A trip to the Rockies was out of the question, though, so I settled on the next best thing: getting up to Manitoba’s Duck and Porcupine Mountains, with their abundant trout-stocked waters.

I vividly recall my first exposure. Rising over 1,000 feet just west of Provincial Trunk Highway 10 and northwest of Dauphin, the Duck Mountain escarpment dominated the landscape like nothing I had seen before. Driving up the escarpment on rough gravel roads, one is quickly enveloped by spruce and mixed-woods forests, deep valleys and high hills, all replete with creeks and lakes.

I was driven by trout, but the general wild magic of the area also called to me. For over a decade, I found ways to hit the area as much as I could.

That pretty much ended when the demands of a growing family took over. It was relegated to a few day trips to a favourite trout stream when I visited my brother at his Lake Audy farm.

I’m long overdue for another trip to the region, if for no other reason than the tantalizing fishing reports that I receive. But I also want to see, first-hand, the results of the decades-long efforts of a unique group, Swan Valley Sport Fish Enhancement (SVSFE).

Their tireless volunteer work, effective partnerships, and a laser-like focus on creating and enhancing angling opportunities, has helped to ensure that the Duck and Porcupine Mountains regions continue to offer premiere angling opportunities.

A short history of Swan Valley fish enhancement

Holly Urban and Brock Koutecky, SVSFE technicians who have led a crammed program for SVSFE since 2009 and 2013, respectively, filled me in on the group’s history, activities and successes. As we chatted, the words ‘passion’ and ‘persistence’ kept coming to mind.

In the early 1980s, one of the Duck Mountains’ key recreational fisheries, Wellman Lake, fell on hard times. The walleye population had collapsed and local anglers wanted to put their shoulders to the wheel to help get it back on track. A combination of stocking, spawning reef development and regulation changes brought the lake back. The local volunteers worked hand-in-hand with provincial fisheries managers to make it happen.

Seeing what could be accomplished by working together, folks thought it was time to scale up the approach across the region.

“It was all about building relationships,” said Urban.” Widespread volunteer support, tied to guidance and efforts by provincial fisheries staff made it easier for everyone to get more done.”

Early success with the walleye spawning project at Wellman Lake has led to other lake enhancements. Beaver Lake, originally developed for trout, suffered an invasion of perch. The folks switched to walleye stockings, added a walleye spawning shoal and the area is now a fine walleye fishery.

Nearby, Black Beaver Lake was developed as a trout fishery, but it suffered frequent winterkill. A weir was constructed on the outlet to raise water levels.

One of the most popular walleye lakes in the Porcupine Mountains called Whitefish Lake, ironically, has an ongoing beaver management program on its inlet creeks to maintain fish access to spawning habitat.

SVSFE and provincial fisheries: a marriage made on the water

Ken Kansas, now retired from the provincial government, landed a provincial fisheries biologist position in Roblin in 1990 and got to know SVSFE folks soon after.

“They wanted to be involved in everything, from stocking, to monitoring and research. We worked together on many, many projects,” he said. “We could count on SVSFE to provide volunteer and staff support when we needed it.”

Ken also remembers that SVSFE was keen to learn the art and science of fisheries management. “They listened to the advice we provided,” he said.

For example, he points to SVSFE’s increasing involvement in population monitoring using the province’s electroshock fish sampling boat. Electroshocking and the use of live traps are non-lethal monitoring techniques: fish can be captured, sampled and then released unharmed, or even transported to other lakes for restocking purposes. Gillnets are also a fish monitoring tool, but result in a pile of dead fish.

Results you can catch

SVSFE activities fall into five major categories: stocking, habitat enhancement, surveys and monitoring, angler access projects and angler education. Koutecky estimates that the group has worked on over 50 bodies of water.

“We’ve had a hand in managing, improving or creating most of the recreational fisheries in the area,” he noted.

The Duck and Porcupine Mountain lakes are an interesting mix. Some hold pike, walleye and perch, species one traditionally expects in Manitoba.

But there are also many deep lakes that historically had no sport fish species, usually because they’re landlocked or have a very limited outlet. This fish void was an opportunity for the Manitoba government’s fish stocking program, which goes back decades. Often, that means stocking brook, rainbow, brown, splake or tiger trout. Many lakes also receive fry or juvenile walleye plantings, and a few have gained smallmouth bass.

If you’re looking for a really exotic experience, check out the lakes stocked with arctic char. The online provincial fish stocking dashboard has detailed information on each stocked water body in the province.

Fisheries managers and SVSFE have come up with some interesting species combinations. Walleye and trout co-exist quite well in some lakes in the region.

Provincial fisheries staff, with help from SVSFE, have kept up their search for new fishing opportunities that could be developed by stocking and/or habitat enhancement. SVSFE staff and volunteers often lend field support to these efforts to bring on new fisheries.

A unique recent addition is West Wajask Lake, the province’s only muskie-fishing opportunity. SVSFE’s commitment here included buying muskie stock from the U.S., navigating a tortured regulatory process at the border and keeping the transplants healthy all along the way. The lake’s road access and boat launch also received a major upgrade. Manitobans who have caught their first muskie in the Duck Mountains can attest to SVSFE’s persistence and ultimate success.

Top fishing files

Improving angler access is high on SVSFE’s ongoing priority list. In addition to informative signage, access projects include parking areas, boat launches and shore-fishing docks. The docks are a godsend for anglers without a boat, or who may have limited mobility.

“We have developed and continue to manage about 20 shore locations,” said Koutecky.

For more remote areas, SVSFE maintains many walking and ATV trails.

SVSFE also has an intensive youth angling program, including summer day camps that offer a structured opportunity for kids to wet a line and maybe catch their first fish. Winter fishing events are also held for youth and families.

Teens and young adults have also gained work experience through SVSFE, and the group sponsors a bursary program for students looking to pursue post-secondary education in resource management.

Building financial support

Creating a base of funding was a priority from the start for the volunteer board of directors. It runs an annual boat raffle and a fish fry. Upwards of 600 supporters have shown up for the annual spring event.

Local industries, cottager associations and resorts also get behind SVSFE. A recent example is the new access road, boat launch and dock at West Wajask Lake. Louisiana-Pacific, which operates a forest products mill in Swan River, supported the project. SVSFE also secures grants from Manitoba’s Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund.

Where to fish

Manitoba ‘mountain’ lakes and rivers are a wonderfully mixed bag of opportunities. Some lakes have the brown-stained look of boreal forest waters, while others, isolated and with gravel shores, are crystal clear. Many have easy road access, while wild experiences await those willing to hike down a trail.

Before making the trip up, check out the SVSFE website. Many lakes and rivers are profiled with detailed information on species and access, as well as contour maps.

Walleye and pike anglers can start off at Wellman Lake, which also has chunky smallmouth bass. Singush Lake also offers the same species mix. The largest lake in the Ducks, Child’s Lake, has pike and walleye, along with lake trout.

In the Porcupine Mountains, Steeprock and Bell Lakes are popular for walleye, but also hold large pike. Exceptional whitefish fishing is also available. Whitefish Lake, on the south side of the Porcupines, is also a good walleye lake. Check out the SVSFE website for some of the smaller water bodies that are also gems to fish.

The list of stocked trout lakes is impressive. At the center of the Ducks, East and West Blue Lake both have a number of trout species and walleye as well. Other well-known trout lakes include Gull, Laurie, Beautiful and Two-Mile Lakes. On the south side of the Ducks, Persse and Tees Lakes can be exceptional. Nearby, Twin Lake has tiger trout fishing that’s in a class all its own.

If you’re dying to fish a stream for trout, you need to hit this region. I’ve hiked the stunning Pine and Steeprock Rivers, and would love to take in the wild splendor of the Armit River in the north Porcupine Mountains.

Writing the piece reminded me of how much I miss this unique region. It’s a Manitoba gem, and not only because of the fishing.

If you have enjoyable fishing up there, remember to tip your hat to SVSFE. Its effectiveness begins with a vision that’s carried forward with passion and a never-quit attitude. SVSFE’s secret sauce also includes a knack for maintaining important relationships and a willingness to be guided by fisheries management principles. On the cusp of four successful decades, the SVSFE flame never seems to burn low.

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Health Canada, which oversees the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), announced Monday evening it has authorized a “time-limited and controlled” emergency-use registration for the rodent poison for those two provinces, running until November 2027.

WHY IT MATTERS: Other pest controls are available for use against gophers but farmers find strychnine both more effective and easier to use.

The new decision follows the federal government’s cancellations of all registered uses of strychnine in recent years, and a joint application for the product’s emergency use filed by the two provinces’ agriculture ministries last October.

PMRA had rejected that joint application in February, saying its proposals “did not provide sufficient means to address the risks of concern identified in the re-evaluation that led to strychnine’s cancellation.”

