Consumers often wonder what is being done to ensure cattle are raised sustainably and humanely. Rancher Erika Stewart explains the audited Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) program for Canadian cattle producers. The program focuses on three main practices: animal care, food safety and environmental stewardship to demonstrate to consumers the level of care that goes into producing beef.
Host: Clinton Monchuk
Clinton Monchuk grew up on a mixed dairy, beef and grain family farm outside of Lanigan, Saskatchewan. He received his Bachelors of Science in Agriculture majoring in Agricultural Economics from the University of Saskatchewan and Masters of Business Administration in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. Clinton has enjoyed numerous roles across Canada, the United States and Mexico as a researcher, educator, manager, economist and director of trade policy.
In 2016 Clinton accepted the role of Executive Director with Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan to promote farming and ranching to consumers. Clinton understands the value of increasing public trust in agriculture and actively promotes engagement between the agriculture industry and consumers.
Clinton, Laura and their children Jackson and Katelyn, continue to be active partners on their family grain and layer farm in Saskatchewan and cattle ranch in Oklahoma
Guest: Erika Stewart
Erika Stewart alongside her husband Cyle and their three daughters ranch in Morse SK. They have a commercial cattle operation and also grass yearlings. The Stewarts are passionate about the grasslands they are fortunate enough to call home and are always trying to learn and improve their management practices on the ranch.
Erika is also the provincial coordinator for the VBP+ program in Saskatchewan. She is the first point of contact for producers in Saskatchewan to call and gain information about VBP+ and beef sustainability in Canada. Erika is also very passionate about ag-vocacy and sharing the beef industry's story with consumers.
Resources:
Life at Pine Ranch, Season 1
VBP+ program
Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB)
Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC)
CCFI research
Episode Credits: Research and writing by Dorothy Long and Penny Eaton, Produced and edited by Angela Larson, Music by Andy Ellison-Track title: Gravel Road
Connect with us: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube , email
Sign up for our newsletter
