Supporters stand along the sides of the Trans-Canada Highway as the protest convoy passes Brandon, Jan. 25.

Manitoba farmers join convoy to protest trucker vaccine mandates

Farm groups argue that supply chains have been put under additional strain

Some Manitoba farmers have joined or otherwise supported the cross-Canada truck convoy to protest vaccine mandates. The convoy arrived in Manitoba Jan. 25 on its way to Ottawa. Why it matters: Sectors including the pork industry have felt the transportation pinch from recently introduced vaccine mandates for international truckers, and some farmers have thrown support behind the

A supplied aerial photo of vehicles blocking through traffic on Feb. 1, 2022 at the Canada-U.S. border crossing between Coutts, Alta. and Sweet Grass, Montana. (Photo courtesy Alberta RCMP)

Single lanes opened at Alberta border crossing, Mounties say

RCMP 'acknowledges the work that is being done'

Single lanes have reopened in each direction at Alberta’s busiest Canada-U.S. trade window, allowing cross-border supply chains to resume, RCMP report. In response to “concerned citizens in the area of Coutts,” participants in a blockade of vehicles in place at the local border crossing “made the decision to open a lane going northbound and southbound


A supplied aerial photo of vehicles blocking through traffic on Feb. 1, 2022 at the Canada-U.S. border crossing between Coutts, Alta. and Sweet Grass, Montana. (Photo courtesy Alberta RCMP)

Alberta RCMP to start unclogging major border crossing

Blockade 'not a peaceful assembly,' Mounties say

A major supply chain corridor connecting Alberta and the U.S. is expected to be cleared of protestors and reopened to traffic on Tuesday, Alberta RCMP have warned. Protestors in vehicles formed a blockade Saturday on Highway 4 leading to the province’s only 24-hour Canada-U.S. border crossing, at Coutts, Alta., about 100 km southeast of Lethbridge.

“This pandemic has taught us not only about physical health, but also the importance of healthy eating, mental health, social connection and learning for our kids.”

Comment: Canada’s pandemic recovery urgently needs a national school meal program

Canada should join the other G7 countries in funding childhood nutrition

COVID-19 has exposed yet again the critical importance of Canada catching up with other G7 nations by developing and implementing a national school meal program. School meal programs meet a variety of children’s critical needs. For example, Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, now Alberta’s deputy chief medical officer of health, and formerly medical officer of health in


(Valerie Loiseleux/iStock/Getty Images)

Vaccine protest jams southern Alberta border crossing

Premier, transportation minister called for blockade to disperse

UPDATED, Jan. 31 — A major supply chain corridor between Alberta and the U.S. remained blockaded through into Sunday evening by vehicles in protest of mandates requiring foreign truckers entering Canada and the U.S. to be vaccinated. The protest on Highway 4 at the Coutts, Alta. border crossing, about 100 km southeast of Lethbridge, began

CropConnect Conference cancelled

Pandemic health orders extension forced organizers to make ‘difficult’ decision

The organizing committee has cancelled the 2022 CropConnect Conference, which had been scheduled for February 15 and 16. “We were looking forward to reconnecting with everyone, but the health and safety of our attendees and exhibitors are our top priority,” the committee said in a prepared statement. The organizers said there was no way to


CME April 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs hit new contract high on slim supply

CME April live cattle up slightly

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed to a new contract high on Tuesday on concerns about tightening U.S. supplies, analysts said. Nearby live cattle and feeder cattle futures also strengthened. U.S. cold storage data, issued after the markets closed on Monday, was supportive for hog and cattle futures, analysts said.

Maple Leaf Foods says all its plants — including the one in Brandon — are still in operation despite pandemic pressures.

VIDEO: Manitoba ag sector wrestles with pandemic-driven staff shortages

The animals need to be fed and grocery shelves must stay stocked, but rising numbers of employees out sick mean have left those critical ag sectors with fewer staff

The province’s agriculture and agri-food sector is feeling the crunch as more and more workers call out sick with COVID-19. The fourth wave of the pandemic, and the highly transmissible Omicron variant, continue to roll over Manitoba, with public health officials now suggesting that most Manitobans will likely be exposed to the virus in the


Photo: iStock/Getty Images Plus

Ag Days cancelled for 2022

With no guarantee public health measures will be relaxed, organizers say they made a difficult decision

Manitoba Ag Days has officially been cancelled for 2022. The event had been scheduled for Jan. 18 to 20, until it was derailed by Manitoba public health orders issued Dec. 27 that would have capped attendance at 250. In a Dec. 28 announcement organizers postponed the event until an undetermined later date. Now organizers say

CME February 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures surge to highest in over three months

U.S. cattle counts up from last year

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose 1.5 per cent on Friday to hit their highest since mid-October, extending a rally on technical buying. Traders remained focused on the slaughter rate as COVID-19 disruptions have caused slowdowns at meat processors throughout the month. “The industry still isn’t functioning normally, though the processing