Responding to Producer Demands
The Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council is the Manitoba Government’s response to beef industry demands for a made-in-Manitoba solution to the problems producers faced when BSE was discovered in Canadian herds in May 2003 resulted in a U.S embargo on live cattle exports.
At the height of the three year BSE crisis, Manitoba producers were effectively shut out of the limited slaughter and processing facilities in Ontario and Alberta. Cattle numbers soared, prices plummeted and producers demanded assurance they would never again be caught in a situation where there were no local marketing or slaughter opportunities available to them.
Rebulding the beef industry infrastructure is not a simple matter with one solution or stakeholder. On March 28, 2006, the province created the MCEC to manage an investment fund to help finance slaughter facilities in Manitoba. As a secondary responsibility, the council was mandated to increase development of value-added livestock products and support research into beef marketing issues.
Industry Focused, Producer Responsive
The council and it’s Investment Advisory Committee is comprised of cattle industry representatives and investment specialists who will administer an investment pool funded by a compulsory but refundable levy of $2 per head on all cattle produced and sold in the province and matched, dollar by dollar, by the provincial government in the first three years.
Based on sales numbers over the past five years, the council estimates the levy will raise about $1.1 million annually. When provincial matching funds are added, the fund will total about $2.2 million per year. The level of provincial matched funding will be reviewed in three years.
The province has also provided the council a $1 million start-up grant. A $10 million repayable loan from Manitoba Agricultural Services has been authorized to help the council begin supporting viable projects quickly.
The fund will be used to support qualifying beef slaughter or processing projects that make a good business case, enhances the industry’s viability and/or offer producers new marketing opportunities within Manitoba.
How are Levies Collected?
The council will collect the $2 per head fee at the time of sale on all classes of cattle produced. Levies are collected at the point of sale and sent to the council’s office within then days following the last day of each month. Sales report forms are available from the council office.
Levy Facts at a Glance
- Levies are due on all classes of cattle sold in Manitoba
- They are collected at point of sale by all licensed livestock dealers and on all private sales.
- Levies must be remitted within ten days of the last day of the month in which the sales were made.
- No levies are payable on cattle re-sold within 30 days but must be paid on the original sale.
- Levy fees should be accompanied by the prescribed remittance form and sent to the MCEC.
- Producers may apply for refunds at any time during the year by following the process outlined on this Web site.
What do you get for your $2 per head?
- Access to new Manitoba slaughter/processing facilities
- Matching dollar-for-dollar government support for your industry
- More marketing options
- Research into value-added beef products
- Stable, made-in-Manitoba marketing opportunities
Beef Processing in Manitoba – Market and Industry Update
This is an update to the original 2004 Feasibility Analysis which appears on the MAFRI web site.
| Name |
Title |
| Kathleen Butler |
Executive Director |
| Bill Uruski |
Chair |
| Neil Van Ryssel |
Vice-Chair |
| Don Yanick |
Member |
| R. Harvey Harland |
Member |
| Gaylene Dutchyshen |
Member |
| Albert Todosichuk |
Member |
Cattle Enhancement Membership Regulation No. 84/2006
Cattle Enhancement Membership Regulation Amendment No. 133/2006
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