Checking in with ABP

Between mid-October and the first week of November, the nearby feeder cattle futures contract dropped almost $56 per cwt. Statements by the Trump administration that beef prices are too high, followed by intentions to increase the tariff rate quota for beef imported from Argentina; a plan to increase the U.S. cattle herd; discussions between U.S….

At the time of writing this message, U.S. trade is a very volatile situation. Rather than dive into that and risk it being out of date by the time you read this, I wanted to touch on more durable subjects. Rest assured that we are doing all we can on the U.S. market access front,…

It’s been a busy fall across the province, and like many of you, we’ve been taking things day by day. While we’ve managed to push forward several strategic initiatives, we’ve also had to dive into the weeds as new issues popped up, such is the nature of working on behalf of producers at ABP. One…

The Government of Alberta has renewed its funding and approved a two-year extension for the Alberta Ag-Plastic Recycle It! pilot program through December 2027. Launched in 2019, the pilot provides Alberta producers with practical recycling options for materials such as plastic grain bags and baler twine. Beginning in 2026, the pilot will expand to include collection programs…

Alberta fed steers and heifers averaged $295.00/cwt and $293.00/cwt respectively, $3.00–4.00/cwt higher than the previous week. Despite fed prices strengthening over the past couple of weeks, the market has been disappointing relative to seasonal expectations. Dressed sales were reported from $493.00–$495.00/cwt delivered. Cattle that traded were scheduled for delivery through the month of January. Over…

New federal traceability rules are coming for 2026 and producers should start preparing now, says the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). The federal government is moving ahead with proposed changes to Canada’s livestock traceability rules. Amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations are expected to be published in Canada Gazette Part II in spring 2026. The…

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) has announced its 2025-2026 executive committee following its December meeting in Calgary. The Council is made up of beef producers from across Canada, representing each provincial organization that allocates a portion of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off to research. Nova Scotia producer Dean Manning has been named BCRC Chair….

The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site has a way of making history feel close enough to touch, especially when woodsmoke hits the air, draft horses shift in their harnesses, and the steady rhythm of an old-style camp cookout comes to life.  That made it the perfect place for the first-ever Chuckwagon Chili Cook-Off, hosted…

Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is welcoming amendments to the AgriStability program announced in the 2025 federal budget—changes that represent meaningful progress for cattle producers. Budget 2025 includes $109.2 million for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to support the federal-provincial-territorial AgriStability program. Key changes include: ABP Chair Doug Roxburgh says the announcement reflects years of collaboration between industry and government. “Thank…

The Calgary Stampede has announced that Tyler Ritchie has accepted the role of Ranch Manager within its Agriculture & Western Events team. Reporting to Brett Warder, Manager of Agriculture and Western Events Operations, Ritchie will oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the historic OH Ranch in Longview, Alberta. “Tyler brings an impressive depth of…