Highlights of the 46th Annual General Meeting, President’s Banquet and Tradeshow
Manitoba Beef Producers’ (MBP) 46th Annual General Meeting was held February 20-21 in Winnipeg, with three resolutions debated, a new board of directors ratified, a new Executive elected, and a series of presenters touched on a variety of topics ranging from trade, to advancing technology for managing cattle, research updates, a look at industry advocacy activities, a market update and more.
MBP’s new Executive is comprised of President Matthew Atkinson, Vice-President Arvid Nottveit, 2nd Vice-President Byron Falk, Treasurer Mark Good, and Secretary Tyler Fulton.
MBP’s newly-ratified board of directors for 2025-26 is as follows:
| Tyler Fewings, District 1 | Matthew Atkinson, District 8 |
| Mark Schram, District 2 | Trevor Sund, District 9 |
| Andre Steppler, District 3 | Mike Duguid, District 10 |
| Byron Falk, District 4 | Arvid Nottveit, District 11 |
| Steven Manns, District 5 | Mark Good, District 12 |
| Brian English, District 6 | Matthew Goudie, District 13 |
| Tyler Fulton, District 7 | Dale Cazakoff, District 14 |
Two directors who have completed their service to MBP’s board of directors were also honoured: Alfred Epp, District 1 and Mary Paziuk, District 13. MBP sincerely thanks them for their contributions to the board and to Manitoba’s beef sector.
Shauna and Clayton Breault of Breault Ranching LTD were named the local recipients of The Environmental Stewardship Award and will go on to compete for the national award which will be announced by the Canadian Cattle Association later this year.
The following three resolutions were debated and carried at the AGM, and MBP thanks all the presenters and delegates for contributing to the discussions around them. This included presenters Jason Pollock of Livestock Services of Saskatchewan and Rick Wright of the Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association on the topic of livestock inspection.
Livestock Price Insurance Resolution
MBP Board Resolution 1: Whereas Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) is a forward-looking, market-based, insurance-style program that allows producers to manage price, currency and basis risk protection for all classes of cattle, making it an important business risk management (BRM) tool for Manitoba cattle producers’ long-term sustainability; and
Whereas cattle producers face significant BRM program inequities compared to other agricultural commodities, such as AgriInsurance offerings which provide for cost-shared premiums for crop insurance on a basis of 40% producer/34% federal and 26% provincial government contribution; and
Whereas guaranteed returns through crop insurance may incentivize some producers to convert valuable pasture land into cropland, thereby directly impacting grassland ecosystems and the vital environmental services they provide, such as biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water management; and
Whereas in the United States, uptake in a program similar to LPI ‒ the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program saw its producer participation rate rise substantially when premium subsidies were introduced in 2020; and
Whereas cost-shared premiums for LPI would help put Canadian livestock producers on a more even playing field with crop producers as well as with American cattle farmers and ranchers, both of whom receive premium subsidies through crop insurance and LRP programs; and
Whereas providing equitable support to Canadian beef producers via cost-shared LPI premiums to help offset their enrolment costs would help increase overall program participation rates and help reduce risk in the sector.
Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) continue to advocate for the federal and provincial governments to introduce cost-shared premiums for the Livestock Price Insurance program, an approach that would be equal to that provided by the two governments for the crop insurance program under AgriInsurance, which is cost shared on a basis of 40% producer/34% federal and 26% provincial government.
Mover: Tyler Fulton, District 7
Seconder: Alfred Epp, District 1
Outcome: Carried
Deferring Income From Sale of Cattle to Future Years Resolution
L1 (District 9): Whereas grain producers are able to defer income on grain sales to future years, which provides them with opportunities for better tax and business planning, along with the flexibility to take advantage of markets when most suitable for them, but a similar income deferral option does not exist for cattle producers.
Therefore be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers investigate matters related to potentially seeking an amendment the federal tax code to allow livestock producers to defer the income from the sale of all classes of livestock to future years, similar to deferral options available to other agricultural commodities.
