LEDUC, Alta. — Controlling predators and getting more lamb into grocery stores are among the key issues that Alberta Lamb Producers plans to tackle next year.
The commission recently developed a new mandate following its annual general meeting in Leduc Nov. 3. The mandate will help dictate the organization’s direction.
Predator control was one of the many ideas brought forward for discussion, and chair Darlene Stein expects it will be high on the agenda.
“It’s one of our bigger issues for some producers,” Stein said.
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She said the organization will determine the best way to address the issue, which could include gaining access to tools such as night-vision scopes to deal with coyotes hunting at night, better fencing and more dogs.
There might also be a push for a compensation program for animals killed by predators, but she said governments might not be open to that idea.
“Some producers just want to be paid, while others want access to tools,” she said.
“Having something, whether it’s a compensation program or better physical tools, could be helpful.”
She said the next big issue on producers’ minds is getting more lamb into grocery stores. To make that happen, more lamb producers will need to enter the business, and they must be willing to sell during the off season.
Many sheep farmers sell around the same time after lambing season, which floods the market and depresses prices. Learning to lamb year-round and producing consistent and quality product could potentially help producers obtain better prices and see meat on shelves all the time.
While Stein noted the benefits of that goal, she said lambing year-round can be costly.
“Doing out-of-season lambing is possible, but it’s more expensive,” she said.
Even though some producers might have reservations about expanding, one company is already planning to shake up the industry.
SunGold Specialty Meats recently announced plans to merge with Fresh Canada Meats to form North American Lamb Company Ltd.
Animals will come from Canada Sheep and Lamb Farms Ltd.’s breeding flock of 35,000 ewes in Manitoba, which plans to expand to 50,000. The animals will be finished and processed in Alberta. Fresh Canada Meats is the majority shareholder of Canada Sheep and Lamb Farms Ltd.
North American Lamb Co. is open to partnering with local producers to meet the demands of the growing market.
Stein said she hasn’t developed a position on whether the company’s move will be good or bad for producers.
“It’s something we will wait and see on,” she said.
“Do we need to fill the gap? Absolutely. If they can do that in a way that supports producers, giving fair prices for lambs, I think that’s great.”
While predator and market issues are high priorities, other issues are also important to producers.
At the meeting, members brought forward ideas that included helping new entrants and long-time farmers be more cost-efficient, providing a detailed list of the number of shearers in the province, lobbying for working with the University of Calgary for pasture management and genetic research and improving mentorship for new farmers.
The ideas will be taken into consideration as the organization completes its mandate.
Stein said the group managed to check off all the boxes in its previous mandate. One of the priorities in that mandate focused on animal welfare, and the organization provided tools and connected producers to welfare experts through webinars.