The earlier cancellations had been based on an updated environmental risk assessment, which had found no “practical risk-reduction measures to protect non-target animals” if they fed on strychnine-poisoned pest or predator animal carcasses or directly on poisoned gopher bait.

However, Health Canada said Monday, the two provinces last week filed a revised joint emergency-use request which includes “additional restrictions and mitigations … to lower the environmental risk to an acceptable level.”

The “significant” added measures in the new plan include a “reduced geographical scope” and “revised product stewardship program,” among others, Health Canada said.

Since strychnine’s uses were cancelled, farmers and ranchers have been raising concerns about on-farm efficacy of other products still registered for use against gophers.

The temporary use of strychnine will help farmers address “multi-million dollars worth of damage” in various crops from a recent spike in populations of gophers, a.k.a. Richardson’s ground squirrels, Health Canada said Monday.

Health Canada noted the Prairies have been experiencing “abnormally dry conditions, which (affect) the sustainability and quality of farmlands and allowed the population of these gophers to increase significantly.”

Reaction so far

“Saskatchewan producers have been clear about the challenges they face in managing gophers with the limited tools currently available,” provincial Agriculture Minister David Marit said Monday in Health Canada’s release. “We’re pleased to see the emergency use request granted as a practical opportunity for producers to demonstrate how strychnine can help protect their crops and pastures from continued damage.”

“Alberta’s producers have faced significant challenges managing (gophers) and the loss of this control method was difficult and costly for many in the ag sector,” RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s minister for agriculture and irrigation, said in the same release.

“I’m confident that, with this effective tool back in the hands of our producers, they will be able to better manage their operations and reduce excessive crop and grassland losses due to the overpopulation of (Richardson’s ground squirrels) throughout the Prairies.”

“Innovative and collaborative efforts by all levels of government are needed to support the domestic agriculture industry especially during this period of uncertainty,” federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said in the same release. “Our governments’ shared commitment of supporting Canadian farmers, our economy, and food security led us to work together to address a compounding threat.”

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“It’s difficult to say for sure, but I don’t think the problem is expanding,” said Wayne Lees, project co-ordinator with the program. “In fact, I think we’re starting to make some significant progress.”

WHY IT MATTERS: Improved surveillance, trapping and landowner co-operation has helped those tasked with curbing Manitoba’s wild pig problem locate and remove the animals, which pose risks to farms and livestock.

The 2025 year-in-review report highlighted ongoing removal efforts, improved surveillance tools and expanded collaboration across the province.

Like other parts of Canada where the invasive species has dug a foothold, wild pigs remain a concern for farmers and rural communities. They damage crops and habitat, contaminate water sources and can spread diseases that threaten livestock, experts warn.

Finding pigs remains biggest challenge

The hardest task is simply locating the animals.

“I think finding the pigs is always our biggest challenge,” Lees said. “Once we know where they are, then we’re pretty good at taking steps to remove them.”

The program has continued to concentrate much of its work around the Spruce Woods area, which is considered Manitoba’s main wild pig hotspot.

“We know that’s where our biggest population of wild pigs reside,” Lees said.

The annual report said Spruce Woods Park and surrounding areas remain the most significant concentration of wild pigs in the province, while a smaller but persistent population exists near northern Lake Manitoba.

As the population declines, however, the work is becoming more difficult, he added.

“As a program matures, of course, then you have to look harder and harder to find the pigs,” Lees said.

The pattern on the ground suggested numbers are falling, according to field operations manager Devon Baete.

“We’re lower,” Baete said. “We get less and less sightings reported.”

He added that the pigs the program is removing now are harder to reach.

“The ones we’re removing are all deep, deep in areas,” he said.

The report noted 240 sightings were recorded in 2025 from public reports, trail cameras and drones. Surveillance increased significantly during the year, and field teams removed 206 pigs, much of that activity occurring during winter months.

Technology plays pivotal role in surveillance

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in tracking the animals. Thermal-imaging drones have become a key surveillance tool because they can locate pigs hiding in bush or thick vegetation.

“They’ve been a real game changer for us, in that they allow us then to scout areas that would be very, very difficult to scout on foot,” Lees said.

Winter conditions make the technology especially effective.

“Right now, (with) snow cover, when it’s frozen and cold everywhere on the ground, you can locate a pig anywhere in the province,” he said.

Trapping and landowner co-operation key

Trapping remains another central part of the program. Large metal corral traps are commonly used near farmland where pigs move between bush and crop land, while net traps are sometimes deployed in remote or forested areas.

