By Jessica Eblie
Cattle producers from across the province gathered in Brandon on Feb. 11 and 12 for the 47th annual general meeting (AGM) of Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), an event that combined education, industry updates, financial reporting and recognition of leadership within Manitoba’s beef sector.
Held at the Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, the AGM, tradeshow and President’s Banquet provided an opportunity for producers and industry leaders to reflect on the past year and look ahead to priorities for 2026.
Manitoba’s beef sector is riding a profitable wave, but producers remain mindful of the changing horizons ahead for the industry.
“There’s a ton of unknown in the industry right now,” said Carson Callum, chief executive officer of the MBP, following the AGM. “Not just in our industry but in agriculture overall. Whether that’s weather impacts that can be detrimental or quite positive, depending on the year, or geopolitical issues.”
International trade remains a central component of Manitoba’s beef sector.
“We’re very heavily reliant on trade, and our relationship with our partner to the south is extremely important,” Callum said. “As an industry, we export close to 50 per cent of what we produce here in Canada, and close to 70 per cent of that goes to the U.S.”
With that trade-dependent relationship, stability is key.
“From a trade aspect, we always say ‘do no harm,’” Callum stated. “We have a good free trade agreement right now (with the U.S.), especially for our industry in particular. Any sort of hiccup in that partnership can lead to a really negative impact.”
At the same time, producers are encouraged by diversification efforts.
“We just got back into the China market that we were shut out of for a number of years,” he said. “Diversifying our market is only going to lead to positive things.”
While trade and geopolitics remain major considerations, business risk management tools closer to home were also highlighted during the AGM.
Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshy announced at the AGM that Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) will test a new way to provide forage insurance for 2026. This initiative will use advanced satellite technology to make it easier for farmers to report their crop data and provide more accurate estimates of forage production.
For MBP, the announcement reflects long-standing calls for stronger and more practical business risk management solutions for the beef sector. The organization sees the use of new technology to reduce administrative burden in forage insurance programs as a positive step and welcomed the collaboration between governments and MASC in advancing
Beyond risk management, this year’s AGM also focused on topics such as sustainability, wildlife management and producer well-being.
“We had a really good discussion on sustainability,” Callum said. “(There was) lots of great feedback because that’s a real topic right now in the industry. We wanted to make sure that we were advocating for it to be done right.”
Wildlife management was another key area of discussion, particularly the growing elk population.
“The populations have exponentially grown, especially over here,” Callum said. “Elk can cause huge damage — whether that’s to feed, infrastructure, corrals or fences.”
AGM delegates supported a resolution calling on MBP to lobby the province regarding the high population of elk and deer. The resolution focused on identifying the impacts caused by these animals and conducting a population survey to better inform future decisions.
But perhaps the most significant conversation at the AGM centered on mental health and well-being. Callum noted that agriculture and farming often carry pressures that are unseen but deeply felt.
Keynote speaker Brett Gardiner, a mental health and wellness advocate with strong ties to agriculture, addressed the importance of breaking down stigma and encouraging producers to be intentional and “chase the good in the world.”
“I truly think (his message) was well received,” Callum said. “It’s a hard topic. Coming in there and talking about your feelings is not something that most beef producers really want to do.”
The AGM also recognized two outgoing directors for their contributions to the organization and honoured Connor and Kyla English, who were the recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Award.
As the 47th AGM wrapped up in Brandon, producers reflected on a year of strong markets while acknowledging the work ahead: maintaining stable trade relationships, addressing wildlife concerns and continuing conversations around sustainability and mental health.
