I was on the edge of the conversation, waiting for the speaker at the ag-event-of-the-week to finish mingling so I could corner him for an interview. His conversation with a few of the event attendees had turned to dairy. The speaker came from the U.S., where rules on the sale of raw milk for human
Comment: No room for raw milk
Bird flu infections in U.S. dairies underscore reasons pasteurization rules are a good idea
More funds on the way for wild pig fight
Squeal on Pigs Manitoba slated for $2.6M
An organization dedicated to getting rid of Manitoba’s wild pig problem will be getting new support. On April 23, the federal and provincial governments announced $2.6 million over the next four years for Squeal on Pigs Manitoba. Squeal on Pigs has become a major vehicle in the province for public awareness, data collection and removal
Editorial: In defence of 4-H
I was a 4-H kid as I was growing up. I didn’t do beef club, although my family’s farm did run beef cattle. All my friends did activity club, so I did the same. The environment was one of continually expanding exploration and skill acquisition, not surprising for an organization whose motto is “learn to
A year of growth for Squeal on Pigs
Wild pig awareness and control project counts victories and challenges in 2023
Manitoba’s Squeal on Pigs campaign has gained traction every year, and 2023 was no exception. The past year brought program expansion, according to a recent update summarizing the initiative’s activities. Why it matters: Squeal on Pigs is reducing Manitoba’s wild pig problem and raising awareness of the invasive species. Last summer, Squeal on Pigs Manitoba
Keeping safe around anhydrous tanks
Anhydrous ammonia tanks require robust testing, and an incident out of the U.S. shows why
Brian Downie, who handles the regulatory side of Shur-Gro’s anhydrous ammonia operations, says he feels comfortable standing next to any nurse tank currently in service in Canada. The ag industry weeded out problem tanks when more robust testing was implemented about a decade ago, he said. Today, he’s confident in the required regimen. “They’re tested
Editorial: The yearly farm safety reality check
Farming is a dangerous job. It’s a sentence most of us have heard so often that it doesn’t resonate the way it probably should. The sector involves a lot of heavy equipment, powerful livestock and in many cases a farmer working alone, far from help and in areas with patchy cell service if something goes
Research inbound with new wheat cluster funding
The next wheat cluster will have over $20 million behind it
Future Canadian wheat research will be supported by more than $20 million, following back-to-back commitments from the federal government and wheat farm groups. On March 6, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced $11.2 million for the Canadian National Wheat Cluster via the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Last year, wheat and durum sales accounted for $12.4 billion
Editorial: Farming in the age of Asimov
The first time I picked up a book by Isaac Asimov, I was in high school and the book was “Foundation.” More recently, I got around to another Asimov classic, “I, Robot.” If your only experience with Asimov’s AI-centred opus is the 2004 movie, forget everything you know. The book has less violent robot revolution
Manitoba beef eyes Alberta AgriStability pilot
The program aims to identify how to close gaps for cow-calf producers
Manitoba’s beef sector is hopeful an Alberta pilot program that addresses AgriStability’s position on cow-calf expenses might spread to other regions. “We hope to see it kind of nationwide as long as the pilot shows benefit to our industry, whether that’s reflecting pasture costs in the eligible expenses or looking at how they do the
The financial chink in Canada’s African swine fever armour
Industry says ‘Day 1’ farmer compensation mechanisms need to be more robust
If African swine fever (ASF) arrives in Canada, a lot of things will happen. Response plans will be implemented. Quarantines will be imposed and animal movements locked down. Biosecurity will ramp up to crisis levels. Information and updates will flow between federal and provincial chief veterinary offices and the industry. Further from ground zero, zoning
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