January 29, 2021
mbbeef.ca
E-Newsletter An update from Manitoba Beef Producers
Thursday, February 11 at 12:45pm
Click here for agenda + free registration
For reliable information and resources please visit: For the latest Manitoba industry news visit our new website: https://mbbeef.ca/our-news/covid/
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association is collaborating with industry stakeholders and the Government of Canada to ensure both stable beef production and trade during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.cattle.ca/ccaresources/covid-19/
Manitoba farmers in a bind after province ‘modernizes’ use of Crown land Flood outlet not yet cleared for federal funding
Manitoba Hosts Forum on Sustainable Protein Innovation ***Note: Manitoba Beef Producers participated in this forum. (January 29, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) The Manitoba government, along
with the Manitoba Protein Consortium, hosted an interactive virtual forum on Sustainable Protein Innovation, Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen announced. “Manitoba’s vision is to be North America’s protein supplier of choice, leading our country in sustainable protein industry growth that will benefit the profitability and competitiveness of producers, processors and the provincial economy,” said Pedersen. “We are working collaboratively with our industry, academic and government stakeholders to position Manitoba as a leader in sustainable protein and develop a network of collaborators that can mobilize around sustainable protein initiatives.” The Sustainable Protein Innovation Forum was attended by approximately 85 organizations yesterday, where a new Sustainable Protein Action Framework was released. Manitoba began its sustainable protein work in 2019 with a goal to become a global leader. The province created a Protein Consortium to provide leadership on projects of strategic importance and encourage stakeholders to continue their actions to implement the Manitoba Protein Advantage strategy. With this in place, Manitoba launched a multistakeholder ‘challenge dialogue’ on the future of sustainable protein, and gained feedback and insights from more than 85 organizations across the protein industry. Over the past
eight months, the province has been working together with stakeholders across the food and agriculture industry to identify specific actions, gaps to fill and a network of collaborators on research to support the province’s vision to differentiate its protein as first-in-class sustainability. “The Challenge Dialogue discipline has been a transformational process for developing shared understanding, actions and next steps in our goal to achieve the full potential of the Manitoba Protein Advantage Strategy. Thank you to everyone who has participated,” said Dickson Gould, chair of the Manitoba Protein Consortium. Seventeen industry leaders from Canada, as well as the Netherlands and Bulgaria, created the Sustainable Protein Action Framework. Together, they formed a team to prioritize strategic activities and identify opportunities for scalable impact. This framework outlines the full suite of actions that are required to achieve the common goal of advancing sustainable protein. “I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate with a number of other industry representatives on a design team to create the Sustainable Protein Action Framework released yesterday,” said David Wiens, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. “The framework covers the entire sustainable protein landscape and will serve as a reference to guide future actions and position Manitoba as a leader in sustainability.” To view the Sustainable Protein Action Framework, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/protein/sustaina bility/index.html.
Manitoba Rivers And Lakes Basin Conditions Update (January 28, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) Future snow and spring rain will
determine Manitoba’s 2021 spring run-off and potential for high water situations across many of the province’s watersheds, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced. The Manitoba Hydrologic Forecast Centre’s mid-January basin conditions assessment indicates drier than normal conditions for much of the southern and central Manitoba basins. The Red, Souris, and Assiniboine river basins continue to receive below average precipitation since August 2020. However, northern Manitoba basins, including the Churchill and Saskatchewan river basins, continue to receive average to above-average precipitation since July 2020. “Our government continues to strengthen its’ efforts to protect Manitobans in response to high water events; to achieve that, we must always be prepared,” said Schuler. “We will monitor watershed conditions closely despite low levels of precipitation last fall and this winter. We continue to maintain our inventory of floodfighting equipment and we have several procurement measures in place for equipment and supplies so we are able to respond quickly and effectively in the event of high water activities.” The province maintains an inventory of flood-fighting equipment, which includes over two million sandbags, six sandbagmaking machines, 18,000 super sandbags and 43 kilometres of cage barriers into
which sand or other heavy material is placed. In addition, 65 kilometres of waterfilled barriers, and 59 mobile pumps and heavy-duty steamers to open clogged drains are in reserve. Through an open tendering process, the province has five standing agreements for the purchase of materials such as sand, gravel, riprap, sandbags and pumps. It also has eight standing agreements for rental of various types of equipment to supplement existing resources such as water pumps, generators, mobile lighting plants, heavy equipment and other support machinery. Last spring the province introduced new safe work procedures for sandbagging and water-filled barrier operations that municipalities can implement to ensure the safety of high water response workers during the COVID 19 pandemic. A high water response activity document was created, which provides a clear and concise process on sandbag production, the construction of two types of sandbag dikes, as well as the installation of water-filled barriers. “We will continue to monitor conditions and will release the first Spring Thaw Outlook in late February,” noted Schuler. To view the province’s safe sandbagging procedures, visit www.gov.mb.ca/emo/.
