GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – Attendance at Alberta Beef Producers fall meetings is up dramatically this year.
About 150 people attended the Grande Prairie meeting last week. Erin Moskalyk, a beef producer delegate, estimated that’s at least 50 more than were at the meeting a year earlier. Twice as many cattle producers also came to the Fairview meeting this year.
In previous years, organizers were happy if a handful of producers showed up to get a review of provincial cattle organization activities during the past year. Travis Toews, an ABP delegate from Beaverlodge, said producers are trying to keep up to date.
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“The people are trying to stay as current as they can,” said Toews.
It’s a similar story across the province, said beef producer chair Arno Doerksen. Producers are trying to get a better understanding of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy situation.
“People are just anxious how it’s going to unfold,” said Doerksen.
Sexsmith feedlot operator Gordon Scarlett said producers are trying to get answers in the uncertain times.
“We’re here because we’re concerned,” said Scarlett, who used to buy cull cows from the local auction market and sell the fat animals to plants in the United States.
Last week he bought 35 cows for 17 cents a pound, the first cows he has bought since May 20.
Instead of fattening them, he plans to run bulls with the animals and then raise the calves.