“The net traps work excellent,” Baete said. “They’re very good at capturing wild pigs.”

But wildlife safety and local conditions determine which equipment is used, including what other wildlife or livestock are nearby, he said.

Landowner participation remains key to the program. The report noted that each month staff typically speak with about 250 landowners, operate 25 to 30 traps and deploy roughly 100 trail cameras across the province.

Researchers are also testing environmental DNA techniques to detect pigs in remote areas by analyzing water samples for genetic traces left by animals moving through watersheds. The method could help confirm whether pigs are present in areas where sightings are rare.

Preparing for disease threats

Another growing focus is disease preparedness, particularly for African swine fever (ASF), which could have major consequences for Canada’s pork sector.

“One of our goals is to prepare for any kind of an emergency that’s related to foreign animal disease,” Lees said.

If ASF was found in wild pigs, it would close the border just as quickly as finding it in a domestic herd, he added.

The program is also developing an emergency response template that could be used by other provinces.

“Manitoba elected to be the pilot project,” Lees said. “We’ll develop the chapter and then share that template with the other provinces.”

The report said Manitoba is working with national partners to improve mapping of wild pig populations and strengthen co-ordination across provinces as part of a broader Canadian strategy.

Reporting sightings integral

While the program is encouraged by progress, eliminating the animals will take time.

“I think that if we’re persistent, we have a really good opportunity within the next decade, for sure, to get rid of them,” Lees said.

Public reports from farmers and rural residents remain critical to that goal.

“If landowners do know of wild pigs in their area, make sure they get hold of us,” Lees said. “We’ll come out and we’ll work with them and trap the pigs and get rid of them.”

Baete echoed that message.

“Every sighting is important,” he said. “Even if it’s just somebody thinking it’s rooting on the edge of the field.”

To report a wild pig sighting, visit squealonpigsmb.org, or call 1-833-SPOT-PIG.

The post Manitoba gaining ground on wild pigs appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Wildlife concerns

Incoming president Arvid Nottveit said wildlife pressures have become a dominant issue for producers across the province.

“The elk population just really exploded, and we have to work with producers to mitigate the effects of that,” he said.

A provincial report from back in 2011 put Manitoba’s elk population as stable around 6,500 animals.

The 2023 big game survey, meanwhile, estimated elk numbers around Manitoba’s Porcupine Mountains, Duck Mountains and Turtle Moutains. The survey reported a minimum 107 in the Porcupine Moutain surveyed region, 625 in the southwestern region around the Turtle Mountains and 1,158 in the Duck Mountains.

That survey covered only patches of the province, however, and did not include major elk region Riding Mountain National Park. The Government of Canada estimates about 1,800 elk in the national park.

WHY IT MATTERS: Manitoba beef producers are pushing for real fixes on elk, predation and Crown lands while bracing for trade uncertainty and tighter margins behind today’s strong cattle prices.

Predation from wolves and bears is another hot button issue. Wild boars are also becoming more of a problem as their populations continue to grow in Manitoba, Nottveit added.

Last April, the federal and provincial governments launched the Livestock Predation Prevention Program, a permanent successor to the industry-led pilot project that ended in 2023.

Resolutions approved by delegates at MBP’s annual general meeting, held in Brandon on Feb. 11 and 12, include continued lobbying for provincial analysis of elk and deer populations, financial assistance for fencing and compensation for wildlife damage to crops.

Producers are also increasingly concerned about feed losses and herd health impacts tied to wildlife.

Wildlife and disease concerns intersect with broader traceability discussions that have surfaced in recent months. It is important that producers facing disease outbreaks are supported appropriately, Nottveit said.

“I really want to make sure that ranchers that have disease outbreaks on their herds are treated fairly and … it’s as stress-free a situation as can possibly be.”

Past president Matthew Atkinson said wildlife damage, particularly from elk, has also been a major file during his six years on the board.

“Wildlife issues have really dominated, both in terms of the predation on livestock as well as impact on crops, from largely elk, but from wildlife in general,” he said.

Crown lands unsettled

Alongside wildlife advocacy, MBP continues to push for long-term stability on Crown lands.

“We need a long-term, stable plan going forward,” Atkinson said. “We need that to be settled and consistent.”

He acknowledged the file has created divisions within the membership.

“It’s either a major priority or it’s no priority at all,” he said.

Last October, the province extended its rental rate freeze on Crown land forage leases into the 2026 growing season.

Trade uncertainty

Trade uncertainty and the upcoming CUSMA review with the United States and Mexico remain on the radar, though provincial influence is limited.

