Organizers of five proposed packing plants in Alberta have joined to form a confederation to try and save money and get the attention of the provincial government.
“The provincial government doesn’t listen to individual co-ops like us. They can ignore one, but they can’t ignore five,” said Neil Peacock, chair of the Peace Country Tender Beef Co-op in northern Alberta. It plans to build a plant in Beaverlodge.
Together the five proposed packing plants represent about 8,000 cattle producers and would slaughter 900-1,200 cattle a day when the plants are built.
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“They have to pay attention then,” said Peacock, who hopes the new confederation of packing plants will be able to get the attention of government.
Peacock said they’ve given up expecting any financial aid for planning and development of the plants, but would like to talk to the government about how smaller plants can export their beef.
The group has also agreed to share engineering and feasibility study information to save money on equipment and construction costs. Peacock would not say who the other confederation members were.
Stan Schellenberger, head of the Rancher’s Own project that wants to build a plant west of Edmonton, said his group has not officially decided to join the confederation, but believes it is an important step in rebuilding the Alberta packing industry.
Alberta agriculture minister Shirley McClellan has said repeatedly the province is not in favour of direct government involvement in the packing industry.
