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Maritime Beef /Pork Conference

Highlights

                Nova Scotia resident, BIC's

          Jeff Trafford tells the secrets

                   to marketing success

NS Federation of Agriculture's

CEO Henry Vissers accepts a

plaque from Janice Whelan

for his years of work on the

Conference Committee

NSCP's John Tilley, BIC's Janice

Kantner and Jeff Trafford, and Rinnie Bradley, Executive Manager of PEICP

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Chairman's AGM Report April 25th 2009

I am pleased to present this report to you on what your organization is involved in, as we work to to develop programming and changes that will produce profitability for our producers. We continue to address some serious problems, which will take time to resolve.

This work is not easy,  and our net revenues are not sufficient to enable producers to survive. Returning profitability to the industry is our major goal as an organization.  Another factor is the current world economic crisis, which affects our industry negatively in many ways. 

But, as we proceed, we are also identifying opportunities for the industry. On many occasions during the past several months, NSCP and other members of the Maritime Beef Council, led by our three chairmen, met with federal and provincial politicians and staff, including the  Maritime Ministers of Agriculture, federal Minister of AAFC Gerry Ritz and others. 

We have not yet been successful in obtaining the assistance we wish for producers, and are undertaking a plan with other members of the Maritime Beef Council which we hope will produce the support our producers need.  The simple fact is that if we are not successful, we fear for the industry’s future survival. 

Our discussion points with government have included resources and solutions which provide sustainability and profitability. We are clear in our discussions with them that we are seeking investment, not a handout. But, until solutions which provide an adequate return to producers can be found, we need to keep producers in business.  Therefore, we have developed and provided government with ideas for beginning income opportunities to our producers as soon as possible. 

Some of the issues we have discussed with government in recent months include:

• industry stabilization solutions such as debt restructuring
• help for producers affected by the recent feed shortages
• a review of government programs and regulations to ensure they are effective, appropriate and working for us
• market profitability and ways it can be achieved
• opportunities which can be taken advantage of through the right mixture of resources and infrastructure

We also discussed interprovincial trade with the Ministers. We proposed a pilot project for beef which perhaps can become a model within Canada. This should make it easier for our producers to do business, and create more opportunities to benefit from the value chain.

As you all know by now, we are putting the final touches on our industry strategic plan, which has been a major focus of activities for over a year. Our industry cannot get where it needs to be without a well developed plan. This will provide a long-term vision of a successful future for the industry.  It details ideas and strategic directions to get us there and will allow regular adjustment to meet changing needs.

Again, to be successful, the industry can only become sustainable and profitable with a mixture of short-term and ongoing strategic action. The plan must encompass that range of ideas.

On an organizational front, we see many advantages to formalizing our Maritime Beef Council, so that we will be better able to work on regional issues with our provincial and federal governments.  NSCP believes that lobbying for certain things to help the industry will be much more effective when done regionally and cooperatively.  Obviously, we will still maintain a strong provincial independence, which is needed as well.

Single desk selling of tags and improvements to the levy and registration system are also taking a lot of work. At this meeting, we are presenting information on that work for your consideration.  There are a lot of advantages to our producers in simplifying the systems.

Lastly, I want to thank a number of people for their hard work and support on behalf of this industry.  Without their input, we would not be able to carry out the difficult work for our producers.  So, I wish to point out some special people and ask that you join me in that thanks.

As we move on with today’s meeting, please accept my thanks.  It is an honor to serve as your Chairman.

Signed,

Dave Oulton