Red tape causes farmers to see red

Whether it’s being asked to fill in a seeding survey during planting season or enduring bureaucratic paper chase to get permission to clean out a ditch, farmers say the regulatory burden is worsening

The blizzard of rules, regulations and forms is getting steadily worse, and farmers are fed up to the gills with red tape, according to a new survey. In fact, filling out paperwork was the No. 1 beef of 79 per cent of farmers it recently surveyed, says the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. “Overregulation, confusing

Corn, soybean crop insurance might expand to new areas

The Manitoba government is exploring whether it can expand crop insurance coverage for corn and soybeans to more parts of the province, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn told farmers at Ag Days Jan. 15. “I want to assure the audience today our department is in the process of investigating expanding potential areas for coverage, but we’re


Chronic issues must be addressed

Every beef producer in Manitoba has a stake in seeing TB eradicated in the area around Riding Mountain National Park

Farm groups often bemoan the fact that it can be difficult to work with governments. You will also often hear associations complain that one department is pursuing objectives that are diametrically opposite to the initiatives of another branch of government. Unfortunately, these complaints often contain a grain of truth. However, it is also true that

Tories deliver feast of food law reform

With all the media hype about XL Foods, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we still have a food regulatory system as good as any. And it’s getting better. The Harper government’s quick adoption and speedy implementation of all 54 recommendations of the Weatherill report on the 2008 listeriosis outbreak, is now


Exporters must deal with zero tolerance for ractopamine

Reuters — Canada is not developing new tests for the feed additive ractopamine in beef and pork exports to Russia, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. He said Ottawa is leaving it to shippers to take their own steps to satisfy the new Russian requirement for zero residue. The Canada Pork International marketing group said the

WSGA wants investigation into XL beef recall

The Western Stock Growers’ Association (WSGA) has respectfully asked the Government of Canada to launch an independent investigation into the crisis surrounding the closing and long process to reopen the XL beef plant in Brooks. Recently, producers at the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) zone meeting in Fort MacLeod supported a motion to call for an


Australia reports deadly bird flu case

paris / reuters Australia has reported its first case of a highly pathogenic bird flu virus in 15 years. So far 5,000 poultry have died at an infected egg farm in Maitland, 160 kilometres north of Sydney, but 50,000 birds are at risk. The virus is different from the deadly H5N1 strain, found in 1997

Container regulation change angers food processors

A coalition of food processors and farm groups is protesting a federal plan to no longer require standard-size packages. New rules mean American food producers will no longer have to use Canadian-size packages and that will give some of them an advantage in the grocery store aisle, said Chris Kyte, president of the Food Processors


KAP demands Ottawa improve meat inspections

It wasn’t farmers who screwed up at the XL Foods plant, but they’re the ones paying the price. That was the view of farmers attending the recent Keystone Agricultural Producers’ General Council meeting. “We feel it’s the producers who are paying for someone else’s mistakes along the way,” said Minto farmer Bill Campbell. KAP passed

Hopes high for soon-to-be-appointed TB co-ordinator

The imminent appointment of a TB co-ordinator will hopefully end the “bureaucratic gridlock” and reform the effort to eradicate bovine tuberculosis in the Riding Mountain area, says the general manager of Manitoba Beef Producers. “It hasn’t been announced, but it’s very close,” Cam Dahl told attendees at the association’s recent District 12 meeting. “It’s something