work on developing policies and procedures to ensure the organization remains relevant, engaging and actively represents the unique needs of Canadian beef producers and importers. The Agency recently made changes to the bylaws, ensuring that the operation of the organization meets the unique needs and mandates of industry stakeholders. Bylaw changes strengthened governance around succession planning and committee appointments, as well as opening the door to a broader range of skilled industry players to be nominated for Agency and Marketing Committee roles.

The Agency continues to deliver on the business plans and strategies developed by the Agency Members representing producers, processors, importers and retail/foodservice sectors.

The Agency moves through 2022/23 fiscal year with goals to administer the Agency with separate and distinct governance, reduce check-off slippage, and reach out to more Canadian producers about the mechanics and value of the national check-off. The Agency Members approved a 2022/23 administration budget at $917,000, with $45,000 in additional revenue coming from the administration of Canada’s pork import levy, and an additional $70,000 to be invested from the Agency’s surplus into measurable tactics and programs. The $115,000 in additional revenue and the estimated $802,173 from administration revenue balances the Agency’s budget.

The Agency’s programs will support the operations and Board, as well as the Agency’s four strategic objectives:

Sound Governance and Administration

• Structured Reporting and Compliance

• Educated and Engaged Stakeholders

• Strategic Communications and Collaboration

Sound Governance and Administration

The current governance structure the Agency is managed under provides clear direction for both the Agency and its Committees, and continues to move forward on a path of stronger governance and operational separation from the internal marketing division of the organization. The Marketing Committee is fully functional and evolving to tap into the expertise of its entire membership and continues to operate independently, but still under the general oversight of the Agency. Five years into the new structure, the Agency will now undertake a structural review to ensure that the current setup of the Marketing Committee meets the needs that it was initially created to meet.

Structured Reporting and Compliance

The Agency’s inspection program will continue to grow in 2022/23, especially if COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed this year, allowing inspectors to become more visible during routine audits areas where slippage is a known issue across provincial borders. Additional inspectors have been added to the Agency, allowing a more widespread footprint from coast to coast. The Agency’s appointed inspectors will work closely with provincial cattle associations to ensure aligned priorities and transparent audits.

Engaged and Educated Stakeholders

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Agency and kicks off a five year lead up to the 25th anniversary celebration. The Agency will launch a new youth engagement strategy to help usher in a new generation of beef industry stakeholders, all while honoring and respecting the path that has led the Agency to its current role. This new engagement strategy will include outreach and communications, as well as an inward look to bring on a youth observer for a fresh perspective and linkage back to emerging industry leaders.

Strategic Communication and Collaboration

The Agency will ensure that Canadian beef producers have accessible information and resources to show the value of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off. This will come in the form of an enhanced online presence, the development of print tools and resources available on multiple platforms, in-person presentations, and by providing simple forums for producers to communicate with those who are administering and investing their check-off dollars.

Over the past year Canadian cattle feeders have faced serious challenges with drought, difficulty accessing feeds, transportation disruptions and pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All of these have had significant economic impacts on producers. NCFA works hard with government and other stakeholders to find practical and reasonable solutions.

NCFA’s dedicated directors, talented staff and committed team of consultants made considerable efforts throughout this year. Together they have been able to address and resolve many of the issues facing the fed cattle industry today and their collective efforts have positioned NCFA to be a strong influence with industry stakeholders that results in positive support of the agriculture sector across the country.

