Kootenay cattle conditions

Cattle ranchers in the region face the ups and downs of a fluctuating industry

Now that the price of cattle has gone up, consumers will likely see an increase in the price of red meat in grocery stores. — Kirsten Armleder photo

Cattle prices rebounded in 2010 and, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, strong livestock prices are expected to continue throughout 2012. Jordy Thibeault, who is president of the Kootenay Livestock Association (KLA), said that cattle producers in the Kootenays are optimistic about the future of the cattle industry in B.C., but they are also concerned that the price of beef on grocery store shelves will go up and consumers will buy less of it. 

“The large corporations, like the slaughter plants and grocery stores, have set margins that they all want to achieve,” said Thibeault, "and if they are paying more for their cattle, then they are going to want more for their product—and that means the price in the grocery stores is going to go up."

In response to the increase in cattle prices, Thibeault said that the prices of commodities such as fuel and fertilizer are likely to go up. On top of everything else, cattle farmers have been trying to recuperate from a nine-year industry slump since the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) drove Canadian cattle prices into the ground. To stay afloat during turbulent times, Thibeault said, many cattle farmers have had to delve into their farm’s equity. He also said that some farmers who have downsized—or those who have gotten out of the business altogether and want to get back into it due to the rise in cattle prices—will have to invest money into equipment and infrastructure that has deteriorated over the years, in order for their ranch to become profitable.

Helping farmers help the environment

Last year, the KLA and Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) partnered to create a Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Fund. This initiative works to support the sustainable management of grasslands and rangelands to enhance the biodiversity of the environment and the overall health of wildlife and cattle populations in the Kootenays. The initiative was successful in 2011 and CBT has granted the KLA a two-year extension on the program. So far, the KLA has received approximately $200,000 from CBT. With other contributors, members of the KLA are hoping to receive a total of $400,000 for the project in 2012.

According to Thibeault, the enhancement fund will assist farmers in repairing and replacing fences that have deteriorated over the last 40 years and he said this will contribute to better management of cattle on rangeland.

“The other thing we are working on is our water developments,” said Thibeault, “which help distribute livestock within range units. If they don’t have to travel so far for water, then they will graze more evenly. Our mandate is not just to help cattlemen but to help the environment, so anytime we can improve our manageability on range, it helps the environment.”

Last of a dying breed?

Thibeault is a second-generation cattle rancher, and he and his brother, Jerry Thibeault, purchased the Thibeault Ranch—which is located behind Idlewild Park in Cranbrook—from their father in the mid-1980s. He said that over the years, it has become more difficult for cattle farmers to make a living and that few people are getting into the business of cattle ranching—and that includes children who grew up on ranches.

“The problem is that it is costing a lot to get into and there’s too much money in other things to encourage young people (to get) into it,” said Thibeault.

The business of being a cattle rancher is no walk in the park, but for Thibeault, it’s a lifestyle choice that has brought him great satisfaction.

“I enjoy the work,” said Thibeault. “I enjoy growing things and I enjoy being outside.”