2018 WINTER management, but once they switched to SHOESTRING RANCH focus more on the soil, everything came together. The ranch practices minimum tillage when seeding crops to keep residue RECOGNIZED FOR anchored in the soil and protect the structure to prevent erosion. ENVIRONMENTAL “We try to take an environmental focus on PAGE 2 all the decisions that we do here at the NEW BEGINNINGS STEWARDSHIP ranch, and try to include it in all of our management steps,” said Ian. “We have PAGE 3 Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) presented tried to work with nature as much as we RISKS AND REWARDS Ian and Carman Murray with the 2018 can and we’ve changed the management of Environmental Stewardship Award at the our ranch dramatically to do so.” PAGE 4 ABP Annual General Meeting in December. Dugouts are fenced off with several solar Each year, ABP recognizes a cattle NOW’S THE TIME TO power watering systems to provide better operation that demonstrates leadership CONNECT WITH YOUR VET quality water for the cattle and support in environmental stewardship – one that healthy riparian areas. Shelterbelts are PAGE 5 contributes to the land while improving maintained to protect from wind erosion productivity and profitability. REVAMPING EDUCATION and provide wildlife habitat. PAGE 6 Ian is a fifth-generation Alberta rancher “I’d like to continue to improve upon the whose family originally homesteaded INCENTIVISING ECOSYSTEM utilization of our land, our production, our in 1883, west of Calgary in the Jumping SERVICES cattle and pastures. I’d like to continue to Pound District. In 2007, Ian and Carman improve the health of our soil PAGE 7 moved from north of Cochrane to and the cleanliness of our water,” said Ian. AGM REPORT: Shoestring Ranch near Acme, AB. The cow calf and crop operation runs 180 pairs and Ian’s involvement in the industry and RESOLUTIONS retains calves for a natural beef program. community leadership further proves his PAGE 8 commitment to environmental ranching “I feel my connection to the land, water, air practices. He served as Chair with LOYALTY PROGRAM is really strong and getting stronger as I both the Foothills Forage and Grazing progress throughout my career,” said Ian. PAGE 9 - 11 Association and the Agricultural Research DELEGATE DIRECTORY They began shifting the environmental and Extension Council of Alberta. He focus of the ranch through pasture was an early adaptor of the Verified Beef Production program and Environmental Farm Plan. “I don’t think anybody has ever won this award based on the culmination of your life’s events… It is more of a recognition FOR MORE INFORMATION for being on the path. I don’t think anybody 165, 6815 – 8 Street NE who is on this path ever gets to the end Calgary, AB Canada of it. There’s always something more to T2E 7H7 accomplish, to make something a little bit better,” said Ian. tel 403.275.4400 fax 403.274.0007 Watch the 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award video here: albertabeef.org vimeo.com/245440607. allforthebeef.ca This year, almost one-quarter of the After years of talking about the need delegates who were successful in for increased industry funding to our fall elections are new to ABP. We maintain our competitive position in have six new directors on our Board the global market, we are pleased to of Directors and two of our four be moving forward with an increase CHARLIE CHRISTIE Executive members are new to their in the national check-off from $1 per ABP Chair positions. After being away from marketing to $2.50 per marketing ABP for a year, I was honoured to be on April 1, 2018. The national elected as a Director at Large by our check-off provides funding for the NEW delegate body and then selected by crucial market development, the directors as Chair of the research, and issues management BEGINNINGS organization. I recognize the activities of Canada Beef and the responsibility I have accepted and Beef Cattle Research Council. The look forward to working with the basis for the increase in national Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is directors and delegates to move our check-off is the National Beef proud to be a democratic and industry forward to greater strength Strategy (NBS), a five-year strategy representative organization of and prosperity. I am also pleased for our industry that was developed producers, run by producers, our Board and delegate body are in 2014 through collaboration speaking and working for younger and have more gender among all the major national and producers. Obviously, a critical balance than ABP has seen in many provincial cattle organizations in element of our organization’s years. Canada, including ABP. The NBS set success is the quality of grassroots ambitious objectives for the industry producers who accept the One of the bittersweet parts of in the areas of productivity, responsibility of leading ABP. These organizational