Anew industry study concludes a voluntary BSEtesting program for cattle could help boost Canada’s beef exports to Asia. But it cautions that BSE-tested beef would only be a niche market and the demand for it might be limited. Testing alone may not fully restore Canada’s beef markets lost to BSE in Japan and other Asian
Testing For BSE Worthwhile, Study Suggests
Pork Producers Get A Chance At PRRS-Free Certification
Prairie hog farmers may soon be able to certify their animals free of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a disease which can cause big losses in swine herds. A two-year pilot project beginning this spring contains a protocol for testing swine herds and certifying them as PRRS free. The industry program, if successful, could
National Pooling Report Advances Single Milk Pool Discussion
Areport to the Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee this month could be the first step toward establishing a long-discussed national all-milk pool for dairy farmers. The report by a two-person industry committee caps months of talks with provincial milk boards to gauge their feelings about national pooling. The response so far has been generally positive
Teachers And Trustees Stalemated Over Province-Wide Bargaining
Every year a familiar scenario plays out in school divisions throughout Manitoba. The local teachers’ association informs the school board it would like to enter negotiations for a new one-year collective agreement. The two sides meet to exchange bargaining positions. Then they meet again to negotiate. No progress is made. Months go by. Conciliation officers
New International Farm Organization Formed
A new organization representing farmers around the world has emerged to replace a previous one which folded last year. Nearly 60 farm groups from 42 countries last week announced the creation of the World Farmers Organization. Delegates met March 28-29 in Brussels to develop a declaration of intent for ratification at an inaugural meeting scheduled
Cattle And Hog Groups To Lobby Electioneering Candidates
Improved market access and better business risk management programs top livestock producers’ wish list for the May 2 federal election. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the Canadian Pork Council vow to make trade and BRMs election issues as the campaign gets underway. They also say they will tell politicians that rising input costs and an
Chicken Farmers Keeping Up With Rising Grain Costs
Manitoba chicken producers are holding their own so far against the high price of feed grain but they admit it’s a struggle to keep up with rising costs. “The pressure is there,” said Jake Wiebe, Manitoba Chicken Producers vice-chair. Wiebe said he currently pays an average of $376 a tonne for feed on his broiler
Pasture Days Insurance Enters Second Year
Wet weather limited Dane Guignion’s ability to harvest hay last summer – and the time his cattle spent grazing on pasture. Guignion had crop insurance contracts for both hay production and days on pasture. He didn’t get paid for the first one. He did for the second. The reason? The hay was there but Guignion
Man. hog farmers pledge sow stall phase-out
Major and possibly expensive changes lie ahead for Manitoba’s 700 hog producers as the result of a new roadmap for the industry’s future. The Manitoba Pork Council’s plan released last week commits hog farmers to eliminate sow gestation stalls within the next 15 years. “Manitoba Pork commits to encouraging producers to phase out by 2025
Health Canada Advertisement Called Anti-Honey
A Health Canada advertisement telling parents not to feed honey to infants has produced a swarm of protest from the nation’s beekeepers. The controversial ad features a bottle of honey with a happy bear face. On the bottle is a red circle with a diagonal line through it. A caption reads: “Do you know that
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