Maple Leaf Foods says all its plants — including the one in Brandon — are still in operation despite pandemic pressures.

VIDEO: Manitoba ag sector wrestles with pandemic-driven staff shortages

The animals need to be fed and grocery shelves must stay stocked, but rising numbers of employees out sick mean have left those critical ag sectors with fewer staff

The province’s agriculture and agri-food sector is feeling the crunch as more and more workers call out sick with COVID-19. The fourth wave of the pandemic, and the highly transmissible Omicron variant, continue to roll over Manitoba, with public health officials now suggesting that most Manitobans will likely be exposed to the virus in the


File photo of a Prince Edward Island potato field. (Onepony/iStock/Getty Images)

‘Expedited’ potato wart survey helps make case for P.E.I., CFIA says

National survey done 'ahead of schedule'

A national survey finding no potato wart in any “unregulated” Canadian fields should offer the reassurance on Prince Edward Island potatoes that trading partners such as the U.S. are now looking for, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says. CFIA on Thursday reported it has completed this fall’s national survey for the soil-borne fungal potato disease

A tractor-mounted snowblower runs through rows of piled-up surplus potatoes on a field near Victoria, P.E.I., about 35 km west of Charlottetown, on Dec. 20, 2021. The shredded potatoes are expected to break down over the winter as compost. (Screengrab from P.E.I. Potato Board video)

Feds put up funds toward managing P.E.I. potato surplus

Ottawa budgets $28 million for distribution and disposal

Prince Edward Island potatoes locked out of the U.S. export market will go either to food banks or “environmentally-sound” disposal with new federal funding. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Monday announced $28 million “to support the diversion of surplus potatoes, including help to redirect surplus potatoes to organizations addressing food insecurity and support for


“The United States has made it very clear that if we restarted issuing export certificates right now, they would immediately sign a federal order that would have extremely damaging consequences for our farmers.” – Marie-Claude Bibeau.

P.E.I. sees potato working group

Government, processors, producers and other agencies are on the roster after potato wart was found again in P.E.I.

The ongoing fallout of potato wart in Prince Edward Island has led to the formation of a new multi-stakeholder working group. The first meeting of the Government-Industry Potato Working Group, held Nov. 24, was recently organized by the federal government. The member list spans Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Global Affairs Canada, provincial government

Canola and corn will see steep increases in the inspection fees for seed crops, but the CSGA says that reflects higher relative costs for inspecting those crops.

Higher seed crop certification fees coming

Seed growers have endorsed the increase, but others in the industry say it’s going to undermine the competitiveness of certified seed

The cost to certify seed in Canada is going up. And despite a vote overwhelmingly in favour of it, some stakeholders are unhappy at the news. Canadian Seed Grower’s Association (CSGA) members voted 111 to 16 to increase fees to certify Canadian seed crops starting in 2022 during a special general meeting online Nov. 24.


Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow speaks Nov. 24, 2021 in the House of Commons. (Screengrab from supplied video)

End date sought for P.E.I. potato export ban

A ban from Washington would be harder to reverse, Liberals say

The federal Conservatives want to see a clearly defined end zone for the Canadian government’s suspension of Prince Edward Island potato exports to the U.S. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday announced the suspension of certification for P.E.I. potato exports to the U.S., — a move which, according to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau,

P.E.I. Ag Minister Bloyce Thompson announces a $10 million contingency fund to support potato growers affected by a new ban on exports to the U.S. and calls on Ottawa to reverse its decision. (Government of P.E.I. video screengrab via Facebook Live)

P.E.I. potato exports to U.S. halted

Canada imposes new rules after potato wart findings

Canada has moved to halt exports of Prince Edward Island potatoes to the United States after findings of potato wart in the province last month — on what federal officials describe as the threat of a U.S. ban. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday it has “temporarily suspended” exports of fresh potatoes from P.E.I.


KAP members report on 2021 growing season

KAP members report on 2021 growing season

It was a challenging growing season with lots of variability

Here is some of what some KAP members said about this year’s production during their online advisory council meeting Oct. 20: District 1, Carter McKinney “I heard of guys who got moderate yields on some crops and some guys got basically zero so it’s kind of hard to tell. I think it had to do

Potato digging went relatively smoothly this year, but drought and high temperatures caused disappointing yields.

Potato crop a mixed bag

Drought has struck yet again, hitting Manitoba’s potato yield

While some potato growers are expecting to deliver on their contract volumes this year, others will once again be short thanks to heat and drought, adding yet another tough potato year into the record books. Why it matters: Potatoes did not dodge the drought concerns suffered by other crops this year, and many producers are,