PUBLISHED BY MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS
OCTOBER 2020
Max, enjoying a ride in the ATV alongside his family, the Greaves from the Deerwood, MB. area, spot checks cows at different pastures earlier this summer. Photo credit: Jeannette Greaves
MBP district meetings go virtual When Manitoba cattle producers attend their annual fall district meetings this year, they won’t have to drive somewhere to do it. Instead, they’ll do it at home sitting in front of a computer, tablet or Smartphone. Or they can listen in by telephone. Manitoba Beef Producers will use a virtual platform to make presentations, go over audited financial statements, conduct elections, discuss activities and suggest resolutions. The content will be the same as always, only the delivery will be different. The reason? COVID-19, of
course. Like other organizations everywhere, the pandemic is forcing MBP to practise social distancing while keeping members informed about their association. Producers are being asked to register in advance for these meetings to ensure there’s a quorum and people are qualified to vote in director elections. A district meeting requires a minimum of 10 qualified members for a quorum. Dianne Riding, MBP’s president, said the new format was chosen because of the uncertainty about holding face-
to-face meetings, especially if a second wave of COVID infections occurs and public gatherings have to be curtailed. “We were thinking by the time October and November came around, we might be in a very difficult position to actually be able to host any number of people,” Riding said. “I’m really hoping people will give it a try and embrace it.” Virtual elections for directors are slated for odd numbered districts this year. Several districts require new directors to be elected, including Riding’s own District 9 because she is termed out after
serving three two-year terms on the board. Riding described the past year as “a tad difficult but interesting” after COVID-19 seriously disrupted the beef industry, causing a near price collapse and resulting in a large backlog of finished animals still to be processed. “It’s impacting everyone and it’s definitely giving a hit to the cattle industry in general,” said Carson Callum, MBP general manager. There are also other issues affecting the industry up for discussion at the meetings, said Callum. A big one is AgriStability,
General Manager's Column
President's Colum
Market Report
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which is under fire for being complicated, time consuming and generally inadequate to meet producers’ needs. Locally, Manitoba producers are concerned about recent regulatory changes to the province’s Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program, which they feel disadvantage them. That’s all the more reason for producers to sign up for their virtual meetings so they can discuss issues and decide how to deal with them, Callum said. “We’re really encouraging folks to register so they can get all the right info they need to take part.” POSTMASTER: PLEASE RETURN UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPEG, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT NUMBER 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPEG.
BY RON FRIESEN