NCFA is governed by an eight-member board that includes seven directors appointed by our provincial member organizations, plus another director representing the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). Each province also appoints a staff representative to work with the board and execute our collective decisions and priorities. NCFA maintains an effective and ongoing presence in Ottawa through a highly dedicated team of consultants who lend their expertise and advice on our various political, regulatory and policy issues. 2023 should be a strong year as NCFA’s key consultant, CJ Noble, will be moving to a full-time staff position, giving NCFA a greater presence in Ottawa. NCFA has also added a Communications Manager and is in the process of hiring a Director Regulatory and Environment that will round out the staff, giving NCFA a large presence in the industry.,

REPORT FROM

NATIONAL CATTLE FEEDERS’ ASSOCIATION

JAMES BEKKERING, NCFA BOARD CHAIR

• Seeking resources for a Canadian foot and mouth vaccine bank and preparedness strategy

• Actively lobbying government on labour shortages, access to innovation, balanced environmental measures, business risk management changes, rural infrastructure and transport requirements (for drivers and livestock)

• NCFA President & CEO Janice Tranberg was invited to co-chair the industry-government Animal Protein Roundtable

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

NCFA was very active on its federal engagement in 2022 through continued outreach and connection with Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), Senators, political staff, public servants and government regulators. Through building and nurturing relationships with key decision makers, NCFA is well positioned to influence policy, regulatory and legislative direction. Federal engagement this year included:

• Ongoing meetings throughout the year with MPs, Senators, senior government officials and leadership candidates (45 MPs/Senators and 20 government officials)

A feedlot tour for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (Marie-Claude Bibeau) and her staff, as well as feedlot tours for MPs and government officials in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec

• Appearances or submissions to:

The House of Commons Committee on Agriculture (carbon tax)

– The House of Commons Committee on Transport (labour shortages, supply chain)

The House of Commons Committee on Environment (methane emission innovations)

– The House of Commons Trade Committee (current trade priorities)

• A written submission to the House of Commons Committee on Finance on NCFA priorities for the Federal Government 2023 Budget

Numerous policy and regulatory submissions to the federal government on NCFA priorities including feed, transport, labour, climate, business risk management

• The annual Ottawa lobby week – meeting with over 30 MPs, Senators and political staff

• Youth delegates attended the annual lobby week and NCFA board meeting in Ottawa, Minister Bibeau also attended the NCFA board meeting

• Actively engaged through social media to influence government and public opinion – In the past year gained 166 new Twitter followers and had 58,437 tweet impressions

KEY RESULTS

This year the cattle industry faced a number of challenges – challenges that NCFA and its members have addressed with strategic resilience. In partnership, we have delivered meaningful solutions to Canadian cattle feeders, and worked to minimize the impact of challenges and harness opportunities for growth and competitiveness for Canadian fed cattle producers. NCFA action on key issues include:

• Successfully advocating for a timely resolution to the CP Rail strike and overall supply chain barriers

• Halting Health Canada’s proposed requirement for front-of-package (FOP) warning labels on ground beef

• Supporting the successful movement of legislation to expand the carbon tax exemption to all farm fuels

• Tyson agreed to use NCFA’s FLAT program in Canada in place of their own Farm Check Audit when auditing Canadian feedlots

• NCFA’s Feedlot Animal Care Assessment tool received Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) certification for the fifth year in a row

• Guidance on animal transport and transfer of care (with CFIA), including a transfer of care checklist

• Working on a methane reduction strategy by supporting innovation in feeds including the many advantages that gut modifiers, like 3-nitrooxypropanol (3NOP) and other feed additive companies, have for cattle health and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation

• Securing ongoing improvements to the temporary foreign workers program and permanent residency pathways while advocating for a meaningful agriculture labour strategy

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATION

NCFA has always believed that industry collaboration—multiple voices speaking with consistent, coherent, and complimentary messaging—strengthens Canada’s beef industry by increasing leverage with government and encouraging action on our critical concerns and priorities. Throughout 2022, NCFA worked with our industry partners on numerous working groups across a wide range of issues including GovernmentIndustry Working Group on Animal Health Canada, Government-Industry Working Group on Animal Transport Regulations, Government-Industry Working Group on BSE Negligible Risk Status (application to OIE) and Government-Industry Working Group on FMD Preparedness.

NCFA and its members identify the issues that are of greatest importance to fed cattle producers and ensure we are the lead voice in Ottawa on those priorities. We then partner with other national beef organizations and agencies and a multitude of government agencies to provide a key perspective to issues that cut-across the beef value chain or across the entire agriculture sector.