renewal is bidding competitiveness, beef demand leaders understand the industry farewell and happy trails to the (marketing), and connectivity . The and are committed to directing ABP delegates and directors who are organizations recognized the need strategies toward actions that will leaving our leadership. Bob Lowe for greater industry investment to bring the greatest benefits for most has completed his term as ABP reach these goals and that is the cattle and beef producers. They Chair and now will serve one more reason for the national check-off take our mission of strengthening year on our Executive as Past Chair. increase. the sustainability and Bob put his heart and soul into his competitiveness of the beef time as ABP Chair and we will miss At the provincial level, we are excited industry for the benefit of beef his enthusiasm for people and new by the possibility of creating the producers in Alberta seriously. ideas as we reap the benefits of the Alberta Beef Industry Development key strategic actions he initiated Fund (ABIDF), a fund that would The time and effort required to and guided. Roland Cailliau left our support research, market participate as a delegate or director Board after three years on the development, education, and of ABP represents a business and Executive and we will miss his industry collaboration activities in family sacrifice for the producers insights and his Peace region Alberta. The funding for the ABIDF who take these leadership roles. contributions. These are people with would come from the additional We know that ABP gains strength whom we work closely and develop revenue available to the industry from the fresh perspectives new strong relationships based on with a non-refundable service delegates and directors bring to mutual respect and admiration. charge. We have received clear the organization. For these reasons, direction from producers at fall we have a strong tradition of The theme of our 2017 Annual meetings to pursue a non- renewal in our delegate body and Report was Risks and Rewards. refundable service charge and the Board of Directors. Our by-laws There is no question that our ABIDF represents a tremendous have consecutive term limits for delegates and directors will be opportunity for our industry to come both delegates and directors to focusing on mitigating the risks and together and make investments that ensure there is room for new taking advantage of the rewards will make it stronger and more people and that joining ABP facing our industry as we plan our profitable. The following Executive leadership is not a lifetime strategies and actions for the Director article will describe this commitment. We are always coming year. Once again, we will be PAGE 2 opportunity in more detail, but we seeking a good balance between guided by the comments and see it as a great new beginning for the experience and organizational suggestions we have received from the 2018 year. knowledge of our longer serving producers at our fall meetings delegates and the bright ideas of through the successful producer our new delegates. engagement exercises we have conducted for the past two years. GRASS ROUTES at TPP11, and applaud the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Government of Canada for reaching has stated that he would not make a an agreement that will be signed in service charge non-refundable March. without a plebiscite of producers and ABP has been working closely with RICH SMITH All farmers and ranchers will be the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Executive Director challenged to understand and deal Association (ACFA) to gain their with the full implications of Bill 6, support for a non-refundable service The Enhanced Protection for Farm and charge. RISKS AND Ranch Workers Act, and other new legislation related to employment After lengthy negotiations and standards, labour relations, youth unprecedented cooperation between REWARDS employment, and occupational the organizations, ABP and ACFA health and safety. Through our have reached an agreement in In the preceding article, our new membership in the AgCoalition, ABP principle to collaborate on the Chair, Charlie Christie, talked about will continue our dialogue and development and implementation of the renewal of our organization that consultation with the government to the ABIDF and the funding allocation takes place every year and the new make the legislation and regulations from a non-refundable service beginnings we will see in 2018. He reasonable and achievable for charge. Under the agreement on the noted that the theme of the 2017 farmers and ranchers. We also allocation of a $2 non-refundable ABP Annual Report was risks and welcome the opportunity for the AG service charge, five cents would rewards, sometimes also described Safe Alberta Society, a newly formed continue to be paid to check-off as challenges and opportunities.