As beef prices drop, many Alberta cattle producers are worried.

With record high prices in 2015, the drastic drop comes as a blow to many Alberta farmers, according to Rick Smith, Executive Director of Alberta Beef Producers.

"All the feedyards in the province have had a really difficult year financially. A lot of them bought cattle last fall at fairly high prices and then they're feeding them through the winter, spring and summer, and the prices of the finished cattle have gone down substantially. The decline in prices is never good news for an industry."

Airdrie area farmers are not exempt and are having an equally challenging time for business.  In 2015, Smith says there was a "unique shortage" of the three major proteins: beef, pork and poultry, in the North American market which led to the very high prices.

The announcement that Western Feedlots is shutting down reflects the current cattle industry and Smith says one of the reasons for closing their gates is the current high risk, low return environment.

Smith says many farmers are already feeling the affects of Bill 6 and some of the new policies on the horizon are not looking too promising.