The Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) is welcoming a new president.

Dan Darling, who farms in Ontario, will move to the president position after serving for two years as the vice-president.

He and his brother operate a cow-calf operation with 250 cows and background calves on 1,500 acres. Darling is a past-president of Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and represented Ontario beef farmers provincially on the BFO Cow-Calf and Government Relations Committees.

“The CCA is well-respected and has earned its reputation as an organization of influence because of the good work they do,” Darling said. “I am truly honoured to take on the role of CCA President and will continue to focus on achieving excellence in all files and to represent the best interests of beef producers across Canada.”

Keeping the focus on trade will be a priority for the new president, including achieving a bilateral trade agreement with Japan, access for beef from animals over 30 months of age with Mexico, and resolution of the longstanding technical barriers that have prevented the European union from approving Canada’s main packing plants to export to the EU.

Darling will replace Dave Solverson, who moves to the position of past-president.

BC Rancher David Haywood-Farmer will take over the vice-president position.

Both jobs were filled by acclamation over the weekend at the CCA Annual General Meeting in Ottawa.