By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Thursday December 17, 2020

Dec 17, 2020 | 10:04 AM

A new report said consolidation of Canada’s beef processing plants has made the industry vulnerable to disease outbreaks, warning shutdowns similar to what occurred early in the COVID-19 pandemic could easily happen again.

A University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy study said creating a greater number of smaller-scale facilities scattered across the country would better insulate the food industry from a future pandemic.

However, the report by the Simpson Centre for Agricultural and Food Innovation said large scale slaughterhouses and meat-packing plants benefit from economies of scale that keep prices lower for consumers.

The study suggested one solution could be increasing the mechanization of beef production, which would lower the risk of disease outbreaks by reducing the number of workers in facilities.

About 70 per cent of Canada’s beef production is in just two Alberta plants.

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The COVID-19 pandemic rattled the beef industry and raised awareness about consolidation after outbreaks forced the temporary shutdowns of meat-packing plants last spring.

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The National Farmers Union (NFU) is applauding the federal government’s action plan on nitrogen fertilizer emissions.

Ottawa set a national emission reduction target of 30 per cent below 2020 levels.

NFU President Katie Ward said Canadian agriculture emissions are rising, and the increase is driven entirely by increasing emissions from nitrogen fertilizer use.

“Farmers are very pleased that the federal government has set a reduction target. We now look forward to working with government to develop the policies, programs, and incentives that will enable farmers to reach that goal,” Ward said in a news release.

Ward said there are many ways that farmers can be supported to reduce nitrogen use, including federal programs to hire independent, public-servant agrologists to work with farmers to reduce fertilizer input, fund additional soil sampling and other data collection and mandate fertilizer manufacturers to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions at production facilities.

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The president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is disappointed with the expansion of the federal carbon tax.

The $30 per tonne tax increases to $50 in two years. It then jumps to $15 per tonne each year to reach $170 by 2030.

Todd Lewis said the tax will cut into the profits of prairie farmers.

“Farmers are concerned and they should be,” Lewis said. “If we don’t have any exemptions the cost per acre could $10 per acre annually even up to $15. Those are significant costs,” Lewis said.

Lewis said if the tax increases are implemented without exemptions farmers will be at a competitive disadvantage on the world marketplace.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF