The Environment Committee met on March 11, 2020 during the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) AGM in Ottawa. There were some excellent speakers throughout the day, and as always, there never seems to be enough time to fit it all in. The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) Executive Director, Monica Hadarits, provided an update on the roundtable’s work, and it seems like there continues to be more organizations becoming involved. It’s great to see such engagement from multiple stakeholders.  

The CCA’s Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Amie Peck, provided an update from the Public and Stakeholder Engagement team to the committee. The Guardians of the Grasslands short documentary was having great success, and by all accounts was trending in a positive way and reaching new audiences. It’s been making the rounds to the various film festivals and has been well received. We have a great story to tell when it comes to cattle and grasslands, and the positive impact the beef industry has on the environment.

Transport Canada officials provided an update to the Minor Works Order with regards to the Navigable Waters Act. Water drainage and irrigation ditches were going to be exempt from the act, which is great news for farmers and ranchers.  Further detail on other exemptions will come forward with the posting of the Minor Works Order likely in the summer.

Canfax Research Services Manager, Brenna Grant, also joined the committee meeting to report on some exciting research with regards to carbon sequestration and the impacts that cattle truly have on our environment. I encourage everyone to take the time and find out in more depth the exciting things happening there.

Strychnine will no longer be approved for use in ground squirrel control and over the next few years will be phased out. It is disappointing that it will no longer be a tool that can be used to deal with these pests.

Geoffrey Larkin
Atlantic Delegate and Vice President
Young Cattlemen’s Council