As I write this message, my time as president is rapidly coming to an end. I am thankful for my family’s support at home and the support of so many crews that let the Canadian Cattle Association’s (CCA) elected leadership take time away to serve the industry beyond the home operation. Our voice as cattle producers is needed at the table and it takes significant support for that to happen.
CCA is fortunate to be invited to sit at many tables and participate in important discussions. We are asked for our opinions, we are asked what Canadian cattle producers need and we are asked for input. That does not mean that every conversation goes our way. During my time as president, there were times when we walked away from discussions, times when our requests were denied and times when we had to compromise. But every time we are given an opportunity to speak, we are listened to with respect. For CCA, having the opportunity to speak and being listened to with respect is a form of success even if we don’t always achieve our goals at the first meeting or during the first round of discussions.
The early signs of spring, getting ready to plant seeds and watching to see what grows, seeing newborn calves and watching bull sales have me looking ahead with optimism. By the time the April issue of this magazine is published, someone new will have assumed the role of CCA president. I look forward to the fresh ideas and different perspectives that a new president will bring to ongoing issues.
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Maybe by the time readers see this article, the ongoing uncertainty over tariffs will be resolved. The topic has been top-of-mind and the focus of significant advocacy efforts over the last several months. CCA continues to lead the Team Beef efforts to ensure our industry responds with a unified voice and that our requests are aligned. In the meantime, CCA continues to accept invitations to participate in conversations and represent the Canadian cattle industry on several other issues that we are working on concurrent with the Canada-U.S. trade relationship.
We recently submitted feedback expressing our concerns about Bill C-59, specifically the references to “greenwashing.” The bill was passed earlier this year and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Beef Cattle Research Council have taken proactive steps to provide the necessary citations for claims about the environmental sustainability and benefits of cattle production. But a lack of clarity persists around the regulations.
Livestock price insurance is the only program that allows producers to proactively manage their price risk. With ongoing volatility in livestock markets, this risk management is vital for producers’ long-term economic sustainability. CCA would like to see changes made to provide harmonization with our largest trading partner, the U.S. We also had the opportunity to make suggestions for improvements to AgriStability and the Advance Payments Program. We are fully supportive of business risk management programs that help producers maintain profitability and support the long-term health of the Canadian cattle industry.
Animal health is a priority and we remind producers at every opportunity to follow biosecurity protocols to minimize the risk of exposing your herd to disease. There are no widespread animal disease outbreaks in Canada and we need everyone’s help and co-operation to keep it that way.
I know that I won’t be able to tie up all loose ends before moving into the past-president role. During my term, I continued working on issues and projects that were initially taken up by presidents before me. I started working on some issues that won’t be resolved for years, and there were a few items I was able to complete during my term. Beef industry organizations and producers invariably pull together to push forward our advocacy initiatives and step up when it matters most. CCA remains a strong voice in Ottawa and at global tables on issues that matter to producers the most. It has been an honour and pleasure to serve as president.
