Martin Unrau, newly elected president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, takes over the national lobby at a time of tremendous industry optimism.
However, the cattle producer from MacGregor, Man., also sees clouds on the horizon that he thinks should temper industry optimism. The boom can’t last and there may be an industry price to pay.
But first, there is the optimism.
“The last year, 2011, was a watershed year for the livestock industry and the next decade looks pretty darn good,” agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said when he spoke to the CCA March annual meeting in Ottawa that elected Unrau president.
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Added retiring president Travis Toews: “I believe the industry has turned around, the economics are better and our industry is more competitive than it was a few years ago.… But we have more work to do. The job isn’t done yet.”
Unrau agreed.
“I think it is a tremendous time to be here. It’s an exciting time.”
But the 48-year-old cattle and cash crop producer also said the industry should not become complacent about the high prices, market access and positive income.
He said it is why the industry should pay attention to federal-provincial negotiations now underway to create the next five-year agricultural policy Growing Forward framework, which takes effect April 1, 2013. It includes business risk management programs including AgriStability and the promise of an insurance program that could include livestock.
“A thing we have to concentrate on is the new Growing Forward, the domestic policy we have in this country for when this thing turns back down, and I’m a realist,” he said. “I know I shouldn’t even be talking about this, but we know this thing will turn down eventually.”
In fact, Unrau sees one of his key roles as tempering the optimism that now surges through much of the industry.
“When things are good, people tend to sit back and enjoy it and assume it will last,” he said.
“At least 50 times in the last month I’ve heard producers say this is the new standard. I smile because I know it is not.”
Unrau said the industry has to make sure recently gained overseas market access is maintained.
“One of the things I have to concentrate on as president is to make sure we solidify some of the markets we’re in and do the maintenance because they can slip away if we don’t pay attention,” he said.
