New guidelines for dairy cattle care will improve animal welfare while also potentially increasing farm productivity, Dairy Farmers of Canada says. “I think that we’ve come to a very solid revised code,” David Wiens, DFC’s vice-president, said in an interview. The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) on Thursday released its revised Code of Practice
Continuous tie-stall housing to be phased out in new dairy code of practice
Producer, animal welfare groups praise new code; some drawbacks were noted
Promises stalled on flood control
On the eve of another spring melt, the Lake St. Martin and Lake Manitoba channels remain in regulatory limbo
It’s been seven years since Brian Pallister stood on the shore of Lake Manitoba and promised that, if elected, channels to divert floodwaters into Lake Winnipeg would be built by the end of his first term. It was a promise from a party hoping to topple the then-incumbent NDP government, which had been faced with
Net-zero farming requires wide social buy-in
A systemic re-think of farming is needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but impetus and support must come from without, not just within
A “durable” net zero farming system may be unattainable without a broad re-think of the sector, and that will require broad social buy-in, says an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher. “This is a much bigger question than simply developing practices and encouraging adoption,” says Henry Janzen. “This involves the rest of us.” Janzen, a soil
‘Our bridge is a bridge of hope’
Living Lab to build relationships with other people and the earth on two Saskatchewan First Nations
A project on two Saskatchewan First Nations seeks to restore community members’ relationships with the land, water and sky, and to reimagine their relationships with neighbouring farmers. A big objective of the Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab is to see lease agreements with farmers as not just financial transactions, but “promises to each
Organic price discovery tool funded
The Manitoba Organic Development Fund marks 'historic' first dispersal of organic checkoff dollars
A digital marketing tool to help organic farmers find buyers and discover prices for their crops is one of five projects funded in the first dispersal from the Manitoba Organic Development Fund. Five grants, totaling nearly $51,000, were announced Feb. 23. This marks the first time funds were designated since organic farmers voted for a mandatory organic checkoff
Provincial budget good for municipalities, unremarkable for agriculture
Budget 2023: Increased education property tax rebates, funding for vets, lab testing among ag highlights
Rural municipalities were winners amidst a somewhat mundane provincial budget for the agriculture sector. Why it matters: Agricultural issues were not front and center in the 2023 budget, although a few line items are worth noting. In this year’s budget, tabled March 7, the province thawed a seven-year freeze on municipal operating funding, increasing it to $217
Protein industry maintains optimism despite processor’s fall
Investment in alternative protein slowed in 2022 but demand for products is still high
The whole plant protein sector has been hit by the challenges experienced by Merit Functional Foods, but basic indicators for growth are still strong, according to the head of Protein Industries Canada (PIC). “I do believe the demand is there and is growing,” Bill Greuel, the organization’s CEO, said. A federally funded accelerator program for
Pulling back the curtain on the ag lobby
How your grower groups represent your interests in Ottawa
Canadian agriculture collectively forms a large and busy lobby. Last year, two canola groups cracked the top 10 busiest lobby groups in all Canadian sectors, according to “The Lobby Monitor” website. On top was the Canadian Canola Growers Association. Though the ag lobby outworks other industries or interests, farmers may think no one listens to them or their representatives.
Manitoba Metis Federation rolls out on-farm climate action program
Metis farmers may be funded to implement nitrogen management practices, cover cropping and rotational grazing
Red River Metis farmers may be eligible for up to $75,000 in funding to implement nitrogen management, rotational grazing and other best management practices. On Feb. 6, the Manitoba Metis Federation announced its On-Farm Climate Action Program, which will administer federal On-Farm Climate Action Fund dollars to Metis farmers. “In administering our own on-farm climate
Foodgrains Bank asks supporters to lobby feds for aid
Along with reducing hunger, developing resilient food and farming systems can increase peace and prosperity in struggling communities
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is asking its supporters to write to federal finance minister Chrystia Freeland and ask her to include more money for international aid in the 2023 budget. “We want her to know Canadians care about doing more to support small-scale farmers in building climate resilient food systems,” wrote policy advisor Andrew Defor in a
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