The National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA) serves as a unified voice for Canada’s fed cattle producers. Our membership is comprised of provincial beef organizations from Canada’s major cattle feeding regions, each of which contributes funding to NCFA based on their province’s proportionate share of total fed cattle production.

NCFA meets with Minister Bibeau.

THE BEEF CATTLE RESEARCH COUNCIL

CRAIG LEHR , BCRC CHAIR

Beef Producer National Check-Off Investments in Research

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is Canada’s industry-led funding agency for beef, cattle and forage research, funded in part through a portion of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off.  The BCRC is led by a 15-member Council, comprised of 14 producers representing each of the provincial producer organizations that allocate part of the National Check-Off to research, plus one member at large.

In 2021/22, the BCRC received on average $0.67 of every $2.50 of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off collected by the provinces. This funding was leveraged with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Beef Cluster funding, where industry contributed 34% or $1.3 million, and government contributed 66% or $2.5 million. In addition, the BCRC leveraged other Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off dollars with an additional $5.9 million in research funding and $800,000 in-kind from government and industry partners through initiatives outside of the Beef Science Cluster.

Five-Year Canadian Beef Research and Technology Transfer Strategy

The BCRC and its industry partners released a renewed Five-Year Canadian Beef Research and Technology Transfer Strategy in July 2021 to help target funding toward achieving high-priority beef research and extension objectives. The strategy supports increasing productivity while building upon the sector’s leadership in environmental, social and economic sustainability. It builds upon the success of previous iterations and complements the National Beef Strategy’s ambitious 10-year goals.

It is intended to guide investments of the BCRC and other Canadian beef research funding agencies for the most efficient use of limited funding. It also encourages greater collaboration across funding agencies through a portfolio approach to research investments, ensuring key research, capacity and extension priorities are addressed in a coordinated manner.

The Strategy was developed for and by a broad range of producers, researchers, extension specialists, government, funding agencies and other industry stakeholders.

For the 7-page Strategy Overview or the full 66-page Strategy, visit BeefResearch.ca.

The BCRC currently funds:

Beef Science Cluster III Fourth Year of Five Completed

Projects funded under the current Beef Science Cluster III under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) run from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2023. This Cluster is a $21.7 million program, with AAFC contributing $14.1 million and BCRC and industry partners contributing a total of $7.6 million over the five years.

Most multi-year research projects are underway, with a few wrapping up in 2022. Some preliminary findings include:

new alfalfa varieties that are better able to tolerate drought and flood conditions;

• validation that growth promotant residues pose minimal environmental risks that are further minimized by appropriate manure and runoff management; and insight into why some feedlot calves contract pneumonia from Mycoplasma bovis while others do not.

A summary of all Cluster III research projects is available in the 2021/22 BCRC Results Report.

The BCRC and external peer reviewers have developed a portfolio of projects for the Beef Science Cluster IV program, which will be announced in 2023.

Priority Research Projects Underway

In addition to projects within the third Science Cluster, the BCRC funds research projects aimed at achieving specific goals of high priority to the beef industry.

BCRC Proof of Concept Informs Research Investment

The BCRC funds short-term projects to examine and validate the feasibility of pursuing larger, more defined research investments in particular areas. The proof-of-concept (POC) projects are funded jointly by Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off dollars leveraged with government and/or industry partner funding, with some being funded solely by private industry. One POC project by Dr. Kim Ominski’s team at the University of Manitoba is evaluating if “stacking” best management practices known to reduce greenhouse gasses will have an additive positive effect.

Building Research Capacity Through Industry-Funded Chairs

The BCRC has developed three research chair positions in partnership with key research institutions and matching industry and government funders. These chairs focus on priority research, teaching students and transferring knowledge to producers. Chairs include: Bree Kelln, Beef Industry Integrated Forage Management and Utilization Chair at the University of Saskatchewan; Dr. Cheryl Waldner, NSERC/BCRC Industrial Research Chair in One Health and Production-Limiting Diseases at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Gleise M. Silva, BCRC-Hays Chair in Beef Production Systems at the University of Alberta.

