Canada’s national cow herd has contracted over 20 per cent since it peaked at five million head in 2005. If the national cow herd remains under four million cows, or contracts further, the industry risks losing infrastructure, processing capacity, more feedlots, and cattle-related services such as auction markets, trucking companies and even local dealers of […] Read more
We need more heifers
Viewpoint of a past CCA president
CCA Report: It’s been an honour!
From the March 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
This is my last opportunity to reach out to producers from this column as president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). I’d like to thank Canadian Cattlemen magazine for providing this space. I know the column has been well read; as I travel across Canada producers often refer to what we’ve said here. I was […] Read more
CCA Report: Positive signs on trade front
From the February 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) participated in a roundtable with Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland in Edmonton in January as part of her consultations with provincial leaders, industry representatives and academics on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and on international trade. The timing coincided nicely with a letter CCA sent to the minister detailing the […] Read more
CCA Report: Government responds to COOL report
From the January 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
On December 7, the long awaited report came from the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) Arbitration panel that U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) has caused Canadian livestock producers to suffer annual damages in the amount of C$1.055 billion. I was writing this in December from Washington, D.C., where CCA was lobbying for […] Read more
CCA Report: Greeting new Ministers
From the December 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
I’d like to start off by congratulating Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland on their appointments with Canada’s new federal government. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is encouraged by the public remarks they’ve made to date on trade issues, and particularly the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL). […] Read more
CCA Report: Our business goes on as usual
From the November 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) congratulates Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau, and the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) for their convincing win in the October 19 federal election. The CCA looks forward to working closely with the new government. As I write this column, the new cabinet had yet to be announced but the CCA hopes […] Read more
CCA Report: Another push for TPP
From the October 26 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The volatility that shook the cattle markets in late September brought an end (at least temporarily) to the record price run that had been sustained for much of the last year. Although the dip in cattle prices reflect typical seasonal price fluctuations, the impact of the falling price in the markets is felt far more […] Read more
CCA Report: Good cattle prices soften uncertainty
For all the uncertainty some producers have endured this year as a result of extreme weather, the one constant that has enabled everyone to stay focused is the market price for cattle. Calf and feeder prices continue to sell incredibly strong. As we head into the fall run, limited supplies and strong demand for Canadian calves […] Read more
CCA Report: North American producers stand firm on COOL
From the September 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) held a busy and productive semi-annual meeting in Winnipeg, Man. in August. Much of the discussion and debate around the board table focused on addressing factors that may be preventing some producers from expanding their herds to take advantage of current market opportunities. While drought and extreme dry conditions remain […] Read more
CCA Report: Drought concerns and trade talks
From the August 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
It’s been a busy summer for the Canadian Cattlemen Association (CCA), with plenty of activity on a number of ongoing files. CCA officials were in Charlottetown, P.E.I., for the annual July meeting of the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture, where workforce issues, social licence and the extreme dry conditions in pockets of Alberta […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
