Ag News

Rain has been a welcome site for crops, hayland, and pastures  in the province, but more is needed.

Last week, recorded rainfall levels varied from half a millimeter at Consul to 65 millimeters at Ituna.

Overall, livestock water supplies are a key concern with 46 per cent of producers facing moderate water shortages and another 52 per cent anticipating water shortages this summer.

It's a key concern especially for the western side of the province and into the southwest where producers are also concerned with water quality for their livestock.

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing funding under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to support Manitoba producers and processors in the areas of environmental sustainability and food safety and traceability, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced today.

The Federal Government has announced the next steps in a sustainable approach to pesticide management. 

Two years ago they paused the evaluation reviews on the maximum residue limits (MRL's) for pesticides.

Following consultation with stakeholders to better understand Canadians’ expectations about the pesticide regulatory review process and its transparency, Health Canada has restarted the science-based process of evaluating acceptable increases to pesticide residue limits, in line with international guidelines. 

Ottawa announced this week that Canada has regained market access to Taiwan for Canadian beef and beef products from animals over-thirty-months of age.

It was just last month that Federal Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau announced that an agreement had been reached.

The regained access now opens the door to expanding Canadian beef exports to Taiwan and diversifying export markets in the Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan had imposed import restrictions for under-thirty-month and over-thirty-month Canadian beef, following the discovery of BSE in 2003.

The federal and provincial governments joining forces to support the work being done at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.

Agriculture Minister David Marit kicked off the field day on Tuesday by announcing $6.6 million dollars in funding over the next five years.

Marit says the funding for the LFCE directly supports the kind of innovative work that helps our livestock sector not only stay globally competitive but remain a leader when it comes to best practices.

The ruling is in and Canada Bread Company Ltd has been fined $50 million for its role in a price-fixing arrangement that raised the wholesale price of fresh commercial bread.

The Competition Bureau of Canada says it's the highest price-fixing fine imposed by a Canadian court. 

Canada Bread pleaded guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act. 

A widespread drought on the prairies in 2021 resulted in producers taking a financial hit when they couldn't fulfill their grain contracts. 

The Federal Agriculture Minister is being asked to move ahead with regulations to provide more protection for farmers signing grain contracts.

 APAS President Ian Boxall says their calling on the minister to act after news that one company unilaterally canceled contracts involving gluten-free oats when its buyer pulled out of the deal.

AgTalk, a new peer-to-peer support platform was released Tuesday at Canada's Farm Show. 

Megz Reynolds, Executive Director of the Do More Ag Foundation says it's designed to support individuals in the ag sector in their next steps towards improving their mental wellbeing.

Honey Bee headers are a common site in fields at harvest time across the Prairies.

Tuesday at Canada's Farm Show the farm equipment manufacturer unveiled the AirFlex NXT.

Perry Gryde, Honey Bee's North American sales manager says it's the next innovation for the company.

He says several years ago, they introduced a flex table to the marketplace and this takes it to the next step.

Premier Heather Stefanson was in Portage la Prairie today to announce plans moving forward to bring a first in Canadian industry to our area, and top boost our local economy as well as help decrease greenhouse emissions.