Manitoba Calls On Government of Canada to Sign Financial Agreement With Province for Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels (January 28, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) The Manitoba government today urged
the federal government to signal its support for protecting Manitobans from future flood damage resulting from climate change by officially signing the joint Canada/Manitoba funding agreement for the long-delayed Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Channels Project. Premier Brian Pallister announced. “Since 2016, our government has been fighting to get this needed outlet built, to protect Manitobans, and prevent future flooding disasters from happening,” said Pallister. “We’re ready to sign today and call upon the federal government to join with us and sign too.” The outlet channels project is the largest and most significant flood mitigation project undertaken in Manitoba since the expansion of the Red River Floodway, the premier noted. It is a critical component of Manitoba’s broader integrated flood mitigation network, which includes the Shellmouth Dam, the Portage Diversion and the Red River Floodway. Collectively, this system protects the safety of hundreds of thousands of Manitobans across much of the province, and reduces the catastrophic costs and damages associated with future flood events. The project is estimated to cost a total of $540 million, cost-shared between the federal and provincial governments. The premier said it is predicted to contribute an estimated $335 million to Manitoba’s gross domestic product (GDP), with an additional $165 million in GDP accruing to other parts of Canada, as some construction material is sourced out of province. Construction of the outlet channel will result in positive economic effects to both the
provincial and regional economy, as well as the local labour market, he noted. The project workforce is estimated to average 300 people per year over five years of construction, which is crucial for Manitoba’s economic recovery through the COVID pandemic, the premier added. “2021 marks a decade since the dramatic events surrounding the flood of 2011. The physical, social and financial impacts of that flood are still impacting Manitobans. Far too many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people lost their homes, their community and their way of life. It’s time to put all that right,” said Pallister. To date, the province has had 174 meetings with indigenous communities and impacted groups to consult about the project. It has signed fully funded consultation agreements with eight First Nations. It has undertaken nearly $5 million in environmental impact assessments. Every month and year of delay costs Manitobans more and raises the risk of not being prepared for another severe flooding event brought about by a changing climate, the premier said. “This is the single-most important infrastructure project in recent Manitoba history,” said Pallister. “We do not need another flood to show why this is the case. What we do need is for the federal government to show Manitobans it cares about climate change, Indigenous reconciliation, and the livelihood of farmers and communities by signing the joint funding agreement with us that is sitting on a desk in Ottawa.”
please see page 2 for additional media coverage
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Province Unveils Vaccine Prioritization List (January 27, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) The province has released a four-
stage immunization plan that builds on medical expertise and Manitoba’s current approach to the vaccine campaign, with the goal of protecting Manitobans at greatest risk of COVID-19 the soonest, Health and Seniors Care Minister Heather Stefanson announced today. “These priority groups are clear and based on the guidance of our medical experts,” said Stefanson. “We all want to get the vaccine to our most vulnerable people, and to every Manitoban who wants a vaccine, as quickly as possible. Now, we need the vaccine supply to put our plans into action. This is incredibly important work that is being led by the Vaccine Implementation Task Force, on behalf of all Manitobans.” The plan sets out how Manitoba will further expand its immunization campaign to reach more Manitobans in priority groups, and then to all Manitobans, based on age. Manitoba’s approach follows the guidance provided by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on priority populations for the COVID-19 vaccine, tailored to meet Manitoba’s situation. The NACI guidance for priority populations includes: • those at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19; • those most likely to transmit COVID-19 to those at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19; and • those whose living or working conditions put them at elevated risk of infection and where infection could have
disproportionate consequences including Indigenous communities. Manitoba’s plan identifies four main groups including: • health-care workers and congregate living staff; • residents of congregate living facilities; • residents of First Nations communities; and • Manitobans, based on age. These groups are then also broken down into smaller groups, so those at greater risk are eligible to be immunized sooner. The most vulnerable people within the first three groups have already started to be eligible for immunization. The priority plan helps to set out how Manitoba continues to expand its immunization criteria to more Manitobans on the basis of age, as vaccine supplies allow. Manitoba’s plan is based on recommendations from its vaccine medical advisory table, which includes 27 physicians from a broad range of specialties, a pharmacist and two nurses. “Our priority population sequencing reflects what we know about COVID-19, including who is at greatest risk of serious illness and who is most likely to be exposed to the virus,” said Dr. Joss Reimer, medical officer of health with Manitoba Health and Seniors Care and medical lead on the Vaccine Implementation Task Force. “The plan we’re releasing today builds on the work we’ve already done to immunize thousands of people. Now Manitobans will have a better continued on next page
