The discovery last weekend of the H1N1 Influenza A flu virus in an Alberta pig herd is the latest blow for Canada’s hog farmers already reeling from a barrage of bad news. The so-called swine flu spreading around the world had already disrupted markets and created a public image problem for pork producers, even though
Swine Flu Spreads From People To Pigs
Swine Flu Won’t Impact Seasonal Labour Program
“Our guys have better coverage than your average Manitoban.” – TODD GIFFIN, MAYFAIR FARM The Influenza A H1N1 outbreak in Mexico shouldn’t unduly affect Mexican seasonal farm workers coming to Canada under a federal agricultural employment program, officials said. Participants in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) are pre-screened before leaving Mexico to make sure
Land Use Policies Stricter For Winnipeg: Planner
You hear it all the time from municipalities outside the Perimeter Highway. Winnipeg gets more than its share. It has all the amenities and all the services. Politicians curry to the city’s needs. Policies are slanted toward its development. Winnipeg gets the gravy. What gravy? asks Bob Grodzik. Contrary to the stereotype, Winnipeg does not
Campaign Against GM Alfalfa Intensifies
“The genie’s out of the bottle.” – JIM LINTOTT, MANITOBA FORAGE COUNCIL Acoalition of 80 farm and food organizations, including Manitoba forage producers, is calling for an immediate halt to field testing of genetically modified alfalfa in Canada. The groups want existing test plots of GM alfalfa uprooted and full-scale commercialization of the crop blocked.
Regulatory Change Surprises Chicken Producers
“We were not consulted.” – Wayne Hiltz, Manitoba Chicken Producers The province has caught Manitoba broiler chicken farmers off guard by ordering them to develop a plan to ensure supplies of live chicken to processing plants. Producers say they didn’t ask for this and the demand by the government took them completely by surprise. “We
Spring Floods Among Worst In History
A vast overland sea stretched across the Red River Valley this week as weary residents hunkered down behind berms and ring dikes to wait out the fourth-worst flood in Manitoba’s history. A lake up to 10 miles wide from the swollen Red River and its tributaries spread over 975 square kilometres, leaving communities and farmyards
Control Action Against Gypsy Moth Considered
“A notorious defoliator of broad-leaved trees.” A new insect pest has arrived in Manitoba and the government is acting fast to eradicate it before it gains a foothold. Manitoba Conservation hopes this spring to conduct aerial spraying against the gypsy moth in two areas near Winnipeg where it has been found. The province wants swift
Own-Use Task Force Accused Of Foot-Dragging
“I don’t think there’s any way around this one.” – DR. CATHERINE DEWEY, ONTARIO VETERINARY COLLEGE A federal task force has been criticized for not asking Ottawa to close a legal loophole allowing livestock producers to import unapproved veterinary drugs virtually unrestricted. Instead, the task force calls for a three-year pilot project into the feasibility
Manitoba Pork Council Reduces Districts
As the number of hog producers in Manitoba shrinks, so does the number of Manitoba Pork Council regional districts. Pork council delegates at their recent annual meeting voted to reduce the number of districts to 11 from the current 14. The move reflects changing times in the industry, including a loss of producers. Attendance at
Dairy Farmers Avoid Livestock Industry Trauma
While hog producers experience an industry meltdown and beef producers struggle to emerge from BSE’s shadow, it’s steady as she goes for Manitoba milk producers. Figures released at an April 3 Dairy Farmers of Manitoba meeting showed an industry with no huge problems and only a few relatively minor hiccups. “We’re doing quite well,” acknowledged
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
