Volume 10 Issue 8 - The Canadian Cattlemen's Association · Action News Canadian Cattlemen’s...
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Action News Canadian Cattlemen’s Association • Canada-South Korea Free Trade Agreement talks resume • CCA Fall Picnic enjoys excellent turnout during lobbying roundup • CCA joins Minister Ritz in D.C. to push for quick end to COOL • CYL update • Drought tolerant forage mixtures Canadian negotiators were in Seoul, South Korea from November 25-29 for the first full negotiating round for a Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) since last year. The talks have been stalled since January 2013. With a new chief negotiator having been appointed since the last meeting, it appears that Korea may be prepared to work quickly to finalize an agreement. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) continues to encourage the Government of Canada to achieve an FTA with Korea as soon as possible so that we can restore our position in the Korean market. Canadian beef regained access to Korea in January 2012 following a nearly nine year BSE prohibition. When the Korea-U.S. FTA (KORUS) came into effect less than two months later, it put Canadian beef at an immediate tariff disadvantage to U.S. beef. Under the KORUS the Korean tariff on U.S. beef imports is decreasing by 2.7 percentage points per year until U.S. beef is duty free in 2026. Canadian beef (as well as Australian and New Zealand beef) will remain subject to the full 40 per cent tariff when entering Korea until Canada and Korea reach an agreement to improve access. Korea has also been floating publically its interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). To join the TPP, Korea will have to be accepted by all of the existing partners, a list which includes Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We believe that Korea may be highly motivated to conclude bilateral agreements with Canada, Australia and New Zealand in order to pave their way into the TPP. Our view is that we should seize the opportunity to secure favourable access for Canadian beef into that important market. Prior to BSE, Korea was Canada’s fourth largest export market, with 14,400 tonnes of Canadian beef valued at nearly $50 million exported to Korea in 2002. Canadian beef access was restored to Korea in January 2012 and the first shipments resumed in May 2012. Total shipments for the eight months of 2012 were just over 2,000 tonnes with a value of just under $10 million. Almost all of the shipments in 2012 were frozen beef. Monthly shipments throughout 2013 have steadily declined. Korea remains an important market for Canadian beef and the CCA will continue to work with the Government of Canada to achieve a deal that benefits Canada’s beef producers. Canada-South Korea Free Trade Agreement talks resume In This Issue... Volume 10 Issue 8 | December 2nd, 2013 Action News Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
Transcript of Volume 10 Issue 8 - The Canadian Cattlemen's Association · Action News Canadian Cattlemen’s...
Action NewsCanadian Cattlemen’s Association
• Canada-SouthKoreaFreeTradeAgreementtalksresume
• CCAFallPicnicenjoysexcellentturnoutduringlobbyingroundup
• CCAjoinsMinisterRitzinD.C.topushforquickendtoCOOL
• CYLupdate
• Droughttolerantforagemixtures
CanadiannegotiatorswereinSeoul,SouthKoreafromNovember25-29forthefirstfullnegotiatingroundforaCanada-KoreaFreeTradeAgreement(FTA)sincelastyear.ThetalkshavebeenstalledsinceJanuary2013.Withanewchiefnegotiatorhavingbeenappointedsincethelastmeeting,itappearsthatKoreamaybepreparedtoworkquicklytofinalizeanagreement.
TheCanadianCattlemen’sAssociation(CCA)continuestoencouragetheGovernmentofCanadatoachieveanFTAwithKoreaassoonaspossiblesothatwecanrestoreourpositionintheKoreanmarket.CanadianbeefregainedaccesstoKoreainJanuary2012followinganearlynineyearBSEprohibition.WhentheKorea-U.S.FTA(KORUS)cameintoeffectlessthantwomonthslater,itputCanadianbeefatanimmediatetariffdisadvantagetoU.S.beef.UndertheKORUStheKoreantariffonU.S.beefimportsisdecreasingby2.7percentagepointsperyearuntilU.S.beefisdutyfreein2026.Canadianbeef(aswellasAustralianandNewZealandbeef)willremainsubjecttothefull40percenttariffwhenenteringKoreauntilCanadaandKoreareachanagreementtoimproveaccess.
KoreahasalsobeenfloatingpublicallyitsinterestinjoiningtheTrans-PacificPartnership(TPP).TojointheTPP,Koreawillhavetobeacceptedbyalloftheexistingpartners,alistwhichincludesCanada,AustraliaandNewZealand.WebelievethatKoreamaybehighlymotivatedtoconcludebilateralagreementswithCanada,AustraliaandNewZealandinordertopavetheirwayintotheTPP.OurviewisthatweshouldseizetheopportunitytosecurefavourableaccessforCanadianbeefintothatimportantmarket.
