Anew report calls for the abolishment of Canada’s supply management system just as non-supply-managed American dairy farmers are suffering their worst economic crisis in years. The report by the Fraser Institute labels supply management “a growing financial burden for taxpayers and consumers (which) is unjustified.” It says “the only viable alternative is to remove the
Another Report Repeats Attacks On Supply Management
Salmonella Insurance Soon Available For Egg Farmers
Anew program to insure Canada’s egg industry against the effects of Salmonella enteritidis (Se) should be ready this spring. The program, expected to be ready April 1, will compensate egg farmers for economic losses stemming from Se in their operations. It will also extend to hatcheries, Manitoba egg producers were told at their recent annual
Hog Co-Op To Open New Yards Outside Winnipeg
Manitoba hog-handling facilities are returning to a familiar location – next to a livestock yard. Manitoba Pork Marketing Co-op will open a hog assembly point at the site of Winnipeg Livestock Sales Ltd., located in the Rural Municipality of Rosser, producers learned last week. It’s back to the future for the producer-owned co-op, which once
No Smoking Gun For CCD
For the past three years, a mysterious die-off of honeybees in the U. S. has gripped public attention and led to fascinating theories about its origin. Suggested causes of colony collapse disorder (CCD) included pesticides, diseases, changing weather patterns, inadequate nutrition, environmental stress and plain overwork. Some blamed radio waves from cellphones for causing bees
Cattle Producers Warn Against New Farm Group Plan
Manitoba cattle producers have expressed concern about a provincial government proposal requiring every farmer to belong to a general farm organization. The plan, still under discussion, would require all farmers in Manitoba to register their operations and select a general farm organization to belong to. Producers would then pay a mandatory direct membership fee instead
Flooded Livestock Farmers Win Tax Deferral Battle
“To help just on one extreme and not the other really didn’t make sense.” – JOE BOUCHARD, MCPA Manitoba producers who couldn’t harvest hay last summer because of excess moisture will now qualify for income tax deferrals on proceeds from livestock sales. The measure announced March 5 corrects an imbalance between flooded farmers, who previously
Stop Recycling Pathogens In Animal Feed
“Something needs to be done to show reduced levels of these frequencies.” – RICHARD HOLLEY, U OF M Two recent high-profile cases of foodborne illness have once again raised concerns about the safety of North America’s food supply. Last year, 20 Canadians died and 36 more sickened after eating processed meat contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes
Ritz Rattles Sabres Over WTO Challenge To COOL
“The WTO challenge is idling at the curb, waiting to go.” – GERRY RITZ U. S. country-of-origin food labelling will finally come into effect next week amid sabre-rattling from Ottawa about possibly reviving a World Trade Organization challenge to the controversial rule. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz last week made it sound as if a WTO
BSE-Affected Producers Get Their Day In Court
“Effective systems are in place to protect Canadians from exposure to BSE.” – FEDERAL MEMO, 1993 When Karen Emilson and her husband Mark recently saved the life of a prematurely born calf on their beef farm near Vogar, neighbours remarked, “Now you’re going to lose another $100.” A joke, yes, but a dark one and
Manitobans’ Grain Research Earns Major Award
“It’s a reflection of the excellence we have in Canada.” – ISABELLE BLAIN, NSERC For the second time in three years, Manitobans have received one of Canada’s most prestigious prizes for scientific research. Digvar Jayas, a University of Manitoba agricultural engineer, and Noel White, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada entomologist, have been awarded the 2008
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
