Dairy cattle & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

U.S. now seeking end to supply management in NAFTA talks

By GFM Network News, Reuters October 16, 2017

Arlington, Va. | Reuters — U.S. negotiators at talks to update the North American Free Trade Agreement want Canada to dismantle its system of protections for the dairy and poultry sectors — a move Ottawa will reject, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday. The proposal is the latest in a string of

Dairy cattle, Livestock

U.S. makes NAFTA dairy proposal, no market access request

By GFM Network News, Reuters October 13, 2017

Arlington, Va. | Reuters — U.S. negotiators at talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement on Friday formally asked Canada to address a bilateral dispute over dairy pricing, a request the Canadians are set to resist, sources familiar with the talks said. U.S. dairy producers are unhappy that Canadian farmers this year started

Otterburne-area dairy farmer Hans Gorter now has a new 175-kilowatt, solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed on the farm to provide all the farm’s electrical energy needs.

Dairy cattle, Local news, Other

Otterburne dairy is Manitoba’s largest solar-powered farm

The off-grid option has upfront costs but locks in energy costs for the foreseeable future 

By Lorraine Stevenson October 2, 2017

A southern Manitoba dairy is just days away from flipping the switch on the largest solar-powered farm in Manitoba. Optimist Holsteins Ltd. near Otterburne is in final stages of setting up a newly installed 175-kilowatt, solar photovoltaic (PV) system. When operational it will begin producing enough power to meet all the farm’s electrical needs while

Dairy cattle, Opinion

Are days numbered for supply management?

If they are it will be because of NAFTA 2.0 and Donald Trump

By Sylvain Charlebois September 12, 2017

Canada’s supply management system is a textbook case for food sovereignty. But the social contract the system represents may need to be redrafted as we head toward North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations. Supply management is a social contract between farmers and consumers. Canada’s heavily criticized quota regime for the dairy, egg and poultry

Comment/Feedback, Dairy cattle

Canada’s supply management system for dairy is no longer defensible

It’s unfair to consumers and has significant hidden costs when it comes to making trade deals

By Martha Hall Findlay September 5, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear: Dairy is high on the U.S. agenda for NAFTA. And Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has also made it clear that this government is committed to protecting supply management. Three of the top-six milk-producing states in the United States — Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — helped

Dairy cattle, Livestock

Agropur to take control of Iogo, Olympic yogurt maker

By GFM Network News, Manitoba Co-operator Staff August 31, 2017

Ultima Foods, the Canadian maker of Iogo and Olympic yogurt products, is set to become the sole property of Quebec dairy producers’ co-op Agropur. Agropur and Agrifoods International Co-operative, which combined their yogurt manufacturing and marketing operations in 1993 to form Ultima as a 50-50 joint venture, announced a deal Thursday which will see Agropur

Comment, Dairy cattle, Poultry

Protect supply management

Dairy and poultry products are subsidized in some way or another the world over

By Ed Fast August 28, 2017

With negotiations on a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) presently underway, it is appropriate for Canadians to ask: Whither supply management? Supply management ensures that producers receive a reasonable return on their investment, and that consumers have access to a steady supply of safe and healthy dairy, chicken, turkey and egg products, at

This barn at the Glenlea Research Station will be retrofitted for dairy research.

Dairy cattle, Local news

Mechanization focus of new dairy research

Dairy research facilities to get update at  Glenlea Research Station

By Shannon VanRaes August 28, 2017

Dairy research in Manitoba has got a $1.4-million boost. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler made the announcement at the University of Manitoba last week, indicating the cash will be used to retrofit an existing hog barn for dairy research at the Glenlea Research Station, just south of Winnipeg. “It’s

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay speaks during an event at the University of Manitoba.

Dairy cattle, News

Dairy issue to be contentious

As the first round of NAFTA talks wraps up, government reaffirms commitment to supply management

By Shannon VanRaes August 25, 2017

Canada’s minister of agriculture says concessions in non-supply-managed commodities will not be offered up to U.S. negotiators as a way to ensure the security of Canada’s dairy industry during the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. “I’ve never heard that said except in the media,” said Minister Lawrence MacAulay, following an announcement at

Beef cattle, Dairy cattle, Livestock

China promotes livestock farming to digest corn stocks

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News August 10, 2017

Beijing/China – China wants to turn its grain basket in the northeast into a national meat and dairy production base, said the agriculture ministry on Thursday, as part of a broader plan to create stronger demand for the region’s main crops. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia account for around a quarter of China’s total

Daily Network News

Proposed Sask. poultry research facility gets funding influx

Agriculture Canada makes small balance sheet adjustments

Federal government funds Quebec organic fertilizer company

Dairy cattle