The 45 Feeder Associations of Alberta will be meeting in Red Deer Jan. 30 - Feb. 1st to talk business and do future planning.
“By being partners in livestock financing, our associations have helped grow Alberta’s livestock business by making credit more accessible and flexible,” says FAA Executive Director Craig Guthrie.
2024 was one of the largest years on record, with FAA loans accounting for 20 per cent of the ag lending market in Alberta.
The organization has a long history, going back to 1936 when the Feeder Association Loan Guarantee Program was first established.
The Association provides the financial resources and industry guidance for producers to successfully start or grow their operations.
“We work with government agencies, financial partners, and Local Feeder Associations (LFA) to implement our suite of programs designed to support grain farmers and feeder and breeder operations,” says FAA Chair George L’Heureux, who also represents Zone Four.
“Our Associations have unique knowledge of the challenges in raising livestock, and also understand local communities. This is one of the core strengths of the program as it brings people in that otherwise might not have access to credit at these terms,” adds Guthrie.
Programs offered by FAA have expanded, and Guthrie notes one of the objectives of the Annual Meeting is to raise awareness of some of the newest features to the FAA suite of products under the Alberta Breeder Finance Inc (ABFI) and the Western Cash Advance Program (WeCAP) offerings.
In the lifetime of those two programs alone, the FAA has now funded close to a half a billion dollars.
Representatives from the five zones attend the sessions, as well as industry partners like Alberta Beef Producers, Alberta Cattle Feeders Association, and Western Stockgrowers Association, as well as Livestock Identification Services.
Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson will address the Red Deer conference.
While FAA representatives discuss resolutions and policy, there will be information and program updates too.
Keynote speaker Matt Makens of Makens Weather in Colorado will provide a Weather Outlook, as well as discussion of long-term climate trends. Livestock Traceability is another topic being covered in the two-day agenda, which has the theme of 50 Years - Building on History Towards Excellence.
Another highlight of the annual conference is always the STARS Fundraiser, which set a new record in 2024 of raising over $70,000 for the important service.
The event starts the evening of January 30th, at the Red Deer Resort and Casino, with a session featuring Bullseye Feeds’ Livestock Analyst Brian Perillat on Cattle Industry Opportunities.
“We’re looking forward to getting together to discuss future challenges and possibilities, as we face a declining cattle herd. We invite interested producers to register by January 24th to join in the information sessions,” says Guthrie.
For more information on the Feeder Associations of Alberta, call 587-635-5669 or check the website: www.feederassoc.com
**With information provided by Feeder Associations of Alberta
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