By Alice McFarlane

Livestock Summit looks for ways to support the industry

Apr 6, 2023 | 10:33 AM

Participants at yesterday’s Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) Livestock Summit shared their concerns about the future the industry.

Cattle, bison, and sheep producers expressed common concerns from accessing capital, business risk management programs to getting financial credit for maintaining pastures that serve as carbon sinks for the environment.

After a day of discussions, a representative from each sector made a closing comment.

Willowbrook cattle producer Levi Hall is concerned for the future. He said with each cattle producers that exits the business there is an increase in grain and oilseed acres.

“Fight for me to stay in the business because I love what I do. My mom and dad are at home feeding cows. They shouldn’t have to do it. But I’m here fighting for the industry,” he said.

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Hall is also a director with the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.

Merrick Wigness is a bison producer from Cadillac, which is south of Swift Current. He wanted grazing groups to combine resources to clear up common misconceptions about the livestock industry.

“I kind of wonder if there’s an opportunity for some of the grazing animal associations to get together and create some sort of a pooled fund, and put that money towards a sophisticated public relations effort to try and fight back against the message that cattle are evil or their burps are going to destroy the world,” Wigness said.

Gord Schrader with the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board said accessing capital is extremely hard because sheep are perceived as a cottage industry.

“We have a lot of producers that have a few acres and have a few sheep. But, I’m not sure that you’re aware our industry has farms that are well over 1,000 ewes,” he said.

The final comment was made by APAS president Ian Boxall, who grows grain, but does not have livestock. He said it’s clear there are a number of issues including intergenerational transfers and financing.

He said there is a need to ‘think outside the box’ when looking for ways to access money and to recognize the work that’s already being done for the environment.

“The Canadian government right now has an ad promoting grasslands and how great they are. That’s because of the work of the livestock industry,” he said.

Boxall urged the federal government to acknowledge the work of the livestock industry.

APAS will summarize and prioritize policy issues raised at the summit and develop proposals to present to the federal and provincial governments.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW