47th Annual General Meeting, Tradeshow and President’s Banquet
February 11, 2026 2:00 pm
Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre - Brandon
Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) 47th Annual General Meeting took place in Brandon on February 11-12.
MBP’s Executive for 2026-27 includes President Arvid Nottveit, Vice-President Byron Falk, Past President Matthew Atkinson, Treasurer Tyler Fewings and Secretary Matthew Goudie.
The incoming board of directors for 2026-27 was ratified as follows:
| Tyler Fewings, District 1 | Matthew Atkinson, District 8 |
| Mark Schram, District 2 | Trevor Sund, District 9 |
| Andre Steppler, District 3 | Adam Dmyterko, District 10 |
| Byron Falk, District 4 | Arvid Nottveit, District 11 |
| Steven Manns, District 5 | Mike Brown, District 12 |
| Brian English, District 6 | Matthew Goudie, District 13 |
| Tyler Fulton, District 7 | Dale Cazakoff, District 14 |
During the AGM federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced that Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation will be piloting a new approach to offering forage insurance for the 2026 crop year, aimed at reducing reporting requirements and improving production estimates for Manitoba forage producers through satellite-based technology
MBP has long advocated for more effective and efficient business risk management tools for the beef industry to use. Evaluating new technologies such as this that could help simplify the administrative burden in forage insurance offerings is a great step forward and we thank governments and MASC for advancing this important pilot project.
Resolutions debate involved a discussion about wildlife-related matters, focused on concerns about growing populations of elk and deer in agro-Manitoba and damages they are creating to feed and to infrastructure such as fences. A resolution was passed calling for improved risk mitigation strategies related to this, as well as for changes to the Wildlife Damage Compensation for Crop Damage program to increase the level of compensation for extended grazing forages so that it is more reflective of the costs producers incur related to the loss of feeding resources.
There were industry updates from Canada Beef, the National Cattle Feeders’ Association and the Canadian Cattle Association, as well as the market update from Canfax. Updates were also provided on the review of the Beef Code of Practice, on the work MBP is undertaking on the livestock inspection services file, and on proposed federal changes to traceability regulations, which are currently on hold. There was a calving workshop featuring Clover, the life-size calving simulator. Guest speakers included Brett Gardiner discussing mental health-related matters and John Haskell on the topic of investing in yourself.
Retiring directors Mike Duguid (District 10) and Mark Good (District 12) were recognized for their years of service on behalf of Manitoba’s beef industry. The recipients of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) were Connor and Kyla English of English Ranching Ltd., and Brian and Leanne English of Melody Acres Beef. And there was recognition of Dennis Laycraft, outgoing Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Cattle Association by former MBP director and a past CCA president, Martin Unrau.
MBP thanks the producers, guest speakers, trade show exhibitors, sponsors, the elected and government officials and the many other groups who attended the AGM and made the event a great success.
MBP also extends our thanks to the tradeshow partners and sponsors who help to make this meeting possible.
– last updated February 13, 2026