Livestock Research Innovation Corporation appoints new CEO

Long-time livestock industry leader Mike McMorris will be the new CEO of Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC). McMorris, most recently General Manager of AgSights, assumes the position on September 1.

 

“Mike’s background in agricultural research, extension, and management has allowed him to build a solid understanding of agriculture, as well as develop a vast network of working relationships,” says LRIC chair Oliver Haan. “He’s had a keen interest in LRIC since its inception and the lifelong passion that he has for this industry will help our organization both ensure value for our members and drive innovation through the value chain.”

 

McMorris began his career in extension and management with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) before joining Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (now Beef Farmers of Ontario) as Executive Director.

 

He subsequently served as Director of Operations with Agricorp, and became General Manager of BIO (now AgSights), a producer cooperative dedicated to bringing information management to livestock industries in Canada and internationally, in 2008. He holds a Masters’ degree in Animal Science, Breeding and Genetics from the University of Guelph.

 

LRIC was established in 2012 under the leadership of outgoing CEO Tim Nelson with support from Ontario’s beef, pork, dairy and poultry commodity organizations and OMAFRA to provide leadership in research priority setting, coordination and process. 

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.