Sawyer pledges producer-focused approach

Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Tara Sawyer reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to supporting the beef sector through collaboration, trade and producer engagement during her first address to the Alberta Beef Industry Stampede Summit as minister.

Speaking to producers and industry representatives, Sawyer described Alberta’s beef industry as a cornerstone of the provincial economy and credited its success to the people behind it.

“Alberta beef has a global reputation for quality, safety and excellence,” Sawyer said. “It is the best beef in the world because of the people in this room — the thousands of producers, the processors and the innovators that you represent.”

Building on Alberta’s strengths

Sawyer highlighted Alberta’s position as Canada’s largest cattle-producing province, with nearly 4.9 million head of cattle, accounting for almost half of the national herd. She also noted beef was Alberta’s top agri-food export in 2025, valued at approximately $4 billion.

She said maintaining strong relationships with domestic and international partners will remain essential as Alberta expands market opportunities.

“Our success on the world stage is built on strong international partnerships,” Sawyer said. “Maintaining and strengthening these relationships is essential, not just for trade, but for collaboration on animal health, supply chains and shared economic stability.”

Sawyer also pointed to opportunities to expand Alberta’s presence in emerging markets, including Southeast Asia and the Middle East, while continuing to strengthen established export markets.

Supporting a competitive industry

She acknowledged the industry continues to face challenges, including trade uncertainty, supply pressures and regulatory change. At the same time, she said strong cattle prices are creating optimism for future herd rebuilding across North America.

Sawyer said the provincial government will continue working alongside industry by supporting competitiveness, advocating for fair and predictable trade, strengthening business risk management programs, encouraging innovation and processing capacity, and developing regulations that support producers.

One of her strongest messages focused on ensuring producers have a meaningful voice in government decision-making.

“It means listening to producers and taking those voices to every table we sit at,” Sawyer said. “I’ve always said farmers should be at every table where decisions that affect their farms happen.”

Sawyer concluded by thanking Alberta’s beef producers for their contribution to the province’s economy and international reputation, saying she is confident the industry will continue to lead and grow in the years ahead.