Report from the MCPA Board Meeting

by Karen Emilson

If we can learn anything from this issue’s front page announcement, it is that good planning and persistence pays off.

Every month the MCPA holds a Board Meeting where all the Directors are brought together to discuss the issues of the day, bring forward concerns from their areas and plan a course of action. Board meetings are extremely thought-provoking and informative if you have an interest in the cattle industry as I do; there is so much to learn and things are always changing.

Much of what is said with government is kept in confidence, but sometimes, once negotiations are done, the Board can give its membership an inside look.
Rewind to last June.
The flooding issue was raised briefly at the monthly board meeting then discussed again in July. By early August, the MCPA Executive committee had already met with government preparing them for the fact that if it didn’t stop raining, disaster was looming. The proverbial nail in the coffin came on the September long weekend, when another 73 mm of rain fell on already flooded fields, dashing all hopes that producers in the area would get enough hay up for the winter.
All this you may already know. But what hasn’t been said is that the AgriRecovery and tax deferral announcements never would have happened if it hadn’t been for the diligence of the MCPA and James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake, who listened to the grassroots, initiated discussions with his government and never let the issue rest even when it appeared there was no hope of success.
This reminds me of a recent conversation with former MCPA President, Robert Smith. He was one of the Directors who hired James back in the late 1980s when he was just an upstart —a 24 year-old cowboy who was a little rough around the edges (what good cattleman isn’t?) and the Association’s youngest General Manager to date. Robert described him like “a horse I had to reign in” which I took as a good thing - better than one you had to spur to get going.

James accepted a last minute invitation by MCPA President, Joe Bouchard, to stop by the March Board meeting that just happened to be scheduled for the same day as the federal/provincial announcement in Winnipeg. It was an excellent opportunity for the Board to meet James, who is the newly appointed chairman of the federal Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. Included in that portfolio are Environment Canada; Parks Canada; The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
During the informal discussion with James we discussed the recent NFU report, XL’s purchase of the former Lakeside plant in Alberta and a miscellany of other industry issues.
Of course, Board members had a number of questions for James regarding the announcement of the day:

Martin: How many cows are involved in the reduction in herd size in the flooded areas?
James: For the most part this is hearsay, but based on the numbers going through the auction mart, we’re looking at 15 to 20%.
Martin: Do people eligible for this assistance have to be enrolled in the Growing Forward program?
James: No. It is available to producers who were affected in the flooded municipalities that declared disaster.
Joe: Is the tax deferral just for special circumstances for this year?
James: No this is a change to the law from here on in. There are two levels of coverage. Thirty percent of income from net sales can be deferred if the herd has been reduced by at least 15 percent. If the herd has been reduced by 30 percent or more, 90 percent of income from net sales can be deferred.
And with the $70 per head breeding stock, it is simply based on January 1st inventory numbers. Those numbers will be cross-referenced with AgriStability.
I am guessing the backgrounders will be disappointed because they won’t be able to participate. The thought was that this is designed to provide relief in order to maintain the cow herd and feeders have the option of reducing the number of animals they buy if they don’t have enough feed.
Martin: Why did it take so long?
James: I’ve been pushing for this since August. With AgriRecovery the federal and provincial ag departments had to come to an agreement on the parameters of the program.
Where we ran in to problems is there was a conflicting message being heard. You guys definitely deserve credit for moving this forward with government.
Martin: Thanks.
James: Anyway, applications will be online by the end of March and money will start flowing by April.
Martin: Well that is one thing that we asked for that it be simple and we appreciate that.
Greg: This is bankable so guys who need the dollars can take the information to the bank right now.
James: That’s right.
Trevor: How does it work on re-establishing forages on the flooded hay land?
James: I assume adjusters will come out in the spring and see what’s flooded and what’s not.
Greg: And the southwest?
James: The southwest corner of Manitoba qualifies for the tax deferral because of drought.
Early on, Manitoba was very quick to come out and say they wanted to provide Freight Assistance for feed so that’s what was done. We stepped in after five or six days after the parameters of the program were set. That is how it works with AgriRecovery.
Under the auspices of AgriRecovery we can do per head payments because it moves them out of red into green so they are not countervailable.
Joe: What we really like about it is that it is clear cut and simple and that a precedent has been set.
James: Too bad we didn’t do this three or four months ago, but at least now it is done.
Martin: What it does James, is it gives guys who are out of feed enough money to get them through the winter and that is excellent.
James: Guys have been skimping by all winter and with calving season starting, we could really be setting those females back but this gives them the option to buy barley, pellets, hay, whatever they can find to meet those nutritional needs.
Major Jay: What is the definition of breeding animals? Cows and bulls - what about heifers?
James: Your breeding herd. That will be clarified on the application form.
Joe: We really appreciate all the hard work you’ve done and the positive thing is that you’ve set some groundwork for future issues like this. We really appreciate all that you did.
James: I am glad to do it. That’s my job.
Trevor: And how did things go at the roundtable session this morning?
James: It was all in camera (in confidence) so if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.
Everyone laughs
Major Jay: Save us some time. We’ve been wanting to kill him all afternoon.
Everyone laughs
James: No seriously, everyone there had about two or three minutes to voice their concerns and offer recommendations. As we went around the table a lot of similar issues were mentioned. It was an intelligent debate and I prefer smaller gatherings for that reason.
Joe: I thought there were some very good ideas that were brought out. I appreciate being invited and for the opportunity to provide input on behalf of the cattle sector.
James: You’re welcome. Everything that was brought up, the Minister was already aware of it. He has done a series of eight round tables and he is seeing a lot of the same concerns. Tomorrow he is in Lethbridge. He has people working on the issues. There are always ways to improve and that is what this is all about. We want to get out to the grassroots.
Trevor: I think the concept is good. Nice to see it happen.
James: I had one guy complain the session was too short but the reality is, we were fortunate to have the Minister visit the Interlake.
Joe: Whenever you get a meeting with a high profile Minister like that you are lucky to get an hour an a half. Lucky to get five minutes.
Major Jay: (Back to the flooding issue) Did you have support from the other RMs and MPs?
James: Inky was behind me, for sure. I briefed him last night and he was pretty happy about it. The RMs were very helpful by sending me copies of their resolutions declaring their areas disasters.
Major Jay: That’s really good to hear. Thanks for taking the lead (with the other MPs, MLAs) and getting it organized.
James: Because of my new portfolio I am cutting back on some of the Ag Meetings I attend, but I am still the lead in Manitoba, but CCA and other farm organizations may not have as much access to me as in the past, because I have a whole new set of lobby groups I will be working with.
Ray: With your new position, we are glad to see that you will have some input on the issue of TB. Here is a an updated printout on what has been happening here in Manitoba. We’d like to keep you current and would appreciate your support to keep this thing moving forward.
James: Can I keep this?
Ray: Certainly.
Sheila: We will be in Ottawa on May 12th and would like to meet with you and the new Ag Chairman, Larry Miller.
James: Call my office and set something up. We’ll talk environment when you get to Ottawa. Keep up the great work.