Glenda-Lee Vossler

The Manitoba Egg Farmers Learning and Research Centre at the University of Manitoba's Glenlea Research Station.

The new 22 thousand square foot facility is the first interpretive egg/layer research, education, and training facility in Canada.

Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson says the Province partnered with the Government of Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to provide $1.5 million in funding to support ongoing research at UM through the Glenlea Research Station.

Yesterday was a key day for farmers as Bill C-234 received its third and final reading in the House of Commons.

Bill C-234 an Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act would exempt on-farm grain drying from the Carbon Tax.

Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food John Barlow says this is a massive win for Canadian farmers.

"This will reduce or remove the carbon tax from natural gas and propane on farms once it gets through the Senate. So we're hopeful before we rise in June, that will happen."

RM delegates had an opportunity to ask questions this week during SARM's bearpit session with Premier Scott Moe and his cabinet ministers.

The reeve of Val Marie Larry Grant brought up the issue of the growing deer and elk population destroying feed stacks noting that producers on the western side of the province have been going through drought and struggling to access feed.

Grant called for immediate action to reduce the numbers --- noting that in his area if they can get it producers are paying $200 a bale for hay delivered that is being destroyed.

Manitoba Potato Production Days are celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.

This week's event in Brandon, which got underway Tuesday with a meet and greet event and the speaker program starting Wednesday morning, includes sessions on regenerative agriculture, wildfires and soil health.

The event originally began as Horticultural Production Days in 1973 until some of the other fruit and vegetable growers split off on their own.

Concerns over potential animal health diseases is leading to more investment in preparedness.

The province of Saskatchewan and Sask Pork are investing $1 million in swine disease mitigation efforts.

A key concern for the pork industry is African swine fever, a viral disease that has been found in Africa, and some parts of Europe and Asia. 

To date, the disease has never been found in Canada, but should it occur somewhere, borders would likely be closed and export markets shut down for the whole country.

The Alberta Canola Conference kicked off yesterday in Lethbridge.

Producers taking part in the group's AGM heard the details of a spear-phishing attack that occurred in August.

Alberta Canola has implemented new ongoing cyber security training for staff and directors following a spear-phishing attack in August.

Director Ian Chitwood says payment for one invoice was diverted to a fraudulent account, the attack was discovered when the perpetrators tried a second attempt.

There was a rural crime panel as part of SARM's midterm convention in Saskatoon.

One of the panelists was RCMP assistant commissioner Rhonda Blackmore.

She noted rural crime seems to be on the rise again.

Wednesday marked the five year anniversary for CETA - the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and European Union. 

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) remains a leading supporter of opening access for Canadian beef exports to the European Union. Although the CETA created quotas for nearly 65,000 tonnes of duty-free access for Canadian beef, unresolved technical barriers have 
prevented CETA from delivering its full potential. 

Cattle markets have turned the corner showing signs of improvement over the last few months as prices edge six year highs.

Cattle Market Analyst with Gateway Livestock, Anne Wasko, says supplies are tightening, cattle feeders are getting more current and cattle on feed numbers are down three per cent from last year.

The federal government's consultations over their proposed fertilizer emissions reduction target wrapped up last week.

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) was one of a number of farm groups taking part in that consultation process.

GGC Chair Andre Harpe says our sector knows nitrogen fertilizer is essential to the success of individual farm operations and, in turn, the Canadian economy.