Mover: Trevor Sund, District 9
Seconder: Dianne Riding, District 9
Outcome: Carried
Mandatory Livestock Inspection Resolution
MBP Board of Directors Resolution 2: Whereas cases of theft or fraud related to Manitoba’s cattle industry have proven very costly and disruptive for the affected parties, and can undermine the confidence of lenders, investors and buyers when undertaking livestock-related transactions in Manitoba; and
Whereas livestock inspection ‒ a tool used to help demonstrate ownership using various cattle identification methods ‒ can be an important means of deterring theft and fraud, thereby helping to better secure livestock-related commerce; and
Whereas inspection could potentially provide other value-added elements for Manitoba producers, such as the provision of digital manifests and helping to facilitate movement reporting and traceability requirements; and
Whereas Livestock Services of Saskatchewan (LSS) has an established history of conducting livestock inspections on Manitoba cattle on an as-needed, fee-for service basis and could be in a position to expand this service; and
Whereas the existing livestock inspection levels in Manitoba currently only cover a limited volume of total cattle-related transactions in the province, and
Whereas the legislative and regulatory environment could be improved in Manitoba to facilitate matters such as livestock inspectors being able to detain cattle or to direct the dealer to hold the sales proceeds until ownership of inspected cattle is verified; and
Whereas Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) has been investigating the various steps needed to potentially create a mandatory livestock inspection system in Manitoba, including factors such as: cost framework; required provincial legislative or regulatory changes; the service provider and logistics for expanding inspection; the value-added potential from inspection; engaging with other value chain members about their expectations and/or concerns; whether there are funding opportunities to help offset costs of implementing expanded inspection; the possible creation of a Livestock Investigations Unit tasked with investigating livestock-related crimes that could help support the work of livestock inspectors; and more; and,
Whereas MBP has been working to raise awareness of the merits of expanded livestock inspection, including at its fall 2024 district meetings where the majority of those producer attendees indicated a strong level of interest in and support for expanded inspection services as a means of helping to deter theft and fraud, as well as to potentially capture other value-added opportunities; and
Whereas if the Government of Manitoba is to make the legislative and/or regulatory changes, as well as other mechanisms necessary to support the implementation of mandatory livestock inspection it will want to be confident that the majority of the province’s cattle producers are in favour of such a move.
Therefore be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers now ask the Government of Manitoba to work with value chain members to take the necessary steps needed to implement mandatory livestock inspection in Manitoba, including: making required legislative and/or regulatory changes; working with the prospective delivery agent on a service agreement; determining if funding can be secured to help offset the cost of an expanded inspection system; deciding whether an investment can be made to support the creation of a Livestock Investigations Unit; and, any other steps required to move this initiative forward in the most responsive, efficient and cost-effective manner.
Mover: Matthew Atkinson, District 8
Seconder: Arvid Nottveit, District 11
Outcome: Carried
MBP thanks the array of speakers who presented at the AGM, including: Dr. Eric Behlke, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods; Dr. Kim Ominski and graduate students from the University of Manitoba who provided a lightning round of updates on their research activities; Rebecca Fraser of the Manitoba Livestock Cash Advance program; Tyler McCann of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute; Jennifer Babcock, Senior Director, Government and Public Affairs with the Canadian Cattle Association; Melissa Downing, Director, Regulatory and Sustainability with the National Cattle Feeders Association; Dr. Reynold Bergen, Science Director of the Beef Cattle Research Council; Andrea White, Director, Marketing and Stakeholder Relations with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, and Jenna Sarich, Technical Consultant, Canadian Cattle Association Public and Stakeholder Engagement. Brenna Grant of Canfax provided a market update to cap off the meeting.
MBP thanks the Hon. Ron Kostyshyn, Minister of Agriculture and Wayne Ewasko, Leader of the Official Opposition for providing remarks to the delegates, as well as all the other Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament for attending the AGM and engaging with the delegates.
The meeting would not have been such a success without the generous support and participation of our sponsors and trade show exhibitors. Your contributions are also appreciated by MBP.
Last updated February 22, 2025