cattle in a feedlot

Health Canada reviews water quality impact of popular growth promoter

Manitoba Beef Producers says the environmental benefits of growth hormones 
in cattle production outweigh the risks

More research has emerged suggesting that growth promoters used in the cattle-feeding business may persist in the environment longer than previously thought. Researchers at Indiana University’s Bloomington School of Public and Environmental Affairs found that while the synthetic testosterone known as trenbolone acetate or TBA breaks down in sunlight, darkness allows it to revert back

eggs on flat cartons

Avian influenza in U.S. poultry puts the squeeze on Canadian egg imports

Shipments are costing more and taking longer to get here

A major avian influenza outbreak in the United States is forcing Canada’s layer industry to scramble for imported eggs and pay through the nose for them. As the AI outbreak continues south of the border, Canadian importers must look further afield for processing eggs, increasing delivery times and transportation costs. Manitoba sources most of its


Owners of Melita cattle export facility hope to rebuild after fire

In its peak season, Taylor Auction Mart in Melita was shipping eight to 12 loads of cattle a day

A major cattle-exporting facility in southwestern Manitoba is out of commission after a devastating fire. “The entire structure burnt down. The main building, offices, staff rooms, lunch area, the barn — everything,” said Brock Taylor, who owns and operates the family-run Taylor Auction Mart just outside of Melita. “Our plan, in a perfect world, would

Dave Hatcher

New interim wheat class coming for Faller, Prosper, Elgin-ND

Market potential will be studied before its made permanent. In the meantime the CGC will strengthen the quality specifications for the CWRS and CPSR classes

Changes are coming to Western Canada’s milling wheat classes along with some additional study and more industry feedback, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) announced May 8. After consulting the grain sector earlier this year the CGC has decided to introduce a new interim milling wheat class to take effect Aug. 1 and continue until at


James Battershill

KAP seeks members’ input on Growing Forward 3

By starting early Manitoba’s general farm organization hopes to have more influence 
over the outcome than it did with Growing Forward 2

Which farm programs are working and which are not? That’s what Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) staff is asking members as it and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture prepare for Growing Forward 3, the federal-provincial framework for farm programs to take effect April 1, 2017. “We felt we needed to be as proactive as possible to

Maple Leaf’s Brandon plant is operating at 75 per cent capacity due to shortages of hogs and workers.  photo: supplied

Double trouble for Maple Leaf

Pigs and people to 
process them are in 
short supply

Getting more pigs and people to process them into Maple Leaf Foods’ hog-killing plant in Brandon isn’t as simple as putting more dollars on the table, said the plant’s Morgan Curran-Blaney. “There’s not enough (pigs) so you end up stealing from somebody else,” Curran-Blaney told reporters July 10 after speaking at the Keystone Agricultural Producers’