LANOITAN
CATTLE FEEDERS' ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR James Bekkering, NCFA Board Chair Activities and accomplishments of the National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA) reached new heights in 2021 as we stepped out to execute on a new five-year Strategic Plan adopted by the Board of Directors last year. While there are numerous initiatives and objectives under the plan, all of them drive back to NCFA’s core organizational goals —sustainable growth and prosperity, improved competitiveness, and industry leadership and collaboration. I am especially pleased to report on some significant achievements this year
Succeeded in working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to develop a new “Trusted Trader” designation with USDA-APHIS. Served as an essential voice of Canada’s beef industry in responding to new proposed feed regulations published this year in Canada Gazette-I. This comprehensive regulatory package is the result of a decade-long effort to modernize Canada’s livestock feed regulations, and one with which NCFA has been involved since the beginning. Successfully partnered with other national cattle and beef industry stakeholders to arrive at a Joint Industry Statement calling for the development of ultra-high frequency (UHF) tags for Canadian cattle, and their eventual adoption as mandatory approved indicators for cattle traceability purposes. Worked with our national industry partners and the project team at CFIA to prepare the successful application to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) resulting in Canada being granted “negligible risk status” for BSE in May 2021.
Across 2021, NCFA made over two dozen separate submissions to the federal government, appeared before the standing committee, and represented Canada’s cattle feeders on many industry working groups, and more that you will read about in the following report. The accomplishments above reflect only a small portion of NCFA’s efforts over the past year— a year marked by numerous events testing Canada’s fed cattle producers. All of this is occurring against the backdrop of an ongoing global pandemic coupled with new regulatory requirements on cattle transportation and electronic logging devices (ELDs). As NCFA Chair, I extend my sincere appreciation to all our industry partners and each and every one of our dedicated directors for your collective efforts during the past year. A thank you goes out to our members, their talented provincial staff representatives, and our own staff and committed team of consultants on the ground in Ottawa. A special word of thanks goes out to Mr. Peter Brackenridge who has decided to finally “retire” after capably guiding NCFA on our many regulatory files over the years. On behalf of the entire NCFA team, we wish you all the very best Peter. At the same time, we extend a hearty welcome to Mr. Cameron Prince as he steps into this important advisory role. As a former VP of Operations with the CFIA, Cam is well-positioned to lend his expertise to NCFA on behalf of Canada’s cattle feeders. The National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA) was created in 2007 to serve as the voice of Canada’s fed cattle producers on issues of national importance that impact our sector. Across 2021, I believe we have accomplished that mandate in spades.
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Janice Tranberg, President & CEO
Throughout the last year, our Board and staff have worked hard to connect with government and our beef industry partners to ensure cattle feeders’ best interests are represented in conversations about national policy and programming. Our beef industry plays an important role in Canada’s economic recovery and we have been advocating for positive changes in labour, transport, rural infrastructure, and more to support our members and the industry as a whole. Despite pandemic related struggles, Canada’s cattle feeding sector is poised as an economic driver going forward and our NCFA team will continue to focus on improved growth, sustainability, and competitiveness of beef cattle production.
VISION
MANDATE
A business-oriented organization dedicated to advancing the national fed cattle value chain in Canada.
To represent Canadian cattle feeders on national issues and collaborate with other organizations to strengthen the Canadian beef industry.
STRATEGIC PILLARS Sustainable Growth & Profitability Competitiveness Industry Leaderships & Partnerships
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS HIGHLIGHTS
Succeeded in working with the Canadian
Served as an essential voice of
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to
Canada’s beef industry in responding
develop a new “Trusted Trader”
to new proposed feed regulations
designation with USDA-APHIS. In 2020,
published this year in Canada Gazette-
NCFA was alerted that the US would
I . This comprehensive regulatory package
restrict all convoy shipments of cattle
is the result of a decade-long effort to
travelling under a single Canadian Export
modernize Canada’s livestock feed
Health Certificate (CHC) to a maximum of
regulations, and one with which NCFA
three trucks. This change would have
has been involved since the beginning.
dramatically complicated the logistics of
The final proposals meet many of the
shipping fed cattle south. Under the new
goals important to cattle feeders and also
“Trusted Trader” designation negotiated
reflect critical input that NCFA has made
between Canada and the US, Canadian
over the years. While implementation
exporters of fed cattle can continue
remains a challenge, CFIA has welcomed
operating as usual with larger convoy
NCFA’s offer to assist in the development
shipments under a single certificate.
of guidance documentation, brochures,
Securing a positive regulatory outcome in
and on-farm model systems needed by
Canada is one thing. Securing one south of
producers to meet the new requirements.
the border is another thing altogether.
