Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) had its first in-person meeting with Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen this week.

Items discussed included changes to the Agricultural Crown lands (ACL) leasing program, the adverse production conditions in 2019, and challenges related to predation.

“At our recent district meetings, ACL lease holders cited a number of concerns in areas such as affordability, predictability (lease lengths and transfers), the new system for valuing improvements, among others," said MBP President Tom Teichroeb. "We had a frank discussion about these topics and will continue to do so with the provincial government to try to secure some changes.”

During the meeting MBP asked the provincial government to revisit its decision not to pursue an AgriRecovery initiative for beef producers affected by this year’s adverse production conditions, which has affected feed availability and affordability. As well, MBP made suggestions with respect to the need to make Business Risk Management programs more responsive to the needs of the beef industry, and around improving access to haying and grazing of Wildlife Management Areas.

MBP also discussed its request for funding for a pilot project aimed at reducing the risk of negative livestock-wildlife interactions.