Issues & Insights

By Tony Seskus · CBC News n the last two years, Prairie ranchers have been dealing with drought, soaring feed costs and pandemic disruptions that led to massive cattle backlogs.  Now they are watching — and hoping — for progress on labour negotiations at the Cargill meat-packing plant in High River, Alta. The union representing workers at the plant issued a strike…

By Doug Ferguson, for The Western Producer Alberta Beef Producers is facing tough decisions about its future as an advocate for ranchers and farmers because of checkoff refunds. The organization refunds almost half the check-off dollars collected from producers. Alberta Beef Producers funding reaches critical turning point “It’s having a tremendous effect on us,” said chair…

On Wednesday, United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), Local 401 served Cargill with a strike notice. “We have conducted a strike vote in accordance with the requirements of the Labour Relations Code,” reads the notice from UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse. “The results of that strike vote present an overwhelming desire to engage…

The Government of Alberta is looking for public feedback on ways to promote economic development in rural Alberta. Increasing investment plays a key factor in recovering economically from the COVID-19 pandemic, the global collapse of energy prices, and the worst economic downturn in almost a century. Discussions and feedback collected will ensure our rural communities…

In 2003, just as scientists were putting the finishing touches on the human genome mapping project, and while 32 countries struggled to stop the spread of SARS, a single domestic case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was detected on an Alberta farm, closing international borders to Canadian beef and cattle sales for almost two decades….

Canadian beef producers are encouraged with the latest interest in trade expansion through theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Since CPTPP came intoeffect on December 30, 2018, Canadian beef exports have increased 37 per cent in volume and 35 per cent invalue (2020 vs. 2018). From January to August 2021, exports continue to…

Bob Weber, The Canadian Press One of the most destructive and rapidly spreading invasive species on the continent has been found for the first time in a Canadian national park. Wild pigs, which tear up landscapes and eat everything from roots to bird eggs to deer, are regularly present in Elk Island National Park —…

By Doug Ferguson, Western Producer Industry leaders say beef production plays an important role in carbon sequestration that is not well known by consumers Consumers concerned about the environmental impact of greenhouse gases from Canada’s beef industry aren’t looking at the full picture, a recent webinar at the University of Calgary was told. “We really need…

The United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) taking place on September 23, 2021 is a critical dialogue for people around the world to ensure the future of sustainable food systems and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The signatories to this statement, Canadian farmers, ranchers, input providers and food and beverage producers, play an…