MP Perspective on Agriculture Issues Following Federal Election

Oct 31, 2019

Many in the western part of Canada were not pleased that agriculture was not a prominent issue in the recent federal election. Selkirk, Interlake-Eastman MP James Bezan shares his perspective.

"I can tell you that, at our debates that we had here in Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman that, agriculture dominated the conversation," notes Bean. "As a former cattle producer myself, and one that was very active in both agri-business and farm politics, I was also disappointed that we didn't hear much at the national level discussed."

He explains that the Conservative platform included a strong commitment to agriculture that would fix agri-stability in farm programs to make it easier to administrate, be more affordable, predictable and bankable for farmers. Bezan notes they need something responsive to farmers' needs.

He adds, especially with the terrible year they've faced, with drought and now a wet harvest, "Agriculture producers across Manitoba and across the prairie region are facing very uncertain times. And the government should be there to help support them after we get this crop off the field. So, we'll continue to push for those changes."

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.