Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is working together with industry groups for a stronger Alberta beef industry that invests in the future, drives efficiencies and cultivates opportunities.
You can vote to decide if check-off should continue to be refundable or become non-refundable between October 19 and November 13, 2018 at one of the 27 ABP fall meetings around the province, by mail, or in person at the 46 AFSC offices in Alberta. Marketing Council will send information packages about the plebiscite to producers in the coming weeks.
A producer plebiscite is your opportunity to make a decision on future funding for your organization and industry. ABP has issued over $20 million in refunds since 2010 and many producers believe that this money would generate greater benefits if invested in industry initiatives.
The basis for the pursuit of a non-refundable check-off is our plan to create the Alberta Beef Industry Development Fund (ABIDF). Plans for the ABIDF and an agreement between ABP and Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA) on the allocation of a non-refundable check-off were the reasons ACFA is supporting the plebiscite.
“I encourage all cattle producers to vote this fall in the plebiscite to decide on funding for the future of your industry. ABP and ACFA have committed to working together on trade challenges, farm safety issues, investing in research and many other important issues facing the cattle industry. Please get out and vote,” said Ryan Kasko, ACFA Chair.
A successful plebiscite would see the creation of the ABIDF. This fund would support the beef industry through strategic investments of producer check-off dollars in research and technology transfer, market development, education, consumer advocacy, and industry collaboration. The return to a non-refundable service charge would provide approximately $1.4 million annually in funding for the ABIDF.
“This plebiscite represents an enormous opportunity for producers and our industry. Producers have the chance to decide how their commission should be funded and the industry has the chance to invest another $2.2 to $2.5 million annually in strategic projects to make it stronger. This is your decision so please make sure you vote in the plebiscite,” said Charlie Christie, ABP Chair.
Under the proposed funding structure, ABP will retain $1.35 per head of the $2 check-off, which is approximately the amount we currently retain after refunds are issued. The ABP allocation includes 53 cents per head to support the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and a rebate paid to check-off remitters, currently 5 cents per head. ABP and ACFA agreed that 40 cents per head, close to $1.4 million per year, would be contributed to the ABIDF. Twenty-five cents per head, around $850,000 per year, will be allocated to ACFA to cover operational costs and their commitment to the National Cattle Feeders’ Association. Producers who do not want 25 cents per head to go to ACFA may apply to have this money allocated to the ABIDF.
The 2018 Fall Producer Meetings schedule can be found here:
http://albertabeef.org/uploads/2018fallmeetingdatespdf-855.pdf |
ABP Fall Producer Meetings
ABP prides itself on being an organization of producers, run by producers, speaking and working on behalf of the cattle and beef producers in Alberta. We believe that one of our highest priorities is communicating with grassroots producers and taking direction from these producers on the issues, priorities, and activities that we should be pursuing on their behalf. Our most effective venues for listening and speaking to producers are the Fall Producer Meetings that we hold in nine zones across the province in late October and early November each year. We try to make the meetings as convenient as possible for producers to attend and this year we have 27 meetings in locations intended to keep travel time down for producers.
The fall meetings are where producers elect delegates who will bring issues and concerns from their zone to the ABP Board of Directors and general meetings. The meetings also provide the opportunity for producers to speak directly to ABP producer representative delegates and directors about issues and concerns. We try to have at least one member of the Executive or the Executive Director at every fall meeting. We are a grassroots organization and we want producers to leave the fall meetings feeling like the meeting was worthwhile, their voice was heard, and they were able to provide direction to ABP.
This year, producers will also be able to cast their vote in the funding plebiscite discussed in the article above. A producer plebiscite is your opportunity to make a decision on future funding for your organization and industry, so make sure you get out and vote!
In addition to advertisements in papers and on the radio, fall meeting dates, times, and locations can be found on our website and at the back of the ABP Annual Report that is delivered to producers on our mailing list. We encourage producers to come to a meeting and participate in setting the direction for your organization. |
CCA calls for continued approval of registered pest management product
Ground squirrels are burrowing rodents that can cause significant damage to crops, tame pasture and native grasslands. Recently, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) decided to remove the registration of Liquid Strychnine use for the control of ground squirrels. The Agency is fielding public comment on its intentions until September 27, 2018. The CCA is asking for continuation of the registered use of the pest management control product until an effective alternative is in place.
Canada has six types of ground squirrels. The Richardson ground squirrel - sometimes called a prairie gopher – is native to the short grass prairies and known for damage related to their tunnelling and foraging behaviours. As noted by Alberta Agriculture, “The most common types of ground squirrel damage are crop loss through direct consumption and reduced production due to plant injury and trampling. In addition, downtime and repair costs due to damage to hay binds as well as physical injury to livestock with ground squirrel burrows and those of badgers are also major concerns.”
Liquid Strychnine is effective control strategy for ground squirrels and is already highly regulated. In its comments to the PMRA the CCA noted that there are no practical and effective alternative controls for ground squirrels. The CCA pointed out that what is needed is the development of an anticoagulant toxicant bait where a small amount consumed in a single feeding by the rodent would be a sufficient control. Until such a toxicant is available, the CCA recommends the current pest control remain approved and available to bona fide farmers and ranchers and affected rural municipalities for the control of ground squirrels.
To learn more about the PMRA decision visit: Strychnine Re-Evaluation |
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BCRC webinar: Replacement heifer development
Join this webinar to discuss dollars, sense, and fertility – economic and reproductive management considerations for successful replacement heifer development. Learn about recommended practices, biological hurdles, and money matters that will aid you in your own heifer development strategies.
Click here to register
When
Wednesday, October 3 at 7:00 pm MT
Duration
Approximately 1 hour.
Cost
BCRC webinars are available and free of charge thanks to guest speakers who volunteer their time and expertise to support advancements in the Canadian beef industry, and through the Technology Transfer project funded by the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off and Canada’s Beef Science Cluster. |
ABP Producer Loyalty Program: UFA Fall Tub Sale
As pastures deteriorate in the fall, and cattle are moved onto winter grazing or stored forages, beef cow nutritional requirements are often not being met. ProStock™ cattle tubs help fill the gap between the cow’s needs and what the forage provides by supplying the proteins and minerals necessary for efficient forage utilization.
Take advantage of UFA’s Fall Tub Sale - on now until October 10 - and get the supplements you need for your herd.
A small amount of supplemental protein will:
- help digest lower-quality forages in the fall
- increase overall energy supplied to the cow
- help the cow put on weight before the cold winter.
ProStock cattle tubs offer consistent intake and are economical to feed on a cost/head/day basis due to their low consumption, compared to other types of cattle tubs.
Save up to $25 on ProStock tubs when you buy them by the truckload (164 tubs).
Visit your local UFA Farm & Ranch Supply or call today to secure your tubs.
Drought Support
In addition to our protein tub and mineral programs, UFA is here to help. We offer a range pellet that can be special ordered (minimum 3 tonnes) through our Farm & Ranch Supply stores.
The bulk pellets are formulated with high fiber and adequate protein to help fill that gap due to poor or limited available pasture conditions in your area.
Call your local UFA Farm & Ranch Supply store to place an order.
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