WINNIPEG – Manitoba cattle producers are disappointed but not surprised that the provincial agriculture minister has extended the Net Income Stabilization Account program to their commodity.
“We knew that the minister was struggling with this,” said James Bezan, executive officer for the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association. “I guess our argument isn’t with minister (Harry) Enns. Our argument is with all governments.
“Why would they want to put us in such a difficult situation, especially when our American counterparts do not have programs of this magnitude?”
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Manitoba agriculture minister Enns announced last week the NISA program would be extended to producers of cattle, hogs, sheep, bees, PMU horses and non-traditional livestock.
In a press release, Enns said he supports a national whole-farm income protection program. “A program like NISA can provide equitable support across commodities and provinces. That’s the kind of stability we need to maximize the growth and economic benefits of our agriculture sector.”
Bezan said American cattle producers studied NISA six months ago and promised to take trade action if Canadian producers were covered by the program.
Depends on Alberta
Now, only British Columbia and Alberta do not extend NISA to cattle producers. “The straw that will break the camel’s back is whatever Alberta does,” Bezan said.
He said increased beef supplies, more American beef in Canada and lower prices will trigger NISA accounts.
“Americans aren’t just going to stand by and watch this happen.”
More than 95 percent of cattle and beef exports go to the U.S.
“Any type of trade action we face would definitely be more than what NISA will ever generate. And even if they netted each other out, what’s the purpose of a program? If we’re paying it all into countervail, it’s all going to the American government.”
Enns said cattle producers will be able to choose whether they want to participate.
But Bezan said about half the cattle producers in the province already have NISA accounts for their grain operations and will be forced to put their cattle in the program.
There are more than 14,000 cattle producers in Manitoba. Only 3,500 do not have mixed farms.
Bezan said his organization will continue to encourage governments to look at support programs other than NISA.
