Hogs & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

East-West Biosecurity Divide

By Jim Romahn October 29, 2009

The federal government seems to be on the verge of announcing money to run an around-the-clock biosecurity centre at West Hawk Lake near the Manitoba-Ontario border. West Hawk has been chosen as the dividing point between Western and Eastern Canada should there be an outbreak of a foreign animal disease. Canadians hope to convince trading

Hogs, Opinion

Letters – for Oct. 29, 2009

By Leslie Yeoman October 29, 2009

Consumer and producer disconnect growing While I appreciate and share Laura Rance’s concern for the world’s needy “Stuffed and starved,” Manitoba Co-operator Oct. 15, 2009, I can’t help but feel her editorial is, in itself, a prime example of the growing consumer/ producer disconnect that Rance refers to and which many fellow producers wish to

Hogs, Livestock, News

Debate Reflects Deep Divide Over Sow Stall Ban

By Ron Friesen October 22, 2009

“It’s about the pigs and the people, not just the pigpen.” – LAURIE CONNOR, U OF M Arecent speakers’ panel of animal welfare specialists generally agreed on phasing out sow gestation crates, but differed widely on how to get there. Sow stall opponents called for immediate action to eliminate sow crates, while others urged a

Hogs, Livestock, Opinion

Looking Beyond The Bars

By Laura Rance-Unger October 22, 2009

One of the perks of writing a column about agriculture in a major city daily is the feedback one gets from urban folks about farming issues. The level and intensity of interest is surprising at times. For instance, a column last summer outlining the gist and possible implications of the proposed federal support package for

Hogs, Livestock

Russia To Lift All H1N1-Related Meat Bans

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff October 22, 2009

Major meat importer Russia will from Oct. 15 lift all remaining meat import bans related to the H1N1 virus as the risk of infection through food products is low, its animal and plant health watchdog said Oct. 14. The last remaining bans to be removed apply to live pigs and raw pork imports from Great

Hogs

Early Interest In Hog Transition Program Heavy – for Oct. 8, 2009

By Ron Friesen October 8, 2009

Afederal government program to help hog producers leave the industry could risk running out of money before serving all applicants. The $75 million in the program may not be enough to meet the demand at the rate inquiries are going, said Karl Kynoch, Manitoba Pork Council chairman. The early response to the long-awaited program announced

Hogs, Livestock, News

Probiotics Useful But No Substitute For Antibiotics

By Ron Friesen October 1, 2009

“We need to use antibiotics effectively.” – JAMES PETTIGREW The TV ad showing a person’s tummy doing a belly dance after eating yogurt may be coming to a hog barn near you. That particular yogurt contains probiotics – beneficial bacteria aimed at improving digestion and general wellbeing. Probiotics are big these days as North Americans

Hogs, Livestock

H1N1 Was In Pigs For Years: Study

By Ron Friesen September 24, 2009

“This lineage has been circulating under the radar for the better part of a decade.” – MICHAEL WOROBEY Ever since the H1N1 flu virus emerged earlier this year, pork producers have objected to its commonly used name: swine flu. Producers argue the virus is about people, not pigs, and the term is unfair to themselves

Beef cattle, Hogs, Livestock

Hog Producers Remember Departing Premier For Bill 17

By Ron Friesen September 24, 2009

“I know my friends in the hog industry don’t agree with me.” – GARY DOER He reduced education taxes on farmland. He doubled agriculture spending during his 10 years in office. But many Manitoba farmers will remember Premier Gary Doer for one thing: Bill 17. The famous (or infamous) bill, passed exactly one year ago,

Hogs, News

Closing A Barn: Things To Remember

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff September 17, 2009

The upcoming federal hog aid program, which allows producers to mothball their barns for three years, raises some interesting questions, such as: If producers in Manitoba’s hog moratorium area decide to mothball their barns for the required three years, can they reopen them? Do barns still have to contain a few pigs to qualify for

Daily Network News

Complexity of being a woman in farming can lead to mental, physical health risks

Federal gov. funds youth employment in agriculture, agri-food

Pulse Weekly: StatCan projects fewer pea and lentil acres