PriortoBSE,KoreawasCanada’sfourthlargestexportmarket,with14,400tonnesofCanadianbeefvaluedatnearly$50millionexportedtoKoreain2002.CanadianbeefaccesswasrestoredtoKoreainJanuary2012andthefirstshipmentsresumedinMay2012.Totalshipmentsfortheeightmonthsof2012werejustover2,000tonneswithavalueofjustunder$10million.Almostalloftheshipmentsin2012werefrozenbeef.Monthlyshipmentsthroughout2013havesteadilydeclined.
KorearemainsanimportantmarketforCanadianbeefandtheCCAwillcontinuetoworkwiththeGovernmentofCanadatoachieveadealthatbenefitsCanada’sbeefproducers.
Canada-South Korea Free Trade Agreement talks resume
In This Issue...
Volume 10 Issue 8 | December 2nd, 2013
Action NewsCanadian Cattlemen’s Association
Action NewsCanadian Cattlemen’s Association
CCA Fall Picnic enjoys excellent turnout during lobbying roundupCattleproducersfromacrossCanadagatheredinOttawaonNovember19and20foranexecutivemeetingoftheCCA,anAlbertaBeefProducers(ABP)‘Fly-In’lobbydayandanalternateformatfortheannualCCAFallPicniconParliamentHill.
ProducerstooktheopportunityinmeetingswithMinistersandtheirstaff,MembersofParliamentandtheirstaff,andofficialsfromdifferentdepartmentstocommunicatekeypointsonpressingissuesinCanada’sbeefcattleindustry.AmongtheindustryneedsaretobuildandmaintainmarketaccessforCanadianbeef,increasethesupplyofpeopleabletoworkinthebeefcattleproductionandprocessingsectors,improvebusinessriskmanagementprogramming,andinvestinresearchandinnovationincludingregulatoryoversightandapprovalprocesses.
TheproroguingofParliamenthascompressedthelobbyingcalendarinOttawathisfall.Asaresult,theCCAOttawaofficeadjustedtheannualParliamentHillFallPicnic.ThisisnormallyanoutdooreventbutwithParliamentreturninginlateOctoberinsteadofmid-Septemberthechancesofabalmymid-daypicnicweretoolowtorisk.TheeventwasmovedtoanindoorreceptiononNovember20intheGovernmentConferenceCentre.
Thesecondeffectofthecompressedfallsittingisthatmanymoreeventsaregoingonconcurrentlythaninotheryears.ABPsentfourcattleproducerstoOttawaforthelatest“Fly-In”lobbydaysonNovember19.TheCCAtooktheopportunitytoholditsquarterlyexecutivemeetingthefollowingdaysocommitteememberscouldattendtheeveningFallPicnicevent.
Despitethedifferenttimeframeandahighnumberofcompetingevents,theneweveningformatreceptionwassuccessful.ManyMPs,Senators,Ministersandstaffattended.MostnotablewasInternationalTradeMinisterEdFastwhodeliveredcommentsofappreciationfortheCCA’scontinuingworkinhelpingtheGovernmentofCanadatogainanddefendmarketaccessforCanadianbeefandcattle.
MPsconveyedtheirappreciationofbeingupdatedontheissuesandwaystheycanhelpadvanceopportunitiesforbeefcattlefarmers,
ranchersandfeeders.AllvoicedastrongcommitmenttocontinuecommunicatingCanada’sresolvetoretaliateagainstUnitedStatesCountryofOriginLabeling(COOL)astheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)processallows.UnderstandingwasalsobuiltaroundwhatisneededtotaketheCanada-EUComprehensiveandEconomicTradeAgreement(CETA)agreementinprincipletoameaningfulfinalagreementfortheCanadianbeefcattleindustry.CattleproducersleftOttawaknowingMPsandothersbetterunderstoodtheneedtoleveltheplayingfieldinbusinessriskmanagementbetweenprovincesandbetweenannualcropproductionandlivestockproduction.Finally,conversationsthatconveyedtheneedsofagricultureforanincreaseinavailableworkersableandwillingtoliveinruralCanadaandtoworkwithlivestockandmachinerywerewellreceived.Theneedtoimprovetheflowandtheprogramsavailableforaccessinglivestockworkersisincreasinglywellunderstood.
AnotherreceptionisplannedforearlyMarchduringtheCCA’sannualmeetinginOttawa.Betweennowandthentherewillalsobesomemore“Fly-In”daystocontinuethemomentumofthisandpastevents.
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Action NewsCanadian Cattlemen’s Association
CCA joins Minister Ritz in D.C. to push for quick end to COOL
CCAPresidentMartinUnrau,VicePresidentDaveSolversonandExecutiveVicePresidentDennisLaycraftwereinWashington,D.C.recentlyforaCanada-U.S.mandatoryCOOLRoundtablewithpackers,processorsandindustry.
