The 2012 MCEC Annual Report is now online. You can view and download it here, along with other past reports. The Annual Report was presented at MCEC’s annual general meeting which was held Thursday, April 4, 2013 at MCEC’s offices.
2012 MCEC Annual Report
April 8, 2013 By
New MCEC email addresses
February 14, 2013 By
MCEC has changed its email addresses. For general information, please contact us at info@mancec.com
Thank you.
MCEC congratulates Plains Processors on Sod-Turning Ceremony
January 28, 2013 By
Winnipeg, January 28, 2012 - The Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council congratulates Plains Processors of Carman, Manitoba for its continued progress on plans to upgrade its facility to become a federally-inspected beef plant.
“MCEC is pleased to be one of the funding partners on this project,” said Kate Butler, MCEC’s Executive Director who attended the plant’s sod-turning on Saturday. “We’re delighted to be working with other investors and lenders as the plant finalizes its plans.”
As part of its mandate to strengthen the Manitoba beef industry, MCEC announced financing of up to $920,000 for the project in 2011.
“This is a positive initiative for the producers and the economy of this province,” said Butler. “It’s a smaller plant making progress on offering access to local and export markets for Manitoba producers. Over time our goal is to help develop a diverse, sustainable number of federally-inspected beef plants here in Manitoba. Plains Processors has been working very hard to advance this project. We came to the table early with terms that are tailored to the best possible outcome for producers in this specific project.”
The Manitoba beef industry will remain at risk of trade disruptions until the province becomes home to federally-inspected plants like this one. The 2003 BSE crisis and the more recent XL Foods closure both affected Manitoba producers more severely than their peers elsewhere. Both episodes are clear warnings of what can happen if Manitoba producers don’t have good, export-capable marketing options for their animals.
“There is a significant price differential between Manitoba and Alberta for the same animals and only part of that is explained by freight and other obvious factors. We need options,” said Butler.
MCEC is committed to being a catalyst to bring federally-inspected beef plant capacity to Manitoba, which is in keeping with the agricultural policy principles outlined in the federal government’s Growing Forward strategy.
“We need continued commitment from provincial and federal governments, as well as from producers and producer organizations, to support policies that can create a stronger, more robust beef industry,” said Butler. “If we work together, we can build a very strong, profitable, export-capable industry to protect producers and build profit here at home.”
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Info.mcec@mymts.net
204-452-6353
Why Alberta cattle earn more than Manitoba cattle
March 16, 2012 By
Recent analysis of the prices cattle get at auction proves what Manitoba producers have known for years: Alberta producers get more for their cattle. A lot more.
That fact was recently confirmed by Canfax market analyst Brian Perillat, who told MCEC: “One of the main reasons why Manitoba’s prices are lower is because they are the furthest distance away from any federally-inspected slaughter plants.”
The analysis shows the average price differential over the first 10 months of 2011 between Alberta and Manitoba on fed steers was $10.16/100lbs. On an average fed steer of 1,300 lbs, that works out to about $130 per animal. We also know that the minimum price differential on other cattle is $50/head for transportation alone.
Click here to read more in our Winter 2012 newsletter.
MCEC & plant management attending Grazing School, Dairy Farmers
December 6, 2011 By
Members of the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council along with the senior management team of the proposed new beef plant in Winnipeg will be talking to producers from Dec. 5 to 7 at week at Grazing School and from Dec. 7 to 9 the annual Manitoba Dairy Farmers’ conference. Both events take place at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg.
MCEC has invested in the plant project to be built at 663 Marion St. in Winnipeg’s historic St. Boniface meat packing district. Plant plans call for it to receive 250 head per day and up to 62,500 head per year.
The strong case for toll processing in Manitoba
August 24, 2011 By
A small plant can target areas of the global beef market that aren’t served by those large multinationals. That’s where the toll processing concept comes in.
The St. Boniface beef plant’s business plan is based on this philosophy. It has been proven to be a profitable business model around the world though this will be the first example of it in Canada.
Read more in our summer 2011 newsletter.