Grazing cattle -- LNN

By Dori Modney with files from Alberta Beef Producers

Economic scenarios show cattle industry could see revenue losses up to $500-Million by end of June

Apr 22, 2020 | 3:04 PM

CALGARY, AB. — COVID-19 has caused rapid changes and challenges across every business sector in Canada and the cattle industry is no exception.

The pandemic continues to negatively impact the North American beef industry through market volatility and interruptions to processing operations

Kelly Smith-Fraser, Chair of Alberta Beef Producers (ABP), says there was another significant blow to the industry this week, with the announcement that the Cargill plant in High River will would idling operations.

“They’ve indicated that this is temporary, but industry must be prepared for the stoppage to possibly continue for an extended period of time.”

“We recognize that employee health and safety is a top priority and that temporary shut-downs or capacity reductions may be required, ” said Smith-Fraser, “This is why Alberta Beef Producers supports the set of recommendations that the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association continues to advocate for, regarding to changes of business risk management programs.”

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The recommendations can be viewed on the producer home page of AlbertaBeef.org

Smith-Fraser says a set-aside program was suggested in the initial recommendations, if the situation became critical.

“We are now in a critical situation and any further delay in implementing government policies to help producers manage through these difficult times will cripple the industry.”

Smith-Fraser went on to explain, “The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has run economic scenarios, showing the industry could see revenue losses upward of $500-Million by the end of June, depending on how far market prices decline.”

She noted that losses of this magnitude could be catastrophic for 60,000 beef operations and over 228,000 people in Canada, who depend on our industry to provide for their families.

Alberta Beef producers has developed a letter for producers to send to their MLA’s. It is available on the producer home page of Albertabeef.org