Producer Resources and Industry Engagement

The BCRC continues to develop and distribute numerous producer and stakeholder resources including fact sheets, interactive decision-making tools, videos, articles for industry magazines, webinars, blog posts, infographics and radio clips.

For example, BCRC staff identified a gap between important veterinary information related to calf health during the early stages of life not being readily available to producers. This promoted the development of the Calf 911 series. This began with a series of four videos, covering proper resuscitation techniques, spotting dehydration, how to properly tube feed and proper colostrum management, each with web and social media posts and printed checklists.

The 2022/2023 BCRC Webinar Series covers the Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network, opportunities and limitations in nutrition and feed management as well as record keeping for improved production management. The live webinars also qualify for continuing education credits for veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists. Register and watch recordings at BeefResearch.ca.

For More Information

BeefResearch.ca is Canada’s premier online resource for science-based beef cattle and forage information. In June 2022, the new and improved BCRC website was launched. Explore the new site, learn more about BCRC initiatives and access resources and decision-making tools for beef producers by visiting BeefResearch.ca.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Nutrient export through surface runoff is a concern for producers, lawmakers and the public, yet little research has been done in a Canadian-specific context to assess the issue. Drs. Kim Ominski and Don Flaten at the University of Manitoba, along with other Canadian researchers, are developing a model to evaluate grazing impacts on water and nutrient cycling. Having accurate models to predict nutrient runoff will help beef cattle producers prevent runoff with better understanding of how management practices affect pasture watersheds. This study also will provide accurate Canadian data for future watershed management policies.

Other BCRC-funded priority research projects are exploring:

• improved feed efficiency through individual cow variability in fibre digestibility, feed efficiency and methane emissions,

• reduced supplementation costs through strategic forage selection,

• in-plant validation of harvest processing equipment sanitization best practices and   the modes of action of yeast as a direct-fed microbial for feedlot cattle.

Summaries of all projects are available at BeefResearch.ca and outlined in the 2021/22 BCRC Results Report.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Drs. Emma McGeough and Yvonne Lawley at the University of Manitoba conducted a study to see if intercropping corn and legumes could provide higher protein winter grazing. In this study, a high-protein forage intercrop mix of Graza Radish, Hairy Vetch, Italian Ryegrass and Red Clover was grown in between corn rows. Despite severe drought conditions, the legumes established, and feed tests showed pastures would produce high-quality feed to meet the dietary requirements for cows. This proof-of-concept (POC) project led to another BCRC-funded project looking at intercropping legumes over multiple years with cattle grazing and different agronomic measures such as row spacing.

Other examples of BCRC-funded POC projects include:

• studying chemical-free sanitizers to prevent E. coli contamination and reduce food waste and evaluation of feedlot water bowls for pen-level surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant bovine respiratory pathogens.

Summaries of all projects are available at BeefResearch.ca.

YEAR HIGHLIGHTS 2022

Great Tastes of Manitoba

Great Tastes of Manitoba, the television cooking series, and its associated digital channels, returned for a 33rd season.

Great Tastes is a farm-to-table cooking series hosted by popular Winnipeg media personality Dez Daniels. Each episode features a local food expert who showcases the nutritious, affordable, delicious ingredients grown by Manitoba’s farmers. Viewers were introduced to the farm families and agricultural professionals behind the scenes. All the recipes featured on the show are triple tested for guaranteed results and developed with the home cook in mind.

Manitoba Beef Producers demonstrated six new recipes created by Food Expert Anna Borys that aired on October 22 and December 3. As well, we featured the Hamilton and Zuk farm families as a part of the MBP ‘Before the Plate’ episodes that aired this year.

Full episodes of ‘Great Tastes’ can be streamed on demand at greattastesmb.ca or on the @GreatTastesTV YouTube channel. You can follow along with exclusive behind the scenes content, recipe tips, meal plans and more at @GreatTastesMB on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest .

