Cattle producers call for assistance as packing plants shutter

  • National Newswatch

Meat destined for export can be used to supply the domestic market.Ottawa—The Canadian Cattlemen's Association has stepped up its call for financial aid for beef farmers as two packing plants in Alberta shut down or reduce operations because of COVID 19 outbreaks among employees.“The assistance measures announced by the federal government are far from adequate to help beef producers navigate through this critical situation,” says CCA President Bob Lowe. “Any further delay in implementing policies to help us manage through these difficult times will be crippling to the industry. We are facing a challenge every bit as devastating as BSE for the Canadian beef industry and we are doing so without sufficient risk management tools.”Beef farmers could lose as much as $500 million in revenue by the end of June depending on how far market prices decline, he said. “Losses of this magnitude would be catastrophic for the 60,00 beef operations and 228,800 people in Canada who depend on the beef industry to provide for their families. Sufficient business risk management tools, implemented without delay, will be paramount to ensuring Canadian beef production can manage through the COVID-19 pandemic.”The Cargill and JBS plants in Alberta account for about 70 per cent of the beef processing in Canada. Cargill has closed for an undetermined period while JBS is reducing its operations because employees fear coming to work because of pandemic.Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said the government understands “the repercussions the short-term capacity reduction in certain meat processing facilities is having on livestock producers. In collaboration with our provincial partners, we are examining all options to protect workers, support our farmers and processors, and keep high-quality and affordable Canadian meat products available to Canadians.“I care deeply about the wellbeing of our farmers and understand how stressful this period is for so many of them. Farmers and food businesses are doing a huge service to feed the nation and they can be confident that their Government has their back.”Earlier this month, CCA asked the government for a set-aside program to help farmers retain market-ready cattle on their farms until there is the capacity to process them.Marie-France Mackinnon, Vice-President of the Canadian Meat Council, which represents processors, says that Canada typically exports about 50 per cent of its beef and 70 per cent of its pork production. “Therefore, product destined for export can be used for the domestic market if needed. This is a short-term solution because export customers are also important.“The solution, of course, is to make sure the plants can be back up and running as soon as possible. Companies continue to work closely with local health authorities and CFIA who have already approved and support all the protocols in place.”Federal health officials are assisting Alberta in determining the cause of the outbreak at the plant.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters April 21 that “We are not at this point anticipating shortages of beef, but prices might go up. We will, of course, be monitoring that very, very carefully.”CMC says the supply chain “is working hard to ensure that meat remains available on the shelf for all Canadians. There are no reports or evidence to support the transmission of Covid-19 associated with food or food packaging.”Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.