Human health Archives - Page 25 of 35

Global food import costs to surge

A double-digit surge is expected this year, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization says

By Reuters June 21, 2021

Global food import costs are expected to rise 12 per cent in 2021 to a record due to surging commodity prices and robust demand during the COVID-19 crisis, the United Nations food agency said. The world’s food import bill, including shipping costs, is projected to reach $1.715 trillion this year, from US$1.530 trillion in 2020,

A vineyard at Naramata in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

Markets

B.C. again waives ag income threshold for farm properties

Some farms otherwise risked property tax reclassification

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News June 19, 2021

British Columbia farmers who’ve taken pandemic-induced losses in farm income will be able to keep their farm properties classified as such for another tax year. The province on Monday announced that for the second year running, it will waive the minimum farm income thresholds normally required for B.C. properties to be classified as farms for

Markets, Other

Businesses, U.S. legislators fume as Canada extends travel ban

Trudeau stands firm on ban's extension

By David Ljunggren, GFM Network News June 19, 2021

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada is extending a ban on nonessential travel with the United States and the rest of the world until July 21, officials said on Friday, prompting frustration from businesses and U.S. legislators. Canada is under pressure from companies and the tourism industry to ease the ban, which was imposed in March

Lisa Thompson. (Lisathompsonmpp.ca video screengrab via YouTube)

Ontario names new ag minister in shuffle

Lisa Thompson replaces Ernie Hardeman

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News June 19, 2021

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has drawn another aggie from his existing cabinet to replace Ernie Hardeman as his agriculture minister. Ford on Friday announced a major cabinet shuffle, dropping Hardeman, the long-time MPP for Oxford, from the cabinet table and naming Lisa Thompson as minister for agriculture, food and rural affairs. Thompson, who until Friday

A Pizza Pizza storefront in Winnipeg in 2013. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

Dairy cattle, Livestock

Blue Cow comes to Pizza Pizza

Dairy Farmers of Canada branding to go on display

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News June 17, 2021

Pizza Pizza is the latest brand to sport Dairy Farmers of Canada’s “Blue Cow” certification-of-origin mark in its marketing, putting an old fight over the pizza chain’s cheese provenance to rest. DFC and Toronto-based, TSX-traded Pizza Pizza — which as of March 31 included 622 Pizza Pizza and 103 Pizza 73 outlets across eight provinces

With light appearing at the end of the  COVID tunnel, old problems are re-emerging,  but there could be new solutions.

Farmit Manitoba

The big challenges won’t end when the pandemic does

Long-standing problems are still there but we’ve learned lessons that can be applied, say senior officials

By Jennifer Blair June 15, 2021

The ag sector will require some fresh approaches to old problems if Canadian producers hope to remain competitive in a post-pandemic world. “All of the things we were worried about post-pandemic are exactly the same things we were worried about pre-pandemic,” said Simon Kennedy, deputy minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada. Trade conflicts,

(Canada Border Services Agency video screengrab)

Canada taking first step toward lifting border restrictions

U.S. border restrictions still in place until at least June 21

By David Ljunggren, GFM Network News June 9, 2021

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada on Wednesday took a cautious first step toward easing COVID-19 border restrictions, saying it was prepared to relax quarantine protocols for fully vaccinated citizens returning home starting in early July. Canada’s air and land borders have allowed for only essential travel since March of last year, and Canadians coming home

“Maybe we don’t want a system that requires $300 million of money going into charitable food banks in order to be resilient to the next shock.” – Evan Fraser.

Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: Is food ok?

Widely diverging views on the pandemic’s impact on food supply are a pickle for the casual observer. What lessons can we learn?

By Geralyn Wichers June 8, 2021

It’s a jarring read on a morning scroll through Twitter: “Plant all the food you can… we’re headed this season and next several into some massively different circumstances for food availability.” Around Manitoba, early-planted crops are sprouting. In grocery stores, prices feel a little higher but the shelves are full. Is doom really coming, as

Livestock, News

UN bodies set up panel on animal disease risks

The ‘One Health’ panel will advise on plans to curb zoonotic infections

By Reuters June 8, 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) and three other international bodies have formed a team of experts to help develop a global plan to prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans, the WHO said May 20. The One Health High-Level Expert Panel was an initiative launched by France and Germany late last year, and

Editorial, Op/Ed, Other

Editorial: Community spirit

By Laura Rance-Unger June 3, 2021

The last time the military rolled in to help Manitobans deal with a crisis beyond their capacity to manage was in the spring of 1997 during the Flood of the Century. Troops, engineers and equipment were put to work building the Z-dike that ultimately protected Winnipeg from the potential of overland flooding creeping around the

Daily Network News

B.C. ostriches culled, CFIA confirms

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs end week on high note

U.S. grains: Soybeans bounce as Chinese demand assessed, wheat drops

Human health