After 32 years of filming in various locations around the city, Great Tastes of Manitoba finally has a permanent home! During the summer of 2022 filming took place at FRANK’s Kitchen, a brand new fully equipped kitchen and television studio built by FRANK Digital, the production company behind Manitoba’s most watched cooking series.

Along with a brand new 14-episode series, greattastesmb.ca is home to more than 500 recipes, full episodes, and 40 unique stories direct from farms across the province. It is a virtual masterclass for anyone wanting to know more about how food is produced in Manitoba, and it gives consumers a glimpse into the lives of the farmers who work hard to bring these local ingredients to their tables.

Again, this year, select ‘Great Tastes‘ recipes will be available for purchase at Supper Central. Each week the local meal kit company helps bring a different recipe from the ‘Great Tastes’ archive to life, making it easier for viewers to try what they see on the show at home.

Established in 1991, this unprecedented television success story is uniquely Manitoban. The series is Manitoba’s most watched food show, and one of the longest running locally produced television programs in Canada. ‘Great Tastes‘ is produced by Frank Digital in partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, and Manitoba’s farmers and ranchers through their non-profit industry associations: Manitoba Beef Producers, Manitoba Canola Growers Association, Manitoba Chicken, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, Manitoba Pork, Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers, and Manitoba Turkey Producers.

Photo credit: Donalee Jones

Liam Hamilton, along with sister Andrea, were featured in Season 33 of Great Tastes of Manitoba. (Photo credit: Donalee Jones)

MBP District 10 director Mike Duguid along with his family during filming for Fields to Forks. (Photo credit: Chris Thenhaus)

YEAR HIGHLIGHTS 2022

Meet a Rancher

On June 11 Manitoba Beef Producers took part in a western Canadian promotion with grocery store chain Save-On-Foods to promote the local beef industry and afford shoppers the opportunity to ‘meet a rancher.’ Past-President Dianne Riding and current District 13 director Trevor Sund represented MBP at two locations in Winnipeg (Bridgwater and Kildonan Place) resulting in 200 direct conversations with consumers and more than 5,000 engagements on social media. Chef Anna Borys also sampled kimchi meatballs and distributed recipe cards to consumers.

4-H Manitoba Virtual Food Series

MBP joined the 4-H Manitoba Virtual Food Series where 40+ youth cooked 'cowboy/cowgirl cupcakes' with Chef Andrea Villneff who is a Professional Home Economist. After the cooking demonstration MBP District 8 director Matthew Atkinson participated in a wide-ranging Q&A session with the group.

Photo Credit: Canada Beef

Photo Credit: 4-H Manitoba

2022 YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

Discover the Farm

Discover the Farm, a new hands-on event celebrating where our food comes from, brought together more than 1,600 urban and rural Manitobans on Sunday, September 18 to kick off the province’s Farm and Food Awareness Week.

Free and open to the public, the event took place from 10 am to 2 pm at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre, located 15 minutes south of Winnipeg. Visitors had the chance to talk with Manitoba farmers, see live animals including pigs, dairy cows, broilers and laying hens, and to explore prairie crops like canola.

Hands-on activities included crushing canola to make oil, finding the queen bee in a working honeybee hive, and playing games like Pig Poop Tic Tac Toe, Egg Trivia and the Wheel of Chicken. Participating organizations shared recipes and other giveaways, from cooking utensils to activity books and crayons, from reusable bags and grocery cart coins to temporary tattoos and sunglasses.

The event provided the opportunity to learn more about the great diversity of food production in this province and the importance of agriculture to the provincial economy.

Royal Manitoba Winter Fair

After a two-year hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair returned to Brandon and Manitoba Beef Producers was there with a display, along with a cow-calf pair. Over the course of the six days during spring break organizers reported attendance of more than 43,000 with approximately 9,000 visitors to the MBP booth.

MBP Industry BBQ

(Photo credit: Discover the Farm)

(Photo credit: Terra Bergen)

(Photo credit: David Hultin)