TheCCAtripcoincidedwithmeetingsAgricultureMinisterGerryRitzandAlbertaAgricultureMinisterVerlynOlsonhadinD.C.topushforaquickendtotheCOOLdispute.TheD.C.tripmarkedtheMinister’ssecondstatesidemeetinginNovembertoadvocateforremedyingtheCOOLdisputethroughlegislativechangestothecurrentU.S.FarmBill.
COOLnegativelyimpactsindustryonbothsidesoftheborder.AFarmBillfixisviewedasthequickestresolutiontoCOOLandonethatcouldoccurwithoutCanadaimposingretaliatorytariffsonU.S.importsincludingbeefandporkonceitreceivesauthorizationfromtheWTOtodoso.Theretaliationamountisbasedonthecurrentimpairmentof$1.1billionannuallytotheCanadianlivestocksector,butCCAexpectsthisamounttoincreaseunderthemodifiedCOOL,nowineffect.TheGovernmentofCanadareleasedthelistofcommoditiesbeingconsideredforretaliationinJune2013.
InD.C.MinisterRitzmetwithmembersoftheU.S.Congress,andU.S.SecretaryofAgricultureTomVilsackandcontinuedtopressurekeymembersoftheU.S.GovernmenttoputanendtomandatoryCOOL.HemetwithU.S.andCanadianindustryrepresentatives,thelatterincludingCCAandMartinRice,ExecutiveDirectoroftheCanadianPorkCouncil,onCOOL.
TheMinisterreiteratedCanada’spositionthatCOOLhassignificantlydisruptedtheNorthAmericansupplychain,imposedadditionalcostsonproducersonbothsidesoftheborder,andunfairlydiscriminatesagainstimportedcattleandhogs.Canada’spositionremainsthattheU.S.hascompletelyfailedtobringCOOLintoconformitywithitsWTOobligations.
ThesemeetingsbuilduponMinisterRitz’sspeechtotheU.S.livestocksectorattheNorthAmericanMeatAssociation’s(NAMA)OutlookConferenceinChicago,IL,anddiscussionswithNAMAmembersonthenegativeimpactsofCOOLandtheimportanceofresolvingCOOL,now,throughlegislativechangesintheFarmBill.TheCCAandCPCwerepartofthatdelegation,alongwithAlbertaAgricultureMinisterOlson.
TheCCAthanksMinisterRitzandMinisterOlsonfortheirdedicatedeffortsaswecontinuetotrytoresolvetheissue.
AnotherimportantadvocacyelementistheworkthatCCAdoeswithU.S.statecattleassociations.CCADirector,GovernmentandInternationalRelations,JohnMasswohlprovidedupdatesontheCOOLWTOprocessandpendingretaliationattherecentannualmeetingsoftheWashingtonCattlemen’sAssociationandtheNorthDakotaStockmen.TheseorganizationsinitiallyhadpolicysupportingmandatoryCOOL,buthavesincechangedtheirpolicysothattheynowopposemandatoryCOOLinfavouroffreemarketorientedlabelling.ThepolicydirectiontheseorganizationsprovidetotheirCongressmenandSenatorsisvitaltoCCA’seffortsinD.C.
CYL update
TheCattlemen’sYoungLeaders(CYL)FallForumwasheldinconjunctionwiththeCanadianWesternAgribition(CWA)inRegina,SKonNovember12th.TwentyCYLsbothpastandpresentattendedtheeventalongside
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Action NewsCanadian Cattlemen’s Association
representativesfromgovernmentandindustryfromCanadaandtheU.S.TheForumwasamixtureofspeakers,paneldiscussionandroundtablebreakoutsessionsdesignedtoprovidebothinformationandstimulatediscussion.BobEhr,BeefandDairyBusinessManagerwithElanco,andLyndonCarlson,Sr.VicePresidentofMarketingwithFarmCreditCanada,werekeynotespeakersfortheevent.ThoseinattendancealsoheardfromAnnemariePedersonofCanadaBeefInc.onthenewBeefAdvocacyCanadaProgramandreceivedgreetingsfromSaskatchewanAgricultureMinisterLyleStewart,WyomingDirectorofAgricultureJasonFearneyhough,CWACEOMartySeymour,andtheemceefortheday,CCAPresidentMartinUnrau.TheafternoonsessionwasfocusedarounddiscussionandwaskickedoffbyaCYLFeaturePanelthatincludedCYLsfromdifferentareasofthebeefindustry.ThispaneldescribedtheirmentorshipexperienceandtheeventstheyhaveattendedasaCYLparticipantaswellasansweredquestionspertainingtoyouthinthebeefindustry.Theroundtablebreakoutsessionssplittheaudienceintosmallergroupstobrainstormideasfocusedaroundadvocacy.Thegroupwastaskedwithdevelopingmaterialtoshareviathesocialmediatool,Twitter,andtobrainstormfutureprojectideasforCYLtoworkonwithMcDonald’s.CurrentCYLAustenAndersonandhismentorHeatherTraviswithCanadaBeefInc.sharedtheirmentorshipexperiencealongwiththestartofaseriesofeducationalvideosonthebasicsoffarmingandranching.ThedaywasroundedoutbyannouncingtheCYLsthatwereselectedtoattendtheNationalWesternStockShowinDenver,COandtheNationalCattlemens’BeefAssociations(NCBA)ConventioninNashville,TNinthenewyear.ThefollowingCYLswillbetakingintheseopportunities:
NationalWesternStockShow:
• ColeBailey–BC–2013CYLGraduate
• MarkLyseng–AB–2012CYLGraduate
• MeghanBlack–NB–CurrentCYLMentee
• CarlaSchmitt–SK–CurrentCYLMentee
• DanielDoerksen–AB–CurrentCYLMentee
• EricBuyer–SK–2013CYLGraduate
NCBAConvention:
• AmandaElzinga–AB–CurrentCYLMentee
• AmyMayner–AB–2013CYLGraduate
• BrodieHaugan–AB–2013CYLGraduate
TheCYLFallForumwasasuccessfuleventwithmanyinsightfuldiscussionsandmeaningfulconnectionsmadebetweenCYLs,government,industryandproducersfrombothCanadaandtheU.S.RepresentativesfromeachoftheorganizationsthatsupporttheCYLprogramattendedtheFallForumandhelpedtomakeitthesuccessfuleventthatitwas.ThankyoutoCYLFoundationPartners:AlbertaLivestockandMeatAgency(ALMA),CCA,UFA,CargillandMNP;andGoldSponsorsFarmCreditCanadaandNewHolland,alongwithCYLFallForumSponsor,theGovernmentofSaskatchewanfortheirsupport.
ApplicationsforthenextCYLprogramyeararenowbeingaccepted.Applyonlinehttp://cattlemensyoungleaders.com/cyl_application_form.html.
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Action NewsCanadian Cattlemen’s Association
Staff Contributors:JohnMasswohl,RyderLee,JoleneNoble,TracySakatchWritten, edited and compiled by:GinaTeel,AnthonyMurdoch
Formoreinformation,contact:CCACommunicationsatfeedback@cattle.caorvisitourwebsiteatwww.cattle.ca
Head office:Ste.180,68158thStreetNE,Calgary,ABT2E7H7Phone:403.275.8558Fax:403.274.5686
Ottawa office:1207,350SparksStreet,Ottawa,ONK1R7S8Phone:613.233.9375Fax:613.233.2860
Drought tolerant forage mixtures
Becausenativespeciesmayincreasecarbonsequestration,improvewildlifehabitat,loweragronomicinputs,andextendthegrazingseason,thereisagrowinginterestintheuseofnativeperennialspeciesforseededrangelandandreclamationfollowingdisturbance.Diverseforageswardscomposedofnativespecieshavethepotentialtobeasproductiveastamemonoculturesinagreaterrangeofenvironmentalconditions.Unfortunatelytheinformationfortherightcombinationofspeciesisverylimited.
Arecently-completedresearchprojectfundedbytheNationalCheck-offhttp://www.beefresearch.ca/about/funding/national-check-off.cfmandCanada’sBeefScienceClusterhttp://www.beefresearch.ca/about/funding/canadas-beef-science-cluster.cfmtestedmixturesofnativewarmandcool-seasongrasses,andlegumespeciesthatcouldbeseededinformercroplandandcouldprovideasustainable,droughttolerant,non-invasive,productiverangelandforpastureuseintheMixedGrasslandoftheCanadianPrairies.
Thestudyfoundthatforageyieldandcrudeproteindifferedbetweentheforageswards.Monoculturesandcombinationsofthelegumesandwarm-seasongrassesrankedlow(maybeduetotheexceptionallyhighprecipitationduringthestudy),whileforageswardscontainingWesternWheatgrassrankedhigh.Lessproductivespeciescanhavebeneficialtraitssuchasincreasingnitrogenavailabilityanddroughtresistancetotherestoredforagesward,carrylittlepenaltyundergoodgrowingconditions,andprovide‘insurance’forlessoptimalyears.
Tolearnmoreaboutthisresearch,viewtheBCRCfactsheethere:http://www.beefresearch.ca/factsheet.cfm/breeding-drought-tolerant-forages-55
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