Province Unveils Vaccine Prioritization List sense of where they and their loved ones fit in the vaccine campaign as it rolls out in the weeks and months ahead.” These priorities are in addition to pop-up vaccination clinics and Focused Immunization Teams (FITs) that can be used quickly immunize target priority populations. The minister noted Manitoba is ready to rapidly launch a significant, province-wide immunization campaign to help protect as many Manitobans from the virus as quickly as possible. Manitoba is now also actively planning to support the launch of new super sites across the province and expand capacity at existing locations. Once additional vaccine supply is received, the province will be able to deliver all vaccine the federal government is able to deliver. As part of its plan, the province will continue to for immunizing other essential workers when additional vaccines become available in the future. These decisions will also be guided by epidemiological information, medical advice and occupational workplace safety and health. Additional immunization planning for essential workers may happen as additional vaccines become available. Manitoba remains focused on providing full protection against COVID-19 to those most at risk. The province is currently third in the country for total population fully immunized, at 369 people per 100,000. The minister also noted that Manitobans will have an opportunity to join her, Reimer
and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, at a telephone town hall on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. To register and receive a phone call to join, visit https://engagemb.ca/restartmb-pandemicresponse-system. An overview of Manitoba’s prioritization strategy and more information about Manitoba’s COVID-19 immunization campaign are available at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/index .html.
A PDF OF THE VACCINATION PRIORITIZATION LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE NEXT PAGE
COVID-19 VACCINE MANITOBA COVID-19 VACCINATION PLAN – PRIORITY POPULATION SEQUENCING Stage 1
Stage 2
Healthcare Workers & Congregate Living Staff
Healthcare workers who provide direct patient care in: • Critical Care Units • Designated COVID 19 wards • Emergency Departments & Urgent Care Departments • Long-term Care Facilities • Correctional Facilities • Emergency Shelters • CLDS & CFS Group Homes • Paramedics (born before 1975) • Acute care facilities (born before 1975) • Home care (born before 1975) Laboratory workers who handle COVID-19 specimens Healthcare workers in designated COVID-19 testing clinics and COVID-19 immunization clinics
Healthcare workers who provide direct patient care of any age in: • Acute Care facilities • Paramedics • Home Care Healthcare workers over age 60 who provide direct patient care in: • Primary care clinics • Dental clinics • Specialty physician clinics • Diagnostic Imaging • Outpatient laboratories • Outpatient surgical programs • Elderly day programs All staff (including those without direct patient care) in: • Licensed Personal Care Homes All staff over 60 (including those without direct patient care) in: • Congregate living facilities
All staff (including those without direct patient care) in: • Acute care facilities • Primary care clinics • Dental clinics • Specialty physician clinics • Diagnostic Imaging • Outpatient labs • Outpatient surgical programs • Elderly day programs • Home care All staff in congregate living facilities
Congregate Living Facilities Residents
Residents of licensed Personal Care Homes Residents of high-risk congregate living facilities
Residents of high and moderate risk congregate living facilities
Residents of all congregate living facilities not reached in Phase 1/2
First Nations
General Population Essential workers
Stage 3
Stage 4 All healthcare workers who work in a health care facility
Additional information will be provided in partnership with First Nations.
Manitobans over age 80 • Starting with Manitobans over 95 • Expanding by 1 year increments until reaching age 80 Essential workers may be added as additional vaccine products are approved for use in Canada.
Manitobans over age 60 • Starting with over 75 • Expanding by 1 year increments
Manitobans over 18 • Starting with over 55 • Expanding by 1 year increments
Revision to 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program Application Deadline Extended to February 15, 2021 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program The 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program assists Manitoba cattle producers affected by COVID-19 related closures of slaughter plants and capacity reductions. The program provides financial assistance to offset extraordinary feed costs incurred due to a delay in marketing cattle.
market and slaughter, but could not be sold due to reduced capacity at the major Alberta beef processors. This period, referred to as the Extraordinary Feeding Period, includes the time needed to address cattle supply backlog in Western Canada. For eligible applicants: •
The Extraordinary Feed Period began April 15, 2020, OR when the cattle reached the minimum weight for eligibility (1,400 lbs. for steers or 1,300 lbs. for heifers), whichever is later.
