Enhancing risk management and expanding market access

It might seem strange to still be talking about tariffs, but they have not just been a priority — they’ve been THE priority for government relations at Alberta Beef Producers over the past few months. Tariffs and countermeasures have been a major concern as we’ve worked to support the government’s efforts to protect the country while minimizing the impact on our producers.

ABP’s approach to this challenge has focused on three areas: countermeasures, risk management programs, and market access.

As soon as the first countermeasures—specifically, counter-tariffs—were introduced, ABP began working closely with our board to identify which products, if tariffed, would have the greatest impact on Alberta’s beef industry. The board engaged in in-depth discussions, with diverse perspectives reflecting the wide range of possible consequences for producers. Ultimately, the board prioritized access to American calves, feed, medications, and genetics—essential items for Alberta producers.

While ABP’s request aimed to minimize negative effects, we recognized that some impact was unavoidable. To help mitigate this, we renewed our push on risk management tools.

AgriStability and Livestock Price Insurance both play important roles in managing risk, but only AgriStability has the scope to directly address the impacts of tariffs. The program can help producers recover a portion of the costs if tariffs are imposed. That’s why ABP has strongly advocated for increasing the AgriStability compensation cap to support the feeding sector, alongside reforms to allowable expenses and the non-market feed adjustment for cow-calf producers.

The need for robust risk management has never been clearer, particularly considering recent international actions.

Former Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Kody Blois recently announced an increase in the AgriStability cap from $3 million to $6 million. While this is a welcome signal, there is currently no indication that this is more than a campaign promise. Under the current funding model, changes like this require engagement and agreement from the provinces, which has not yet occurred.

ABP also heard loud and clear from producers who want more market options beyond the United States. While international trade largely falls under the Canadian Cattle Association, ABP has long championed the need to relax interprovincial trade restrictions. One clear example is the Lloydminster pilot project, which allows meat to be sold across the Alberta–Saskatchewan border within the city limits—regardless of which side it was processed on.

Alberta producers are particularly eager to access northern markets, where protein prices are notoriously high. Although 97 per cent of Alberta beef is federally inspected and eligible for interprovincial trade, practical barriers remain—many of them non-regulatory, such as transportation costs.

Alberta also maintains some of the highest provincial inspection standards in the country, a reflection of strong public expectations around food safety. In contrast, provinces like Saskatchewan and BC permit the sale of uninspected meat. ABP is working to find a solution that respects these differences without putting our export markets at risk. With nearly 50 per cent of Canadian beef exported, we cannot afford to create the perception that we’re undermining trade agreements by providing Canadian product with a regulatory advantage over international imports.

Particularly now—when other countries (no need to name names) seem increasingly willing to disregard trade agreements—Canada must be seen as a fair and reliable trading partner.

This is a complex file, but it remains a key priority for ABP.

Despite the ongoing tariff issues, other important files have continued to move forward.

AFSC met with all major stakeholders to outline their work over the past year and share their strategic direction. There is a clear commitment to filling acknowledged program gaps and to helping young producers, particularly through the Next Generation lending program. AFSC has become a national leader in program design and delivery—some of Alberta’s crop insurance programs are world-class. ABP is grateful for the work AFSC is doing and thanks Minister Sigurdson for his strong support of Alberta agriculture.

Minister RJ Sigurdson also introduced legislation to modernize the Agricultural Operations Practices Act, giving stronger legal backing for biodigesters and the storage/disposal of organic materials. Biodigesters are widely used in Eastern Canada and Europe, and represent a win-win: converting waste into clean energy.

On March 28, Minister Todd Loewen announced changes to the Recreational Access Regulation, which governs public access to land under grazing disposition. While the updates were relatively minor, they included a few important wins for our industry. Notably, penalties for violations increased from $100 to $250, promoting greater compliance. The government can now also issue access orders for biosecurity reasons—particularly relevant given the threat of diseases like Foot-and-Mouth or Bovine TB. ABP appreciates Minister Loewen’s responsiveness to concerns from the grazing community.

As we move into summer, files like risk management and interprovincial trade will remain front and center. Recent events have underscored the need for a well-rounded, resilient beef industry—and the danger of taking old systems for granted.

With the AGM now complete, we’re ready to dive into a new set of resolutions. It’s shaping up to be an exciting year.

This article was first published in Volume 5 Issue 2 of ABP Magazine (May 2025). To access the full digital magazine or subscribe to the print edition, click here.