Successfully partnered with other
Worked with our national industry
national cattle and beef industry
partners and the project team at CFIA
stakeholders to arrive at a Joint Industry
to prepare the successful application
Statement calling for the development
to the World Organization for Animal
of ultra-high frequency (UHF) tags for
Health (OIE) resulting in Canada being
Canadian cattle, and their eventual
granted “negligible risk status” for BSE
adoption as mandatory approved
in May 2021. The World Organization for
indicators for cattle traceability
Animal Health (OIE) granted Canada
purposes. Broad acceptance of UHF
“negligible risk status” for BSE in May
technology across the beef value chain is
2021. NCFA was pleased to work with our
no small accomplishment, and will keep
national industry partners and the project
Canada competitive with developments
team at CFIA to prepare the successful
internationally, allow for faster tag reads of
OIE application. This development will be
groups of cattle, and better position the
a game-changer for Canada’s beef
industry to meet enhanced traceability
industry as we look to expand global
regulations still in the works at CFIA.
trade opportunities and pursue adjustments that will provide a critical boost to our international competitiveness.
GOVERNMENT SUBMISSIONS ACROSS 2021, NCFA MADE OVER TWO DOZEN SEPARATE SUBMISSIONS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCLUDING:
Trade submissions were made to Global Affairs Canada on potential new free trade agreements with Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and India. Regulatory submissions were made to the CFIA on a set of pre-proposals for enhanced traceability, cattle imports and exports, and improving regulatory competitiveness. A particularly critical submission was made in advance of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Agriculture Ministers meeting on the next Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Agreement. In that submission, NCFA urged the ministers to add “improving competitiveness” as a pillar of the next CAP Agreement and pursue meaningful reform to the current suite of agriculture Business Risk Management (BRM) programs by ensuring timely payments, removing the current $3 million cap on Agri-Stability, and increasing the payout rate to 85%. Additional submissions were made to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on current carbon pricing policies and development of a new federal GHG offset system. Communications were also sent to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on the need for continued access to foreign labour and to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) on proposed changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers’ Program. OTHER ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS:
Appeared before the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, Citizenship and Immigration, International Trade, and Finance.
Held a “top-to-top” meeting with the CFIA President and the Senior Executive Team, followed by meetings with Canada’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), officials within the Animal Health Directorate and the Import-Export Division, and officials at Health Canada’s Veterinary Drug Directorate (VDD).
Submitted to each federal political party a list of agriculture priorities to include in their election platforms, and unfolded a social media campaign designed to draw attention to our issues and concerns.
ANNUAL REPORT 2021 INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT NCFA has always believed that industry collaboration—multiple voices speaking with consistent, coherent, and complimentary messaging—strengthens Canada’s beef industry by increasing leverage with government and encouraging action on our critical concerns and priorities. Throughout 2021, NCFA worked with our industry partners on numerous working groups across a wide range of issues: Updated PAACO (Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization) to be in line with US standards; recently Tyson Foods indicated that they will be using NCFA’s PAACO certified feedlot audit program called the “Canadian Feedlot Animal Care Assessment Program” as their audit standard when auditing Canadian feedlot suppliers. Led a major research initiative with CIPARS (Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance) that has been the development of the National Feedlot AMU/AMR Surveillance Project. All national livestock commodity groups in Canada, as part of their programs to demonstrate antimicrobial stewardship, have implemented national surveillance programs to determine antimicrobial use in the industry and antimicrobial resistance in bacteria of importance.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JAMES BEKKERING
WILL LOWE
JOHN SCHOOTEN
Chair, Alberta
Vice-Chair, Saskatchewan
Director, Alberta
MICHEL DAIGLE
TOM THORLAKSON
AUDREY KUIK-SCHWEITZER
Past-Chair, Québec
Director, Alberta
Director, Manitoba
CHARLIE CHRISTIE
JOE HEEMSKERK
Director, CCA
Officer at Large, British Columbia
STAFF
JANICE TRANBERG
CASEY VANDERPLOEG
MEGAN MADDEN
President & CEO
Vice President
Communications Manager
KIMBERLI NUMMI
CAMERON PRINCE
CATHY JO NOBLE
Administration
Consultant
Noble Path Strategic Consulting
NATIONAL CATTLE FEEDERS' ASSOCIATION
Suite 6, 11010 46 Street SE Calgary, Alberta T2C 1G4 info@cattlefeeders.ca nationalcattlefeeders.ca Telephone: 403.769.1519 Fax: 403. 209.3255 @NACattleFeeders