COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • DECEMBER 2018
29 Co-op model recommended for beef plant
November meetings update producers planning process by TOM WALKER
KAMLOOPS – A series of engagement meetings in November gave producers more information on planning work the BC Cattlemen’s Association has undertaken for a new federally inspected meat packing plant in BC. “This has not been a short
process up to this point and it won’t be a short process going forward from here,” says BCCA general manager Kevin Boon. “There won’t be any packing plant built until we are sure it is viable and we have the cattle supply there, as well as the marketing on the back end.” The process began in 2012 when a speciality retailer who wanted to develop a natural BC beef brand for its stores approached Boon. “We could get the cattle they needed – about 300 head every couple of weeks,” recalls Boon.
But the company needed them to be processed in a federally inspected plant. “We found that it simply could not be done,” says Boon. “BC does not have adequate federal processing, and the clean-out costs at the large Alberta plants would nearly double the cost, even if they would agree to do it. We were not able to accommodate that specialty program.” Boon started looking into what it might take to serve retailers’ requests. An initial value-chain analysis was completed in 2012-13,
followed by a viability study in 2015. “We built a business plan
and presented it to government last spring they thought it was worthy of further development.” The November meetings
were part of a series to share the strategic vision for the plant. “We want to get the feel of
producers and see if there is an appetite to move forward with this,” says Boon. Glenn Brand of Brand
Marketing & Management Inc. in Calgary compiled the three initial studies on the plant and spoke at the November meetings. Kerry Wright and Bruce Cowper from the Ontario agri-consulting firm Mallot Creek Group Inc. also presented. BCCA hired Mallot Creek because of its expertise in building food processing plants and experience working with producer groups and cooperatives who have started plants. Wright presented the vision
for the proposed BC plant as providing “branded, differentiated, high-quality beef products to serve the specific needs of domestic and select international customers.”
A BC brand is one of the
key elements of the project. “As part of our initial value- chain analysis, we surveyed 1,000 customers across BC markets and found that 89%
See PACKING on next page o
Producer Check-off Supports Beef Industry Projects.
www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.2333
BCBFA BC BREEDER & FEEDER ASSOCIATION
APP (ADVANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM) FOR BC PRODUCERS FEEDER ASSOCIATIONS LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM | BRED HEIFER ASSOCIATIONS LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM
THE ADVANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL BC PRODUCERS.
Producers can apply for an advance on calves, yearlings, lambs, bison, forage and grain up to $400,000.00 with the first $100,000.00 being interest free. Plus, interest relief through the Advance Payments Program is available to association members on their feeder cattle purchases.
Application forms are available at
www.bcbfa.ca or by contacting your local association or the BCBFA office. Financing for feeder cattle, sheep and bred heifers/cows is available throughout B.C. from Co-operative Feeder and Bred Heifer Associations. The Province provides a loan guarantee to the Association’s lender. All persons are eligible who reside in British Columbia, are at least 19 years of age and own or lease a farm or ranch. Financing for feeders is for a one year term. Financing for bred heifers/cows is over a 5 year term. Cattlemen, please contact your local association:
Cariboo Bred Heifer Cooperative Cariboo-Chilcotin Cooperative Feeders Assoc Fraser Nechako Bred Heifer Cooperative Assoc
Secretary: Lindy Gilson, Quesnel
Ph 250/992-8483 | Fax 250/992-8489 Ph 250/991-8413 email:
bearvlly@telus.net
Central Interior Feeders Cooperative Assoc Secretary: Audrey Cooper, Vanderhoof Ph 250/567-2049 | Fax 250/567-9049 email:
cifcasecretary@uniserve.com
Okanagan Feeders Cooperative Association Secretary: Michele Lypchuk, Armstrong Tel 250/546-2638 | Fax 250/546-8037 email:
ml@rhllp.ca
North Peace B.C. Feeder Cooperative North Peace B.C. Bred Heifer Cooperative Assoc South Peace B.C. Bred Heifer Cooperative Assoc
Secretary: Connie Patterson, Dawson Creek Ph 250/782-6272 | Fax 250/782-1881 Ph 250/219-0791 email:
pcc@neonet.bc.ca
ADVANTAGES TO THE LIVESTOCK PRODUCER
Reliable source of credit available on short notice from the Association.
Interest rate is competitive or better than on an individual basis.
5% deposit on feeders & 10% deposit on bred heifers allows producers to continue during periods of limited cash flow.
The association is controlled by the members.
Livestock mortality insurance. BC BREEDER & FEEDER ASSOCIATION
LINDY GILSON 308 St. Laurent Avenue, Qusenel, BC, V2J 6R1 P 250.992.8483 | F 250.992.8489 email:
bearvlly@telus.net
meadowvalleymeats.com 1.800.665.9731 BCBFA
www.bcbfa.ca
CIDC Check-off
Check-off
Beef at
Work
BCID Fund
1-866-398-2848 ext 2 |
VBP@cattlemen.bc.ca www.verifiedbeefproductionplus.com
Consultant Kerry Wright, right, from Ontario, was one of several guest speakers at a series of producer meetings about a proposal to build a beef packing plant in the Central Interior. TOM WALKER PHOTO
Canada’s Verified Beef Production Plus Program
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