LOCAL | Producers, particularly small-scale farmers, would benefit from similar regulations in Manitoba, says Direct Farm Manitoba Demand for on-farm slaughter licences in Alberta has exploded since last summer when a rule change allowed consumers to buy individual animals and have them processed on the farm. Manitoba should have its own, similar regulations, says Direct
Demand seen soaring for legal, farm-killed meat
Advocacy group concerned TFWs not getting vaccine support
Province has received isolated reports of unsupportive employers, says vaccine medical lead
A coalition of organizations says it’s concerned many temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Manitoba haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 despite their increased risk. “I don’t know where and how to ask for it,” says a quote attributed to an international farm worker in Manitoba in a news release from Healthcare For All Manitoba. “My employer
Animal protein’s bad rap is affecting recruitment: global experts
Canadian food and beverage companies struggle to fill vacancies — for meat processors it’s even worse
[UPDATED: June 25, 2021] Poor perception of meat, food and beverage production is negatively affecting worker recruitment, says a group of food labour experts. “It isn’t that hard to find well-educated people for the meat alternatives but it is hard to find people for the more classic, the meat protein industry,” said Michiel Dekkers, a
AAFC wants your cereal leaf beetles
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has put out a call for samples to monitor biocontrol on the insect
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is asking farmers to keep an eye out for feeding damage and “shiny, slug-like creatures” on cereals, potential markers of cereal leaf beetle larvae. “We need samples to monitor the biocontrol insect that kills this pest,” said Dr. Haley Catton. If found, AAFC is asking farmers to send them samples
Crop Diagnostic School takes on ‘call-in show’ format
Provincial ag experts answered questions on dry-weather pests, poor wheat emergence, and hot-weather spraying during the first online session
Drought was top of mind as agronomists and farmers took part in the first day of this year’s Crop Diagnostic School — call-in show style. Provincial experts took turns answering questions submitted before or during the online event on June 8, the first webinar of eight stretching to the end of July. One participant asked
Will Bill 62 have unintended consequences?
For farmers looking for consumer trust, some studies, experts, suggest ‘ag-gag’ laws are counterproductive
A new provincial law to keep trespassers out of barns and animal rights advocates away from transport trucks may do that — but it may also erode public trust in farming practices. “The public wants to know what it is that farmers are trying to hide,” Jodi Lazare told the Co-operator. Lazare teaches law at
Will Bill 62 survive a constitutional challenge?
There are many unanswered questions about the incoming laws, legal scholar says
Manitoba’s Bill 62 may be susceptible to constitutional challenges, law professor, Jodi Lazare told Manitoba’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. Lazare is an assistant professor of law at Dalhousie University with expertise in constitutional and animal law. She is doing research, funded by the social sciences and humanities council of Canada, on the constitutional
Province announces rural internet deal with Xplornet
Some rural residents less than pleased with the government’s choice of provider
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities has praised the Manitoba government’s deal with Xplornet Communications to improve rural internet and cellular coverage throughout the province. In a tweet May 13, the AMM thanked Central Services Minister Reg Helwer for signing a memo of understanding with the internet service provider. The province says the deal will bring
Pioneer canola researcher awarded the Order of Manitoba
Faces of Ag: He sings, he raps and his scholarship helped make canola what it is today
Michael Eskin has a career in biochemistry and food science going back more than 50 years, but last time he was in the news it was for something different: music. His song commemorating the centenary of the discovery of insulin, as reported by CBC, got picked up by the American Oil Chemists’ Society, and Eskin
Foodgrains Bank program to bring COVID relief to African countries
The pandemic has made bad situations worse in countries struggling with conflict, displacement and economic disaster
A $10-million federal grant will help Canadian Foodgrains Bank partners bring aid to several African countries affected by COVID-19, the organization announced May 27. “(The pandemic) has made a bad situation worse,” said program manager Stefan Epp-Koop. “Many of these countries have conflict or political instability, high levels of displacement — people being forced to
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