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The Extraordinary Feed Period ends December 31, 2020, OR on the actual slaughter date of the cattle, whichever is earlier.
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The Extraordinary Feed Period for these cattle must have been greater than 14 days.
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Applicants must have owned the cattle for a minimum of 60 days prior to slaughter and must have missed the intended marketing date due to COVID-19 related slaughter interruptions.
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The cattle slaughter date must be between April 29, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Who can apply? The following are eligible to apply: •
individuals
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partnerships
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corporations
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co-operatives
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First Nation communities
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any other association of persons owning and responsible for associated feed costs of eligible animals between April 15, 2020 and December 31, 2020
When are the application deadlines? Applications must be received by February 15, 2021. What do we fund? The program will pay daily support for the period during which cattle were ready for
continued on next page
Revision to 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program Application Deadline Extended to February 15, 2021 How much does the program fund? Eligible applicants will receive $1.20 per eligible animal for each day in the Extraordinary Feeding Period, to a maximum of 63 days. The maximum payment is $75.60 per head.
Additional Information: •
Payments will not be issued for: •
animals with less than 14 Extraordinary Feed Days
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applicants with fewer than five eligible animals
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payments of less than $200.00
How do I apply? •
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Refer to the Terms and Conditions or Frequently Asked Questions guide for more detailed information on eligible and other requirements. Complete an Application Form and either email completed application form to agriculture@gov.mb.ca or mail to: •
Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Box 970, Roblin MB R0L 1P0
Please note: Applications must be accompanied by documentation that supports the claim of costs incurred by feeding eligible animals (refer to Terms and Conditions) during the Extraordinary Feed Period. All Applications must include copies of sales invoices, including the date and average weight of cattle, provided by purchasing slaughter facility.
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Payments will be considered allowable income for AgriStability, in the program year only.
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Payments will not be considered allowable revenue under AgriInvest.
Have 15 Minutes? Make An Impact On The Future Of Beef Research As someone who follows the Beef Cattle Research Council Blog, you’re almost guaranteed to be what we call a ‘Canadian beef industry stakeholder’, meaning you: • own or manage beef cattle, • conduct research on beef, cattle or forages, • are a large animal veterinarian, • own or work for an abattoir/beef processor, • are a government employee in a beefrelated role, • work or volunteer for an organization that actively supports the beef industry, or • have another valuable role that supports and relies on Canadian beef production.
You hold a stake in the industry, so the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) relies on your input on research and extension issues. When you answer these 16 questions by March 5th, you will inform the next five-year Canadian Beef Research and Technology Transfer Strategy and impact the long-term competitiveness of the Canadian beef industry. CLICK ON THE BCRC GRAPHIC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY.
Agricultural Crown Land Auctions To Be Held Online in February The following information is from the Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development website:
The Manitoba government has announced a new approach to agricultural Crown land lease auctions beginning in February. A number of agricultural Crown land parcels will be available to rent for haying, grazing, or cropping. A complete listing of agricultural Crown lands available for rent can be found online at: https://resd.ca/leases_and_permits/LPprop erties.aspx or a Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development office. Online bidding will take place February 8, 2021 through February 12, 2021 at Garton's Auction Service. Available units will be listed for viewing on the auction website starting on February 1, 2021. All bidders will be required to complete and ACL Registration Form (PDF 736 KB), in addition to registering to bid on the online auction platform. The ACL Registration Form (PDF 736 KB) can be completed ahead of the auction and submitted to agcrownlands@gov.mb.ca Please note that you may be ineligible to bid in an agricultural Crown lands lease auction if you have not made payment in full for your existing 2021 lease or permit by February 1, 2021.
