February 19, 2021
mbbeef.ca
E-Newsletter An update from Manitoba Beef Producers
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/
Familiarizing non-farmers with agriculture a worthy goal The Western Producer Grocery prices could climb, even as food service comes back online Real Agriculture
Immunization Super Sites Coming to Selkirk and Morden-Winkler Area in March (February 17, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) On March 5, two new immunization super sites will launch – one in Selkirk and the other in Morden-Winkler area. These sites will deliver vaccine to eligible Manitobans and also serve as a distribution hub for Focused Immunization Teams (FITs) and pop-up clinics. Further details will be released in the coming days. This expansion increases the number of super sites in Manitoba to six, with plans to expand to 13 super sites throughout the province in April. Vaccine Administration To date, 56,707 doses of vaccine have been administered including 35,009 first doses and 21,698 second doses. Manitoba remains second among provinces in the number of people who have received two doses of vaccine and are fully protected against COVID-19, at 1,536 per 100,000. There are more than 1,400 congregate living facilities with nearly 23,000 residents located throughout the province. Now that additional vaccine is available, FIT teams will continue the process of providing first-dose immunizations to residents of high-priority sites starting in Winnipeg and Brandon on Feb. 19 and will visit other locations in the coming weeks, following a schedule that helps ensure higher-risk individuals are immunized as quickly as possible. A list of the first sites that will be visited, along with a list of all congregate living sites in the province is available online at www.manitoba.ca/vaccine under Reports. Assessments are ongoing to determine if FITs will attend a location or if residents will be supported to attend a clinic. Further updates about immunizations at congregate living facilities will be provided on an ongoing basis. About 3,600 residents in 49 personal care homes are expected to receive their second doses of vaccine this week, and all personal care home residents are expected to receive their second dose by the end of the month.
Super sites in Winnipeg and Brandon remain closed until tomorrow, in response to reduced vaccine shipments to Manitoba. To date, more than 400 medical clinics and pharmacies have applied to be part of the immunization campaign once a suitable vaccine is approved for use in these settings. Appointments and Eligibility Criteria Based on vaccine shipment projections, over 8,000 first-dose appointments are currently available for eligible Manitobans to book in the Winnipeg and Brandon super sites. Eligibility criteria are being expanded to include people who work in congregate living facilities, including licensed personal care homes, born on or before Dec. 31, 1955. To clarify information provided yesterday, staff in primary care clinics (e.g.family physician and/or nurse practitioner clinics) born on or before Dec. 31, 1960, are eligible for immunization. To ensure eligible Manitobans can book an appointment, the province advises the toll-free phone number for the call centre is 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC). Everyone who calls is screened to ensure they meet current eligibility criteria before booking an appointment. Please do not call if you are not eligible at this time, as this will delay others who can make an appointment. All current eligibility criteria are posted online at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibilitycriteria.html. Currently, the average wait time to make an appointment by phone is less than a minute. A callback option is also available instead of waiting on hold. The vaccination calculator lets Manitobans see where they are in the priority line, based on their age, vaccine uptake and other factors. The calculator and more information about the vaccine campaign in Manitoba is available at www.manitoba.ca/vaccine. More information about the vaccine campaign in Manitoba is available at www.manitoba.ca/vaccine.
Livestock Price Insurance Enhancements (February 16, 2021 Livestock Price Insurance News Release) As a result of industry feedback, producers will now have additional time to make policy purchases and claim settlements on all Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) programs. Going forward, purchase hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays are available from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. MT. Settlement hours on Mondays are now offered from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. MT. Producers can visit lpi.ca during these extended hours to conduct their LPI business. In addition, the LPI – Calf program has permanently extended its deadline to purchase insurance into June and is now offering settlements in January and February. Purchase dates in 2021 are now available until June 10, 2021 and expiry dates will be available until February 21, 2022. This change will fulfill a risk management gap that was experienced by producers and provide producers who calve in late spring, summer or fall with additional opportunities to participate in the program that better suits their operational needs. To register a claim or purchase a policy, producers can contact their provincial LPI office.
Manitobans Can Now Access Covid-19 Immunization Record Online (February 18, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) Manitobans who have received a COVID-19 immunization can now view and print this information online, Health and Seniors Care Minister Heather Stefanson announced. “This is another proactive measure to ensure people have access to their own health information,” said Stefanson. “We know many Manitobans have asked for their COVID-19 vaccination information from our public health offices. The new online portal will make this easier for all eligible Manitobans until a more permanent immunization card is available.” To access this information online, Manitobans must have a valid Manitoba Health registration card and a personal email address. Information about the COVID-19 vaccine received and dates of immunization will be provided for viewing and printing. People who do not have internet access or a health card number can continue to call their public health office for access to their information. In most cases, Manitobans can request their online records approximately 48 hours after their immunization. However, it may take up to seven days for the information to become available. The minister noted a secure immunization card is currently in development and will be available to Manitobans later this spring. She also noted that employers and other parties should not be requesting proof of immunization for any purpose. Immunization records can be accessed securely on the Shared Health online portal that is also used for COVID-19 test results. To view or print this information, visit: https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/test-results/. To learn more about the COVID-19 immunization campaign, including access to immunization records, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/index.html. For more information on COVID-19, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
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New agriculture census faster and easier for farmers to complete Agriculture is a critical industry for all Canadians, providing us with a nutritious food supply and healthy local produce. To help support these efforts, the government collects information with the Census of Agriculture to provide a statistical portrait of our national agricultural and agrifood industry, as well as its farm operators and families. The 2021 questionnaire will have returning key content for ongoing trend analysis and include new and modified questions to identify emerging agricultural products and changes in the adoption of technologies, direct marketing, succession planning and renewable energy production. New for the upcoming census, high-quality alternative data sources will be used when possible to reduce the time farmers must spend completing the questionnaire. For example, only those questions that are relevant to each operator's farm will be asked when filling out the online survey. Select questions may be replaced using alternative data sources when available and totals will automatically be calculated. This approach is part of an ongoing part of Statistics Canada's modernization initiative to move beyond a surveyfirst approach by replacing traditional surveys with alternative data such as Earth Observation data. This initiative has its goal to reduce the response burden on farmers while continuing to provide the same high quality information that Canadians expect and deserve.
Province Advises a Decrease of Outflows from Shellmouth Reservoir is Underway Assiniboine River Ice May Become Unstable (February 18, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) The Hydrologic Forecast Centre of Manitoba Infrastructure has started a decrease of flows out of the Shellmouth Reservoir today to 90 cubic feet per second (cfs) from 320 cfs. This could make the ice unstable along the Assiniboine River. This is part of the normal operations of the reservoir and dam. Areas potentially affected extends from Shellmouth Dam to Brandon. River users should be cautious when venturing onto the ice. The province will continue to monitor river levels and co-ordinate operation of water control structures.
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 upcoming EFP workshops - 1pm-4pm on February 17, March 3, and March 17 - 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.