In a move that sounds less like agricultural policy and more like a messy divorce, Alberta Beef Producers announced plans to split from the Canadian Cattle Association, citing “governance concerns” — code for “we’re tired of being told what to do by people east of Swift Current.”
The rift comes as ranchers face drought, high feed costs, and consumers who now pay ribeye prices for ground chuck. While the national body preaches unity, Alberta producers have decided that the best way to save Canadian beef is apparently to saw it into smaller, bloodier pieces.
Critics warn the split could weaken industry lobbying power, but supporters insist Albertans know beef better than anyone else — especially when it comes to carving it up. For now, Canadian cattle politics resemble a feedlot brawl: everyone’s in the mud, nobody’s sure who’s winning, and the smell is unforgettable.
