Proposed U.S. country of origin labelling rules run contrary to mutual Canada and U.S. goals to reduce inflation, improve food security and build resilient supply chains, according to a submission from the Canadian government to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “One of the great strengths of the U.S.-Canada bilateral relationship is the successful integration of […] Read more

Canada warns VCOOL would sabotage shared Canada-U.S. goals, supply chains
The Canadian government has submitted its views on proposed U.S. food labelling rules

International farmers may ease Canadian human capital crunch
A global retirement crunch is coming and Canada is ill prepared, report says
As other nations reduce their agricultural footprints in an effort to boost sustainability, their loss could be Canada’s human capital gain, a new report suggests. “The immigration of scientists, data engineers, and entrepreneurs has been recognized as critical to Canada’s growth. A similar approach needs to be adopted to attract farmers,” the authors wrote. The […] Read more

CFIA seeks feedback on traceability, animal ID amendments
Producers have until June 16 to comment on proposals
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is now seeking comment on its proposed amendments to livestock identification and traceability regulations. The regulatory proposal would address what the agency calls “gaps” in the current system, including: adding goats and cervids as animal species that share diseases with other regulated livestock, and therefore subject to traceability requirements, shortening […] Read more

Manitoba’s Red River Valley at major risk for flooding
Province's March flood outlook report cites U.S. storms as reason
Manitoba has significantly raised the risk of spring flooding in its Red River Valley, follow “recent precipitation events south of the border.” Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre on Wednesday projected a major risk of flooding on the Red River and low to moderate risk of flooding in most Manitoba basins in its March […] Read more

Beef sector calls for Health Canada label exception
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association wants ground beef exempted from proposed rules
The cattle sector is less than pleased by a Health Canada proposal that would put a ‘high saturated fat’ label on retail ground beef. The proposal is part of a suite of changes proposed for Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations. As well as adding a front-of-packaging (FOP) label requirement for foods deemed by Health Canada […] Read more

RMs declare ag disaster in Manitoba’s Interlake
Twelve rural municipalities in Manitoba’s Interlake and WestLake regions have declared a state of agricultural disaster due to severe dry conditions. The RMs of Alonsa, Armstrong, Bifrost-Riverton, Coldwell, Ethelbert, Fisher, Grahamdale, Lakeshore, McCreary, Ste. Rose, West Interlake and Woodlands announced the motion in a news release Thursday. The municipalities are calling on the province to […] Read more

Canadian Forage and Grassland Association short of funds, and a manager
The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) set up five years ago to help Canada’s struggling forage and grassland industry is struggling itself, but vows to carry on despite a shortage of funds and the resignation of its executive director, Ron Pidskalny. “Nobody is saying we’re going to have to shut it down,” CFGA chair […] Read more
PEDv in Manitoba not seen linked to feed
The southeastern Manitoba hog farm confirmed Feb. 14 with porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) remains the province’s only case, as none of 45 other farms known to have had contact with the infected property have turned up any signs of the virus. But with no new Manitoba cases yet in sight, provincial officials now ask: How […] Read more
Stuck on Prairies in the springtime? Let us know
If you’ve tried to get past a washout or get a truck down a dirt road that looked dry at the time, we’d like to hear your cautionary tale. Springtime driving on the Prairies can often lead to a few extra minutes in the ruts, a truck of unknown colour, or maybe a story to […] Read more
Nicoll’s grass-fed beef genetics on block
Cattle producers looking to enter the grassfed beef market will have a rare opportunity to select from a herd developed specifically for that purpose on Tuesday, Sept. 30. That’s when Winnipeg Livestock Auction Sales Ltd., will disperse the herd belonging to long-time grassfed beef producer and promoter Glen Nicoll. The Fraserwood, Man. rancher, who is […] Read more