CCA Reflects On COVID Challenges In The Beef Sector

Dec 24, 2020

The livestock sector, like many others, got hit hard by COVID.

Bob Lowe, President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association reflects on the impact.

"When we look back at this time last year it was all roses. The futures were up, exports were really moving hard, we were opening up new markets and from a beef producers point of view there was no downside. That carried on fairly well til the middle of March, and then we all know what happened."

He says the pandemic showed us where the pressure points are in the supply chain, and it's obvious it's in the packing plants.

"When Cargill shut down for the 14 days, and JBS well they slowed right down. When you consider those two plants are about 80% of Canada's capacity

it didn't take long to back things up."

He says producers and processors should all be commended for the way they came through it, as well as the front line workers in the packing plants and grocery stores.

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Video: EP 70 Maximizing Soil Function – Stories of Regeneration Part 3

Soil is very much alive. And hungry too. Some estimates go as far as saying that there is more life in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet. You just need a microscope to see the vast majority of it. Or you do what grain farmer Blake Vince did, and bury a pair of “tighty whities” (underwear) in the soil to produce proof of the existence of this vast and diverse soil microbial community.

In the soil, you’ve got well-known critters like earthworms, bacteria and fungi and lesser-known ones like protozoa and nematodes, who have this tendency to eat the bacteria and fungi. In this bustling environment where a lot of things are eating each other, there is an exchange between soil organisms and plants so both sides of the equation get what they need to survive and thrive and produce food for the rest of us living above ground. This interaction between the soil and plants is something that fascinated Blake Vince, who farms mainly soya and corn in southwestern Ontario, it fascinated him at a young age.

Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture.