Manitoba’s agriculture minister surprised many by setting lofty growth expectations for the province’s cow herd, but the cattle industry couldn’t be more happy.
Minister Ralph Eichler set an unofficial goal of increasing Manitoba’s beef-cow herd from 440,000 to 750,000 over the next decade.
“I know it’s ambitious … but I’d rather set my goal a little higher,” Eichler said in late July at a field tour north of Brandon. “I see it taking probably eight or nine years. Maybe 10.”
The minister’s comments thrilled members of the Manitoba Beef Producers. But Brian Lemon, MBP general manager, said it’s too early to speculate on whether the number is realistic or not.
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“It’s always nice to have a number to focus on. What’s the right number? I don’t know,” he said. “We’re not focused on a number at this point. We’re just excited to see the minister is talking about growing our industry.”
Now that the lofty figure of 750,000 cows is out there, Manitoba’s beef sector must confront the tricky bit: how to make it happen.
“There’s probably opportunity for both government and industry to work collaboratively to get this done,” Lemons said. “I don’t think just the government or just the industry should be looked (upon) to solve it all.”
Lemon said the first step would likely be a meeting with Eichler to discuss the expansion effort.
A wider public forum to include the ideas of producers and other industry players is a possibility.
“That might be one option,” Lemon said. “It’s going to take the input of a lot of people that understand not just the production, but understand the slaughter issue, transportation, understand environmental issues… and the right regulatory environment.”
If leaders of Manitoba’s beef sector intend to grow the industry they first should know why it isn’t growing. Why isn’t the industry attracting new entrants and why aren’t mid-sized farms becoming large cow-calf operations?
“We’re looking forward to sitting down with the province and hashing out what the barriers have been … in the last little while,” Lemon said.
Manitoba’s cow population has declined from 614,000 in 2008 to 440,000 in 2016, but the industry is now better positioned to expand.
There is a federally certified beef processing plant in Carman, Man., capable of slaughtering 200 head per day. There are also programs in place to help with financial stability, such as the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program and a hay insurance program in Manitoba. The province has also committed to building a drainage channel at the north end of Lake Manitoba, which should alleviate the risk of flooded pastureland around the lake.
It’s hard to know if those efforts will spark a turnaround, but there are signs of life in the province’s cattle sector, said Heinz Reimer, MBP president.
robert.arnason@producer.com
