This article was first published in Volume 5 Issue 3 of ABP Magazine (Fall 2025). Both Marissa Lemay and Denny Bjornson have now advanced as finalists. “One of the most powerful things about the CYL program is how it brings together people from different backgrounds, regions, and areas of expertise, all connected by a shared passion…
The best way to describe the feeder market in western Canada is ON FIRE, as steer calves and yearling look to find the top of their markets. This bullish market for calves and feeders is well into its fourth year, with the rally beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021 and only very small periods…
Every year, eligible cattle producers in Alberta have the opportunity to bring forward resolutions through Producer Meetings. Those that are carried at Producer Meetings are sorted and directed by ABP’s Resolution Committee. The following resolutions, including those from Producer Meetings, were considered by delegates at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March, or by the…
In the December 2024 issue of ABP Magazine, we shared the list of producers acclaimed as delegates following the November nomination deadline. In March, the Board of Directors approved the appointments of three additional producers, including one new and two returning delegates. Jolene McDermott — Northwest Zone Jolene McDermott manages a 100-head cow/calf operation with…
Amid the ever-growing panoply of exotic restaurant experiences, steak is still king. “People see going for a high-quality steak dinner as something special,” says Stephen Deere, owner of Modern Steak’s two Calgary restaurants. “We strive to provide the best experience to our guests with a nice bottle of wine, an incredible cut of the best…
The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) was created to provide a collaborative space for players across the beef value chain to work together on sustainability. The organization works to advance, measure and communicate continual progress in the sustainability of the Canadian Beef value chain. The CRSB Certified program is a voluntary tool to recognize…
When a producer decides to get certified with the Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) Program, they go through an on-farm assessment to confirm that they are meeting the requirements of the VBP+ standard. This process can sound intimidating but is really designed to help producers succeed and make the most of their certification. What is…
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…
Canada’s cattle industry was spared from the United States administration’s reciprocal tariffs on April 2, due to a carve out for products that are Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) compliant such as Canadian live cattle and beef. The reprieve continued for CUSMA compliant goods the following week when the U.S. administration implemented and then paused some of…
The start of my term as president is during an odd combination of events. In Canada, a federal election campaign just wrapped up. While this would traditionally be a quieter time for CCA, my calendar quickly filled up with invitations to attend meetings in Washington, D.C. and with key stakeholders in Canada as we continue…
Since being elected your ABP chair in March, it feels like we’ve jumped in head first! Literally, within the first hour or two after being appointed, we got right into some media scrums. Since the timing of our AGM and the following Alberta Beef Industry Conference coincided with tariffs scheduled to take effect, there were…
Market fundamentals continue to point to a bullish outlook for the Canadian beef industry in 2025, though significant volatility has already been noted. Feeder cattle contracts responded negatively to the imposition of tariffs on April 2, with the April contract declining 1,100 points by April 7. Stock and futures markets remained on the defensive as…