A 26 percent tariff slapped on bison meat exported to the United States is a wakeup call for an industry without a strong domestic meat market, say bison producers concerned about the industry’s future.
While the tariff was a clerical error and will be eliminated, it illustrated the need for development of a strong Canadian meat market, said Norm MacKenzie during a checkoff debate at the Wild Rose Bison Sale.
“What if it was an election year and some senator decided we have Cuban buffalo up here,” said MacKenzie, of Foremost, Alta.
Read Also
Powdery mildew can be combine fire risk
Dust from powdery mildew can cause fires in combines.
“The only way to protect ourselves is to build domestic markets at home.”
It didn’t take much to convince the producers at the sale that there is need for a checkoff, with proceeds to be used for marketing, promotion and product development.
Majority in favor
Only three people in a group of more than 80 producers voted against a checkoff. The dissenting voices had more questions than opposition, said MacKenzie. There has been similar reaction at meetings across the province in the past year when the Alberta Bison Association has promoted the checkoff.
Larry Schille of Chinook Country Bison, a central Alberta chapter of the association, said his group supports a refundable checkoff.
“We felt we have to be proactive. If we wait for someone to do something for our industry, we’ll wait a long time.”
MacKenzie said a few larger producers have funded bison market research and development.
Now, with 50,000 bison in Alberta, the industry has matured to demand full-scale promotion.
“A fairly small group of people have been making donations. The same name keeps popping up. They’ve been footing the bill,” MacKenzie said.
Unlike the cattle industry, which takes a $2 checkoff every time an animal changes hands, the bison industry will ask for a $10 one-time checkoff when each calf is born.
For animals born earlier, the association is asking for a one-time $5 fee. It hopes to have the checkoff in place by the end of the year.
About $2 of the checkoff will be used for a single all-encompassing ear tag that will be used for mandatory livestock identification and brucellosis and tuberculosis testing identification. The $2 will not be refundable.
Mike Pearson, manager of corporate affairs with the Alberta Agriculture Products Marketing Council, said there has been enough positive response for the refundable checkoff that a formal vote will not be required from bison producers.
The checkoff still has to go beyond the marketing council stage and be approved to provincial cabinet.
The council’s office has had no complaints about the checkoff from the more than 700 people who were sent a copy of the draft checkoff legislation, Pearson said.
There are checks in the system. If more than 35 percent of producers ask for a refund, the marketing council will make inquiries. The association expects to collect about $150,000 annually.
“We’re fortunate to have an animal that’s easy to promote,” said MacKenzie.