For information about participating in a Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Crown Lands Auction, please refer to the Fact Sheet (PDF 158 KB). Samples of the standard Forage Lease Agreement (PDF 894 KB) and Cropping Lease Agreement (PDF 883 KB) are available for review. Although the lease will apply to most parcels, there may be specific additional provisions that apply to specific parcels. Eligibility An individual must be at least 18 years of age, and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada). Corporations, forage cooperatives, partnerships, Hutterite colonies, and First Nation bands can also be eligible to acquire an agricultural Crown lands lease. Please refer to the Eligibility Policy for further guidance. Fees •
Allocation is done via auction process with an administrative reserve in place
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Annual rent for cropping leases is determined by successful auction bid
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Annual rent for forage dispositions is determined by formula continued on next page
Agricultural Crown Land Auctions To Be Held Online in February •
Forage Rent Formula = A x 3.5% x B
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A is the average price of beef, determined by the average sale price per hundred pound weight for the previous 36 months, ending September 30 for 500 to 600 pound heifers and steers in the province as published by Canfax (an operating division of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association)
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B is the forage capacity for the land, being the number of animal unit months that the land is capable of producing in an average year, as determined by Manitoba Agriculture 2021 rent = $7.23/AUM
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Annual payment in lieu of municipal taxes is calculated by Real Estate Services Division, Department of Finance
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For additional information on upfront costs and annual fees, please see the Allocation and Rent Policy
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A transfer fee of $200 is applicable to transfers and name changes on lease agreements. Please see the Transfer Policy
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Community pasture rent is determined by the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures
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Development (land improvements) is done at lessee cost and rental rates are not increased for an agreed-upon number of years, depending on the extent of the development
More information on the upcoming auctions can be found at https://resd.ca/leases_and_permits/LPprop erties.aspx or by contacting the Agricultural Crown Lands Program by email at agcrownlands@gov.mb.ca or by calling 204867-6550 or 1-844-769-6624 (toll-free).
A PDF ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN A MANITOBA AGRICULTURE AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CROWN LANDS AUCTION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NEXT PAGE.
Preparing for an Online Agricultural Crown Lands Lease Auction Parcels for Lease Agricultural Crown Lands available for lease or renewable permit at auction can be reviewed at: resd.ca/leases_and_permits/LPproperties.aspx#agLeasePermit The lots will be available for viewing on the website of the 3rd party hosting the auction one week prior to the start of the auction.
Prior to the Auction • Potential bidders are encouraged to ensure they meet eligibility criteria. Any arrears on agricultural Crown lands lease or permit accounts must be paid in full prior to the auction in order to be eligible to bid. Eligibility may also be impacted by previous compliance history with the Agricultural Crown Lands program. • Potential bidders are encouraged to become informed prior to the auction by researching and visiting the parcels and units of interest and becoming familiar with lease or permit obligations. Potential bidders must ensure they can legally access the parcels. º Aerial photo map viewer agrimaps.gov.mb.ca/agrimaps/ º Information on the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program, including the standard Forage Lease Agreement and Cropping Lease Agreement can be found on the Agricultural Crown Lands website: manitoba.ca/agriculture/ land-management/crown-land/index.html
º Farm Production Extension Specialists Crown Lands can provide assistance prior to the auction dates. • Please note that The Crown Lands Act prohibits some provincial employees from holding Crown land without further vetting. For additional information, please contact staff. • If translation or accommodation services are required for the auction, please contact staff at least five (5) days in advance of the auction.
Online Auction Bidding
Following the Online Auction
• The registration and auction process is administered by an independent 3rd party to be identified on the ACL website and/or auction notice. For technical assistance with participation in the auction process, please contact the auctioneer. • The auction website will display available parcels for one week prior to the scheduled auction. • Potential bidders will complete the online registration process, including a declaration of eligibility. • The auction website will list the auction rules, and examples will be provided. º FORAGE LEASE: The lease is for a 15 year term. The bidding will start at $200.00 per unit and the successful bidder will earn the right to lease the land. Rent is determined separately via formula. º RENEWABLE HAY PERMIT or RENEWABLE GRAZING PERMIT: The permit is for 15 one-year terms. The bidding will start at $200.00 per unit and the successful bidder will earn the right to hold a permit on the land. Rent is determined separately via formula.
• The successful bids will be listed on the auction website at the end of the auction. Official auction results will be posted on the provincial website soon thereafter. • The payment process, and lease document signing is administered by provincial staff. Successful bidders will be required to sign lease documents and make payment in full within 30 days of invoicing following the auction. º FORAGE LEASE, RENEWABLE HAY PERMIT, RENEWABLE GRAZING PERMIT: The payment will include the successful bid amount, the first year’s rent and amount in lieu of municipal taxes, and GST as applicable. º CROPPING LEASE: The payment will include the successful bid amount, the first year’s amount in lieu of municipal taxes, and GST as applicable.
