Beef Cattle Research Council seeks chair in sector economic sustainability at U of M
Merging economic and environmental priorities in the cattle industry is the goal of a new chair.
The Beef Cattle Research Council has tabbed $1.5 million for a chair in beef cattle economic sustainability, to be helmed at the University of Manitoba.
Nobody has yet filled the role; the search is ongoing. Funding for the new position is set to last 10 years.
Eric Gregory / The Associated Press Files
The search is on for a chair in beef cattle economic sustainability for The Beef Cattle Research Council, to be helmed at the University of Manitoba.
'This was definitely an area — in terms of economics and beef production research — where we saw a huge gap,' said Andrea Brocklebank, BCRC executive director.
The council, funded by Canadian beef producers, regularly funds industry research. Animal health, forage production and sustainability are among the topics covered.
'What's been lacking is the economic evaluations to encourage producer adoption of new technologies,' Brocklebank said. '(It's) understanding, if you're gonna adopt different management practices or innovations, what the cost dynamic is long term and short term.'
The council doesn't yet have specific projects in mind for evaluation; it depends on the person hired and the timing, Brocklebank said. Improving productivity through breeding, and cover cropping, are among the topics the council might recommend tackling.
The BCRC chose to partner with the University of Manitoba because of the post-secondary's reputation for interdisciplinary work, Brocklebank added.
The new chair will reside in the Winnipeg university's animal science department. They'll work with students and faculty, said Martin Scanlon, dean of agricultural and food sciences.
Economic findings will be shared with producers at relevant meetings, such as association gatherings, he said. He's seen students, born and raised on farms, come to school interested in the long-term sustainability of farm operations.
'They're always ready to adopt environmental practices, but at the end of the day, they have to be economically viable,' Scanlon said. 'That's what the strength of this chair is.''
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The cow-calf sector holds 'pretty risky business,' he added.
Beef cattle farmers face volatile input costs, climate-related risks and limited access to equitable risk management tools, the University of Manitoba shared in a release.
It and the council have partnered with the Manitoba Beef Producers, Manitoba Agriculture and the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives on the new position.
The university isn't funding the role. It's aiming to secure additional funding for the chair from government and industry, Scanlon said.
gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
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Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle.
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