E-Ne w sletter dsfsfa An update from MBP May 6, 2022
mbbeef.ca
MBP Seeks Program for Losses Sustained in Recent Adverse Weather Events Manitoba Beef Producers has asked the Manitoba government to consider enacting a program as soon as possible to assist producers who have faced livestock losses due to repeated adverse weather events from midApril forward. This type of program was provided in 2011 in relation to a severe spring blizzard. Losses in that event occurred “due to a combination of freezing rain, blizzard and previous moisture conditions.” Similar types of adverse weather have occurred in Manitoba in recent weeks, leading to challenging production conditions at a time when spring calving was well underway across the province. In its submission to Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson MBP explained that a number of the existing business risk management tools are not necessarily sufficiently responsive to address these types of weather-related losses. For example, purchasing private insurance to cover potential livestock mortalities is cost prohibitive for many producers unless they are insuring high dollar purebred animals and such programs come with their own limitations. AgriInsurance does not provide production insurance for livestock, which is a considerable program
gap compared to the production loss insurance that is available to the crops sector. Despite these types of limitations, MBP encourages producers to explore all business risk management (BRM) tools available to them to help mitigate various types of risk, including AgriStability and Livestock Price Insurance. MBP, along with other provincial cattle associations and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, are engaging with governments to help ensure that the various BRM tools are responsive to the unique needs of the beef sector. MBP also noted in its submission to the Minister that the repeated storms, coupled with a cold, protracted winter and a late spring has left producers in a difficult position when it comes to sourcing feed and straw supplies as the availability of these kinds of resources had already been adversely affected by recent droughts. Manitoba Beef Producers thanks producers who have already provided feedback to us on the storms’ impact. If you are a producer who would still like to provide this information, please contact our office at 204-772-4542 or email info@mbbeef.ca .