º CROPPING LEASE: The lease is for a five (5) year term. The bidding will start at $200.00 plus the minimum rental amount, and the successful bidder will earn the right to lease the land and set the annual rental amount via the auction bid.
Contact us • Email us at agcrownlands@gov.mb.ca • Go to manitoba.ca/agriculture • Toll free at 1-844-769-6224 • Follow us on Twitter @MBGovAg
PREPARING FOR AN ONLINE AGRICULTURAL CROWN LANDS LEASE AUCTION
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Province Announces Proposed Changes to Public Health Orders re: Interprovincial Travel (January 26, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) The Manitoba government is amending
public health orders to put formal restrictions on interprovincial travel to protect Manitobans from COVID-19 and to help prevent importation of possible variants from other jurisdictions, Premier Brian Pallister announced. “Manitobans have worked incredibly hard over the last two months to flatten our COVID-19 curve, which has allowed us to take a cautious, measured approach to reopening some services in our province,” said Pallister. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are implementing more formal travel restrictions to protect Manitobans from the risks of COVID-19 being introduced to us further by travel including any new COVID-19 strains from other jurisdictions.” The public health orders will be amended on Jan. 29 to specify that anyone entering Manitoba from anywhere in Canada will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. This includes those entering from northern and Western Canada, and from west of Terrace Bay in Ontario, which under previous health orders did not require self-isolation. Current exemptions to self-isolation measures are still in effect including those traveling for essential interprovincial work and people travelling for medical purposes. There will also continue to be exemptions for people who regularly travel to and from communities near the borders for essential purposes. “Let me be clear – Manitobans should not be traveling, either internationally, interprovincially or within our province except for essential reasons. This will help reduce the spread of COVID-19, including cases of new variants, which have been found in other provinces,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer. “This
revised order formalizes that measure and lays out clear requirements for Manitobans. We must all work together to observe these selfisolation requirements as well as other public health fundamentals, including physical distancing, frequent handwashing and mask wearing, to continue to keep our COVID-19 numbers at bay.” Manitobans currently out-of-province will have until 11:59 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28 to return to the province without being required to selfisolate. If they arrive after that time, they must self-isolate as appropriate on their return. Failure to self-isolate in accordance with public health advice is a violation of the order and is enforceable under the Public Health Act. Individuals could be subject to fines for noncompliance. Visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/orders/ index.html for full information on travel and self-isolation requirements. The restrictions complement the other limited changes to the public health orders that took effect Jan. 23 and will last for three weeks. These changes balance the need to protect the health-care system while gradually restoring services and activities for Manitobans, Pallister said. The province will keep monitoring COVID-19 developments carefully and will make further adjustments to ease restrictions or re-impose restrictions depending on Manitobans’ collective success in keeping COVID-19 at bay, Pallister reiterated. For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19. To view the public health order in its entirety, go to: https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/ 2020_2021/orders-soe-selfisolation-01282021.pdf
Click here to visit KAP's website to learn more & register for a session that suits your schedule: https://manitobafarmsafety.ca/upcoming-events
Manitoba Government Announces Virtual Engagement for Budget 2021 (January 22, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) The provincial government is
telephone town halls at https://engagemb.ca/budget-2021.
inviting Manitobans to participate in virtual and telephone engagement sessions and an online survey to help shape Budget 2021, Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced today.
Manitobans can also email comments and ideas to budget2021@gov.mb.ca or mail written submissions to:
“As we prepare our upcoming budget, our government’s priority is to protect and support all Manitobans through the unprecedented fiscal and economic impacts of COVID-19,” said Fielding. “Our annual budget process relies on Manitobans to provide valuable input on important issues. With the pandemic restricting the ways we gather, this year we’re inviting all Manitobans to share suggestions in a safe way as we launch our first-ever virtual engagement process.”
“Budget 2021 will focus on protecting health care, jobs, incomes, education and child care for Manitobans, as we look for ways to protect our province’s future,” said Fielding. “We invite Manitobans to help prioritize our investments in areas such as health care and our COVID-19 response, jobs and the economy, mental health and addictions, and investments in our schools.”
Due to COVID-19 public health orders that restrict gathering sizes, Fielding will host four telephone town halls and four virtual engagement sessions in late January and early February, and invites Manitobans to submit online and written feedback.
