Manitoba Beef Producers GM Looks Back On 2020

The beef sector was one industry that felt the impact of COVID-19 early on.

 

Carson Callum is general manager of Manitoba Beef Producers.

 

"Obviously, a big impact in the spring when these closures came down as a result of some health challenges with the staff at these different processing plants, so that was a big concern in the sector and that led to some backup of cattle and some market fluctuations. Definitely folks took a hit during that period."

 

Callum says improving Business Risk Management (BRM) programming was a key priority in 2020.

 

"As COVID has shown more than anything, there really needs to be effective Business Risk Management tools for agriculture producers to manage some of their risk that does arise. Really, that's been the focus of a lot of advocacy work from us and other lobby groups, to look at improvements to those different programs. Hoping that we can see some movement on that and adjustments to different programs such as AgriStability would be welcome."

 

Callum lists public trust, Ag Crown Lands, and BRM programming as key priorities heading into 2021.

Video: CEOs of the Industry – International Edition Michael Agerley | Partner, IQinAbox

In this CEOs of the Industry – International Edition, we sit down with Michael Agerley, Partner at IQinAbox, to explore how data is reshaping the future of pig production.

After more than 20 years as a veterinarian, Michael shares his unique perspective on the shift from hands-on animal care to data-driven decision making across the pork value chain.

We dive into:

• How better data is improving real on-farm decisions

• The biggest opportunities still untapped in pig production

• How Europe is leading (and where it’s still lagging) in tech adoption

• The role of AI and smart systems in the next 5–10 years

• Why trust, leadership, and practical application matter more than ever

This conversation bridges veterinary insight, technology, and real-world farming, offering a clear look at where the industry is headed—and what it will take to get there.