“It’s a hard thing to negotiate our way through,” Atkinson said. “It’s not a typical negotiation.”

Nottveit highlighted the critical need to sustain robust cross-border cattle movement, given the close integration between the Canadian and U.S. beef industries.

Strong prices, tight margins

Despite high cattle prices, both leaders cautioned that rising input costs continue to squeeze margins.

Atkinson called the current market strength “overdue,” but said producers must use the opportunity wisely.

“It’s time that we start looking at … the tools available to us to make them as profitable as we can and to ensure that we can be profitable when things aren’t at their highs and move ahead from there,” he said.

For Nottveit, the focus in the coming years will be on practical supports that help grow Manitoba’s cow herd, which sits at historic lows.

“There’s a lot of work that can be done still, to make it viable for young people, especially to make a living raising cattle in this beautiful province,” he said.

Note: A previous version of this story mistakenly reported Manitoba’s estimated elk population at 605. The Co-operator regrets the error.

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With leaves no longer obstructing vision, it is easier to catch sight of the many owl species found here. Of these, eight species are found year-round in various parts of our province, while four others migrate and are here only from spring to fall.

Because the snowy owl visits southern Manitoba only in the colder months, it is probably the one people watch for most often at this time. For many bird-lovers, sighting a snowy owl brings excitement, and has come to symbolize our winters.

This species spends more of its time north of the Arctic Circle, on the breeding grounds of the tundra. But with the coming of colder weather, snowy owls frequently migrate farther south.

Some years the migrants are plentiful enough to be classed as “an irruption.” These numbers may be due to a very successful nesting period, with many young raised, or sometimes it might be because of a scarcity of lemmings, voles and ptarmigan on which they feed. Alternatively, early, deep snows in the Arctic might lead to greater numbers heading south.

Watch for snowy owls in open fields or pastures, or along power lines. Accustomed to the treeless tundra, they tend to avoid trees. Birders often watch from inside a car, so as not to disturb the birds. Male snowies are smaller than females and lighter in colour, tending to become almost pure white as they get older. The females are usually heavily speckled or barred with black. This colouring acts as a camouflage on the summer nesting grounds but may increase visibility in winter.

Other greats

A second owl species more commonly seen in winter is the great grey owl (photo up top). This large owl spends the warmer months in the boreal forest sections, so it is not as noticeable then, but winter often brings it to the edges of the forests and a little farther south into mixed open/forested areas. Although it is our provincial bird, this species is not sighted often in the southwestern part of Manitoba, but can be seen in Riding Mountain National Park, and especially in and around Whiteshell Provincial Park and the eastern forested sections. Its large size is impressive for those lucky enough to see it.

A third common owl species, the great horned owl, is perhaps more often heard than seen in winter. This is the owl whose signature call of “Hoo, hoo, HOO, hoo, hoooo” is recognizable to many people. Surprisingly, these owls often begin nesting as early as February. Sometimes even in January, birders-in-the-know may locate a great horned owl sitting on a nest. This is another large species, although smaller than the great grey.

Night owls and day owls

Other owls that live year-round in Manitoba include eastern screech owl, northern hawk owl, barred owl, boreal owl and northern saw-whet owl. Most of these hunt mainly at night or early evening and will be resting in treed areas during the day.

Conversely, the hawk owl is primarily diurnal (hunting during daylight hours) so it may be sighted gliding over open fields or perched on a prominent tree beside an open area. This species tends to be farther north in summer but frequents southern Manitoba in winter. Visitors to Oak Hammock Marsh often report seeing this bird.

Other owl species are less likely to be seen because they are smaller, spend their time in treed areas, hunt at night, and/or are well camouflaged. The barred owl and boreal owl live mostly in boreal forests so are more hidden. The screech owl and saw-whet owl are both quite small at about seven to nine inches (18-21 cm) and may be heard more than seen.

Owl species that are usually here only in warmer months include the long-eared owl, short-eared owl, burrowing owl, and only very occasionally the barn owl. Of these, the burrowing owl is usually in the very southwest grasslands corner of Manitoba, and is classed as endangered.

For anyone with a real interest in owls, winter tours are offered through agencies or individuals, although some of these will be fully booked already. Search the Internet for these. Or join the birding group at manitobabirds@groups.io to see pictures and general locations. Exact locations are usually not given to avoid crowds bothering the birds.

Remember: if you do locate an owl, do not approach too closely or disturb it if it is resting or hunting, and especially not on a nest.