Minister of Finance c/o Budget Consultations 103-450 Broadway Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8
The province’s mid-year financial report and economic outlook released in December 2020 projected a revised deficit of $2.048 billion for the current 2020-21 fiscal year, which would be the highest deficit in Manitoba history.
Telephone town halls: • Monday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. for Winnipegarea residents; and • Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. for rural Manitobans.
To date, Manitoba has committed $3.2 billion in response to the health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic, which is the third-highest level of estimated per capita and as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) support in the country.
The Manitoba government has also launched an online budget survey through EngageMB and invites Manitobans to complete the survey and register for the virtual public engagement meetings and
Fielding noted the province remains focused on its pandemic response and has yet to set a date to release Budget 2021 as it awaits information from the federal government in regards to its budget date and final transfer amounts to provinces.
Canadian beef partners launch campaign highlighting University chefs and Canadian beef farmers “Across the country, college and university chefs feed thousands and thousands of students every day. For chefs and students, it is all about nutrition, affordability and taste—students say the reputation of an institution's foodservice influences their decision to apply for admission. This has resulted in institutions hiring some of the most skilled chefs around,” according to an article in the Toronto Star. The 2020 school year looked very different from past years and school chefs had to pivot within their role. Recognizing an opportunity, the team at Star Metroland (a group of digital and print publications across Canada) presented an interesting proposition to highlight some of Canada’s college and university chefs along with Canadian beef farmers and ranchers. Canada Beef teamed up with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s Public and Stakeholder Engagement team and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef on this digital and social media project. The Cooking by Degrees campaign, published in the Star Metroland family of newspapers, featured recipes submitted by university and college chefs, highlighting their favourite Canadian beef cut. In the articles, chefs talk about how they develop their menu items and how they include Canadian beef on their menus. The sixteen recipes are an interesting mix of different cuts of beef. To add a unique perspective to these articles, well-known agriculture reporter and Guelph University Professor Owen Roberts, interviewed Canadian beef producers across Canada to round out each article and provide readers with a fresh perspective on the farmers who raise and grow their food. These beef producer articles focused on the sustainability aspect of beef farming, educating readers about how
beef farmers care for their animals and the environment. "This was a unique opportunity to showcase the on-the-ground story of Canadian beef, a global leader in sustainable beef production, with Canadian consumers. We were able to highlight the important connection between the farmers and ranchers dedicated to raising local Canadian food responsibly with the [verified] sustainable practices increasingly demanded by Canadian consumers," says Andrea White, Community Engagement and Marketing Manager, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Amie Peck, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association notes that "alongside these farmer profiles are the chefs who elevate that food into delicious, innovative experiences that we can re-create from the comfort of our homes. It was exciting to see the passion for raising Canadian beef cattle through the eyes of farmers and ranchers, which is so important for building public trust, align with the passion of these chefs in delivering delicious eating experiences."
Thomas Hagan is a Manitoba rancher raising 300 cattle with his family on a 3,200-acre ranch near Virden. Hagan is committed to continued on next page
Canadian beef partners launch campaign highlighting University chefs and Canadian beef farmers sustainability through an approach called regenerative agriculture. It’s based on helping the soil reach new heights of healthiness, rich in beneficial bacteria and microorganisms and putting carbon in the soil. The cattle have a role in pasture improvement, aerating the soil with their cloven hooves and working their manure into the soil with each step they take. Hagan herds them shoulder to shoulder, mimicking the action of tightly packed wildebeest herds on the savannah. The cattle change pastures up to five times a day, with help from automatic fence-lifting devices that open up greener pastures to them. Hagan is this year’s recipient of the Environmental Stewardship Award from Manitoba Beef Producers. “Grass is our number one asset, and the better we are at growing it, the more productive we are,” he says. The Cooking by Degrees online campaign launched December 2, 2020, runs for 16 weeks and will live permanently on the Cooking by Degrees page on thestar.com website, which has a large readership in urban centres across Canada. This opportunity to share information about Canadian beef and the producers who provide it was a perfect fit for this audience. Each partner created digital ads to enhance the articles through strong call-to-action topics to drive readers to click for further information. Canada Beef also wrote survey questions to further engage readers with the website content. Preliminary results show that the campaign has already received over 10,000 page views. Readers are also spending a higher than average time on the site, (around 3 minutes compared to the average of 2 minutes) which indicates they are reading the articles.
