CALGARY – A $16 million industry development fund is coming to Alberta’s beef industry.
The money will be administered by the Alberta Cattle Commission. Spending options are fairly broad, said commission general manager Gary Sargent.
Money may be spent on domestic and export market developments, promotion, industry training programs or research. On Dec. 18 industry participants are meeting to discuss options.
“We’ll organize a think-tank of industry leaders to get a perspective on the options out there,” said Sargent.
There is already a national industry development fund of more than $22 million which has gone to such organizations as the Beef Information Centre to develop new promotion campaigns and products. When the red meat national tripartite stabilization program was dropped two years ahead of schedule, the government said it was willing to make development money available, said Sargent.
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Along with this new source of money the commission expects to collect more than $6 million in fees for the coming year, up from last year’s revenue of $5.8 million. This money is earned by collecting $1.50 per animal sold in the province and then turned over to the commission for promotion, research and lobbying activities.
The extra money is anticipated as producers in the province continue to trim down their herds by selling off more heifers and cows.
The largest slice of money is directed at beef promotion activities with the Beef Information Centre receiving $3.6 million for the 1996-97 fiscal year. Alberta is by far the largest contributor to this agency at 62.5 percent of its total budget of $5.7 million.
Alberta producers also contribute a large portion of money to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, giving the national organization $421,000.
Being the largest contributor gives Alberta more seats on the two national organizations’ boards of directors. CCA seats are calculated by the share of cattle and calves represented. In 1996 Alberta was entitled to seven of 27 seats. Beef Information Centre representation is based on the share of total funding, which gives Alberta six seats out of 15.