The post Winter is the best time to see owls in Manitoba appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

“When I first started, we were selling into Canada like crazy,” Craig Duhr, BCG’s regional sales manager for the Americas, said of the market in 2020. “Agriculture, all your vineyards, whatever it took.”

Suddenly, Health Canada told them that the 487-milliwatt Class 3 B laser was no longer eligible for import, despite certifications from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture, among others that allow its sale in 100 countries — including the Netherlands, where it was developed.

WHY IT MATTERS: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency estimates 17.2 million domestic birds have died or been humanely depopulated due to avian flu in Canada since 2021.

Canada’s current Pest Control Product Act deems laser devices such as the Avix to be a pest repellent, requiring registration.

However, Health Canada said Feb. 3 via email, a proposal to exempt certain specific laser devices from the registration requirement — if they meet certain regulatory requirements for low-energy emissions — was published last March.

A 90-day pre-consultation on that proposal ended in June, ahead of a formal consultation that’s expected to be announced later this year, Health Canada said.

The laser has been successfully tested in various sectors and under different weather conditions worldwide to ensure the non-lethal, animal-friendly bird control solution remains effective over the long term.

Fight to stay in Canada

BCG didn’t fly off without a fight, Duhr said. The small start-up company employed attorneys and submitted to every Health Canada request over a two- to three-year period, before costs and constant government hurdles forced them to walk away.

Duhr said requests from Canadian producers run into the thousands, with increased interest particularly since avian influenza began to spike in 2021.

“Every show we got to that is poultry,” he said. “We’re inundated with (interested) Canadian people; it’s very unfortunate.”

Wade Stark, vineyard operations manager for Andrew Peller Ltd., was among the operations fortunate enough to purchase the system before the moratorium took effect.

Stark told Glacier FarmMedia via email he’s been pleased with the Avix’s performance since installing the units at the vineyard in August 2020. Aside from replacing a control box and a few cables due to environmental exposure, the units have had no issues, he added.

Stark indicated he intends to follow up with Health Canada on the laser’s import availability status.

“We would certainly recommend their use and would like to order more units for other farms where we have bird pressure and have to use netting, which is labour-intensive and expensive,” Stark wrote. “Not to mention birds actually getting trapped in the netting from time to time.”

Highly efficient

In 2021, Wageningen University published data on the effectiveness of BCG’s Avix Autonomic Mark II Class III B laser on a free-range layer farm next to a poultry barn in a Dutch region heavily impacted by avian flu.

The study collected video footage for a month before installing the lasers, which operated from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. within the 1.5-hectare free-range area when poultry were inside, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the surrounding grass pasture when the birds were outside.

It found the laser had a 98.3 per cent efficacy at reducing wild bird interactions within the free-range area and concluded the laser was “highly proficient at keeping wild birds, in particular waterfowl” away from farms along the winter migration flyway.

While the study focused on free-range operations, researcher Armin Elbers speculated on the BCG website that, during high-risk periods, laser use could help on strictly-indoor operations that had experienced or were at risk of avian influenza, by keeping wild fowl away from barns.

Cattle sector applications

When highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was detected in U.S. dairy cattle in March 2024, leading to a significant drop in production and spikes in fever, lethargy and decreased appetite, calls began to roll in.

“When that happened, then we got really busy in the dairy industry and feedlots,” Duhr said, adding that while HPAI doesn’t kill cattle, it’s a drain on those operations.

He said BCG will continue to focus on expanding its U.S. as well as Central and South American markets — but Canada isn’t completely off the table.

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The news came after disease investigations in the Netherlands, according to a Jan. 23 article published on Science.org. Officials found antibodies — evidence of prior infection — in a dairy cow’s milk. Officials thought to test cattle after a dead cat on a farm in the northern province of Friesland was found to have been killed by the H5N1 bird flu virus.

Veterinarians collected blood and milk samples from cattle. They did not find the virus itself, although the antibody finding suggested a recent flu contraction in that animal.

So far, there’s been no evidence cattle from other farms have been infected, the Netherlands agriculture minister said.

WHY IT MATTERS: Dairy cases of bird flu spread rapidly through the U.S. starting in 2024, infecting animals and leveling an economic hit to American dairy farms. Canada has not found any cases in its dairy herd so far.

Canada continues to be spared from dairy bird flu, despite proximity of the U.S. where, at one point in 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did a survey in which one in five retail milk samples sampled found killed remnants of the virus.

Containment efforts have since gained considerable ground. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported no new cattle cases in the last 30 days.