The digital ads are also performing about 2.5 times better than other sponsored content ads with a click-thru-rate of 6.4%. "This campaign is successful on a number of levels," says Michele McAdoo, Executive Director, Communications, Canada Beef. "The articles provide interesting information about beef cuts and recipes as well as sharing beef producer stories and highlighting their sustainability efforts. The digital ads drive readers to learn more about the industry and about preparing beef--given the outstanding results, the campaign has really resonated with readers."
Stock Talk Webinars Reminder Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development produces free Livestock webinars- live and on demand. Manitoba Agriculture specialists and invited guests will speak to a variety of topics related to livestock feed and nutrition, marketing and production management. Register Now https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5726092041423487502 Please do not share your hyperlink to the webinar only one person can enter the webinar on each link. By registering, you will receive an email with the link to the recorded webinar for viewing at a time that is more convenient to you. StockTalk webinars are also available on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ManitobaAgriculture.
Upcoming Environmental Farm Plan Workshops (Source: Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development) Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) are an essential part of every farm operation. These workshops will guide producers through the EFP workbook to help assess and identify the environmental assets and risks on their farm operations, and develop an action plan to address the identified risks. Workbooks and support material will be provided to those who attend. EFPs must be renewed every five years to remain valid. If you are unsure if your EFP is valid, please contact KAP to inquire: (204) 697-1140. Due to COVID-19, all EFP workshops will be taking place virtually via GoTo Meeting until further notice. To register for an EFP workshop, contact Tami Watson (204) 239 3352 or tamara.watson@gov.mb.ca. Once registered, arrangements will be made to provide you with the EFP workbooks and support material needed for the workshop.
DATE
LOCATION
TIME
February 3, 2021
GOTo Meeting (online)
1PM - 4PM
February 17, 2021
GOTo Meeting (online)
1PM - 4PM
March 3, 2021
GOTo Meeting (online)
1PM - 4PM
March 17, 2021
GOTo Meeting (online)
1PM - 4PM
CONTACT:
Tami Watson 204-239-3352 tamara.watson@gov.mb.ca Tami Watson 204-239-3352 tamara.watson@gov.mb.ca Tami Watson 204-239-3352 tamara.watson@gov.mb.ca Tami Watson 204-239-3352 tamara.watson@gov.mb.ca
Resolutions Suggestion Form for 42nd Manitoba Beef Producers AGM Manitoba Beef Producers’ board of directors is now accepting in writing suggested late resolutions for potential debate at its virtual 42nd Annual General Meeting set for February 11, 2021. If the resolution is deemed to be in order by MBP’s Resolutions Committee it will be considered for debate at the resolutions session. In consultation with the resolution’s author, proposed resolutions may be subject to editing by MBP for clarity and to ensure consistency of formatting across all resolutions. Please note: if the resolution covers off matters on which MBP is already conducting advocacy work, it may be deemed to be redundant and not taken forward for debate so as to ensure there is time to debate resolutions on emerging matters. As well, it is also important that proposed resolutions deal with something that is potentially achievable and clearly state the actions you are asking MBP to consider taking. See sample resolutions and submission instructions on page 2, and provide your proposed resolution on the form below. Whereas _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Whereas _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers _________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: (include MBP District number if known) ___________________________________________________________ Phone Number: ______________________________
Email Address: _____________________________________
Sample Resolutions Arising from Past Manitoba Beef Producers District Meetings Example 1 Whereas blackbirds cause significant losses to producers’ crops. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Minister of Sustainable Development to include blackbird damage as eligible for claims under the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Crop Damage. Example 2 Whereas Manitoba Agriculture recognizes that bale grazing of beef cattle can save producers time, effort and money and help distribute valuable nutrients to the soil to enhance future productivity; and Whereas even though this practice is well utilized by Manitoba’s beef producers, they currently receive no compensation for wildlife damage to bales left in fields or pastures for feeding purposes. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the provincial government for changes to the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Crop Damage to ensure that baled hay that remains on fields for use as part of an extended feeding regime becomes eligible for compensation related to wildlife damage.
Submission Instructions for Proposed Resolutions Please send the proposed resolution (along with your contact information) to info@mbbeef.ca to the attention of General Manager Carson Callum and Policy Analyst Maureen Cousins. Alternatively, you may fax it to 1-204-774-3264 or mail it to 220530 Century Street, Winnipeg MB R3H 0Y4. For resolutions to be reviewed by MBP’s board of directors and posted on MBP’s website prior to the 42nd AGM for others to see, they need to be received by MBP no later than 8:30 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2021. Thanks for your assistance in this regard and we look forward to an engaging virtual resolutions debate!