But the recent Dutch infection is a reminder that bovine bird flu isn’t flapping its way into the history books just yet.

Cases haven’t quite cut off in the U.S. — there was one in Wisconsin as recently as December, although summer 2025 saw a distinct slowdown. In total, the U.S. outbreak has spanned 1,084 cases across 19 states since March 2024.

“It was quiet over the summer, which is expected with influenza viruses. This started to change in the fall, again this is typical for influenza viruses,” says Stacey Schultz-Cherry, of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., in an email to the Co-operator.

Schultz-Cherry and her fellow investigators are learning more about the virus and how it mutates. The HPAI strains in question — belonging to avian flu clade 2.3.4.4b — appear to differ from other bird flu types in their ability to infect and replicate in respiratory and mammary cells from cows and other species.

“The reasons appear to be a mix of changes in the viruses as well as what happens to the cells during infection,” she says.

“For example, our studies suggest that the bovine strains rapidly kill the respiratory, but not mammary epithelial cells. We are trying to better understand why this is happening.”

The research has split off into several avenues, including how humans are infected and how immune history to other kinds of influenza may protect people if exposed to the new bird flu strains.

Could have been worse

Bovine bird flu’s footprint has been sizable, but it could have been far worse, says University of Guelph veterinary professor Shayan Sharif.

The main reasons it didn’t, Sharif said, is a credit to the U.S. veterinarians and agencies who identified, studied and contained the virus as securely as possible. However, he added, it may have been a miracle it was discovered in the first place. Dairy cattle in the southern U.S. had been getting sick for some time before anyone thought to test for bird flu.

“I don’t know if it was serendipity that they connected clinical science in dairy cows to HPAI, because that would not have been he first thing that would come to anyone’s mind, because what they saw wasn’t anything very specific for a disease,” Sharif noted.

“What they saw was that cows were experiencing lack of appetite, dropping their milk production (and the) milk looked funny.”

Sharif calls the virus “unique” and — strong containment protocols by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) aside — he still wonders why it never slipped across the Canada-U.S. border to Canadian dairy cattle.

Wild birds are a known vector of the disease. Such migratory birds don’t recognize borders and, depending on species, travel back and forth between the U.S. and Canada on a biannual basis.

“It became something that was predominantly present in U.S. flyways and it seems to have been something really specifically in the U.S., because there is no mention of it (infecting dairy cattle) in any other parts of the globe (or) in Canada,” said Sharif — at least until the evidence from the Netherlands was found.

“It wasn’t because we didn’t look for it hard enough. We did actually look for it very carefully, but it was nowhere to be found,” he said.

Key bird flu discoveries

Sharif also commends USDA, APHIS and others involved in the response for quickly identifying risk factors, including possible animal-to-animal transmission vectors such as cow-to-cow, cow-to-calf and cows to other animals, such as barn cats and birds.

To name one example, they learned it could be spread from cow to cow through milking machines and other dairy barn equipment.

“That was, I would say, one of the best sets of studies that were done in the U.S. that led to the discovery that the virus can be spread from cow to cow,” Sharif says.

Transmission from cows to humans was also determined to be a low-level possibility, although it was reported in those exposed to dairy cattle and other livestock.

“It also became clear that humans that are in contact with the virus usually catch the virus through their conjunctiva (pink eye),” explains Sharif.

“Some of them become infected through the respiratory system, but it’s primarily because of the conjunctiva in in their eyes that they become infected.

“So if you have PPE (personal protective equipment) — for example goggles, gloves, coveralls and so on — you could actually protect yourself.”

Another component — one confirmed by the CFIA during the outbreak — was the role of pasteurization in preventing the spread of the virus to human consumers.

”They did a whole series of studies looking at milk and its capacity for harbouring the virus and what can be done in order to reduce the risk of virus transmission through milk such as … through pasteurization,” Sharif notes.

Finally, he commends U.S. and Canadian authorities for taking a risk-based approach to the outbreak.

Canada’s response included tightening the border for U.S. dairy cattle. Livestock fairs and exhibitions were also cancelled in the U.S. and greater scrutiny was placed around animal movement to reduce spread.

“They did it based on risk assessment of what this could pose to both human and also animal populations. So I think overall, it was a job well done, and I think that in Canada, the CFIA has done a really good job to ensure that the virus doesn’t come to Canada,” Sharif says.

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The facility, previously owned by U.S.-based Scoular, has been bought by Orenda Commodity Services Ltd. out of Ste. Agathe. The deal includes all of Scoular’s sunflower and wild bird food blending business, according to a Jan. 20 release from the Nebraska company.

“Running two facilities, that’ll do two things,” said Nicolas Nordick, assistant general manager with Orenda. “It’ll obviously grow our throughput in a year, and what it’ll also do is it will give us a bit of flexibility if ever there is breakdowns or whatever. We can keep servicing our customers and also our producers as well. We can keep receiving loads in either facility.”

WHY IT MATTERS: Local farmer contracts with Orenda are expected to jump significantly with a new sunflower facility under the company’s umbrella.

According to the Jan. 20 release, the new owners are a family-owned, “vertically integrated operation with farming roots in the Woodlands (region),” who create custom seed mixes for both bird food and human consumption. The Winkler plant is set up for both streams, Scoular said.

According to Orenda’s website, their business spans special crops commodity marketing, farm sourcing, processing, custom bird food blending, packaging and shipping. As well as sunflower varieties, the company cites crops like millet, milo, safflower and canary seed.

Smooth transition expected

Winkler facility staff will carry over into the new ownership, according to Nordick.

“There’s a very solid crew down in Winkler that mesh really well with our crew in Ste. Agathe — a lot of long-term employees, and that is just very rewarding for us on our end, being the new kids on the block, that they are willing to stay on,” he said.

The company expects farmer contracts will jump with the addition.

“If we’ve got two mouths to feed, we’ve got to service that many more pounds, so it’ll keep growing for sure,” Nordick said.

According to the Jan. 20 release, Orenda employs 80 staff across four locations in Manitoba.

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The changes affect both the province’s crop insurance program and wildlife damage compensation, with updates designed to better reflect current farming realities across the province.

High participation

Risk management tools are more important than ever as producers contend with tighter margins and increasingly unpredictable weather, Kostyshyn said.

“Over 90 per cent of Manitoba’s annual crop acres are enrolled in ag insurance… The risk of loss of crops due to unpredictability is more important than ever.”

WHY IT MATTERS: Changes to agriculture insurance signal broader coverage and fewer blind spots.

Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation expects to provide $4.3 billion in coverage on 9.8 million crop acres in 2026 as weather extremes continue to affect regions throughout Manitoba in different ways, from flooding to droughts.

New forage pilot

Among the changes announced is a new pilot program aimed at encouraging sustainable forage production. The Forage Advantage Pilot Program, as announced in November, will offer farmers a 15 per cent discount on forage establishment insurance premiums for growing perennial forage crops on designated land types.

The province is also expanding insurance coverage to include meadow fescue grown for seed, following years of discussions with commodity groups, Kostyshyn said.

Wildlife coverage expanded

Manitoba is also making a major update by expanding its wildlife damage compensation program to cover additional species and different kinds of losses.

“For 2026 crop year, farmers will be able to claim for crop damage due to blackbirds, raccoons, damage to livestock caused by vultures, eagles, hawks, ravens and other bird species,” Kostyshyn said.

KAP applauds changes

The updates to this year’s crop insurance and wildlife damage compensation programs reflect the growing risks farmers face, said Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) president Jill Verwey.

“Expanding coverage, updating values, and piloting incentives like the forage advantage program are positive steps.”

KAP will continue to work with the province to help inform and shape practical solutions for Manitoba farmers, Verwey added.

Manitoba Ag Days, marking its 49th anniversary, will be held from Jan. 20 to 22 in Brandon. The event is expected to attract producers, exhibitors and agricultural businesses from throughout the Prairie region. For more coverage of the show, visit our landing page.

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WHY IT MATTERS : Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease that targets cervid species like deer, elk and moose. It was first confirmed in Manitoba in 2021. It is not considered a health risk to humans.

The cases were announced by the Province of Manitoba Dec. 22. Infected animals from the two new areas were killed in the RM of Swan Valley West, north of Duck Mountain National Park, and RM of Victoria southeast of Carberry.

Three other cases of chronic wasting disease were found in regions where cases had previously been detected. Two new cases were found near Coulter in the RM of Two Borders. One was found near the community of Dropmore in the Parkland region.

The new cases bring Manitoba’s CWD count up to 35, 26 of which were mule deer, while the remaining nine were white-tailed deer. The five new cases included three mule deer and two white-tailed deer.

In recent years, Manitoba has expanded surveillance for the disease by testing hunted deer. In 2024-25, the program tested about 3,100 samples. The province says the 2025-2026 program has so far tested over 2,500 samples.

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