E-Newsletter
Manitoba Government Expanding Training Agreement with Western College of Veterinary Medicine to Increase Number of Manitoba Students
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career path in order to help build our province’s animal health care capacity for years to come,” said Reyes. “We are committed to working with the college’s administration to realize this expansion effective in 2023 24.”
(September 29, 2022 Province of Manitoba News Release) The Manitoba government is expanding an interprovincial agreement (IPA) with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan to provide increased annual funding for the acceptance of an additional five Manitoba students per year, Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes and Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced here today.
“By increasing our annual intake to 20 students from 15, we will support more students to pursue this important
Through a funding contribution from the province every year, Manitoba currently receives 15 guaranteed subsidized seats at the Saskatoon based WCVM for new entrants annually. The Manitoba government will increase its funding contribution to WCVM by $539,200 for the 2023 24 academic year to a total of $7,009,600, raising the number of Manitoba intake students to 20 from 15 and to a student quota the number in the four years of the program – to 65 from 60. For the 2024 25 academic year, Manitoba’s contribution to the college will increase to $7,642,400 and bring the student quota to 70.
Manitoba’s increasing commitment will bring its intake to 20 seats from 15 seats every year until the province supports a total of 80 Manitoba students annually through the four year program.
An update from MBP September 30, 2022 mbbeef.ca Photo credit: WCVM Graduate Student's Associationcontinued on page 2
Veterinary Medicine
“Our government is committed to increasing the availability of quality veterinary care to all Manitobans, especially for the agricultural sector that is so vital to our provincial economy,” said Johnson. “Animal health enables the success of our province’s agricultural industries, so investing in the training of more veterinarians, particularly those with large animal expertise, will ensure this valuable support is available when needed.”
There is a great need for veterinarians in large animal practice in rural Manitoba to support the agriculture industry, Johnson added. The additional seats for Manitoba students will be targeted for the support of commercial livestock, such as cattle, bison and pigs as well as sheep and goats, in rural areas to address this critical labour market need.
“The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) applauds the Manitoba government for their investment in veterinary education,” said Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal, president, MVMA. “There is currently a large shortage of veterinarians in Manitoba. The commitment to educating more veterinarians will help alleviate the shortage over the long term. In the shorter term, the MVMA will continue to engage with government, veterinary professionals and other stakeholders to address the shortage of veterinary services in Manitoba.”
IPAs are negotiated with post secondary institutions to secure seats for Manitoba students in programs that are cost prohibitive to operate in the province, noted Reyes. Manitoba partners with Saskatchewan and British Columbia in providing funding to WCVM through the Veterinary Medicine IPA, established to ensure guaranteed access to veterinary education leading to doctor of veterinary medicine degrees for Manitoba students.
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“We welcome this commitment from our provincial partners that will help to address Western Canada’s urgent need for more veterinarians,” said Dr. Gillian Muir, dean, WCVM. “The province’s support allows more students from Manitoba to achieve their dreams of a career in veterinary medicine. It is also a sound investment in protecting the health and wellness of all animals, from companion animals and wildlife to livestock that plays a critical role in Canada’s agriculture industry and the country’s economy.”
“Increasing the number of students who can attend vet school and enter the profession is the logical first step in addressing the veterinary shortage,” said Michelle Streeter, a fourth year WCVM student who grew up in rural Manitoba. “I am also hopeful that Manitoba’s decision to increase seats draws more students from the Prairies who are interested in working in rural mixed animal practice, since agriculture is such an integral part of so many local communities.”
The increased support for more Manitoba students at WCVM is consistent with Manitoba’s Skills, Talent and Knowledge Strategy to improve alignment between advanced education and training institutions and Manitoba’s labour market needs. Johnson added it also supports Manitoba Agriculture’s commitment to improve resilience and preparedness for animal disease outbreaks.
Manitoba Beef Producers thanks the Manitoba government for funding five more veterinary student training seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Having stable access to rural veterinary services is critical to the beef sector and this commitment to additional training opportunities recognizes the critical labour shortage in this area. MBP continues to engage with the provincial government and other stakeholders such as the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association and other agricultural commodities on related topics around the recruitment and retention of veterinarians. MBP also wishes to thank the veterinarians and allied staff who serve our members across the province. Their work is greatly valued.
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Manitoba Government Implementing Temporary
Rent Reduction on Agricultural Crown Lands, Exploring Further Policy Improvements
(September 28, 2022 Province of Manitoba News Release) In response to the impacts of extreme moisture over the past two years and stakeholder feedback, the Manitoba government is implementing a temporary rent reduction for forage leases on agricultural Crown lands, Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced.
“The Agricultural Crown Lands Program supports a vibrant and sustainable agricultural sector, and our government is committed to ensuring it continues to meet the needs of Manitoba’s livestock industry,” said Johnson. “Stakeholders have told us that rental rates on forage lands are challenging with the hardships they are experiencing following the past two years of extreme weather conditions. We are responding to their concerns by implementing this rent reduction program over the next three years, which will provide ranchers with up to $4 million in relief.”
The forage lease rent reduction will be in place for the next three years with a 50 per cent reduction in 2023, a 33 per cent reduction in 2024 and a 15 per cent reduction in 2025. Forage leaseholders do not need to apply for the support, Johnson noted, adding the reduction will be automatically applied to next year’s bills.
Adverse conditions ranging from severe drought the past two years to excess moisture this year have significantly affected the productivity and forage capacity of agricultural Crown lands. This temporary rent reduction will be in place as the productivity of the land recovers and as further improvements to the Agricultural Crown Lands Program are implemented, the minister noted
In addition to the rent reduction program, Manitoba Agriculture is exploring other policy, program, regulation and service improvements to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agricultural Crown forage lands including mechanisms for leaseholders to invest in productivity and adjustments to the terms and conditions of leases.
As part of its continuing review of the Agricultural Crown Lands Program, the government is inviting the public to provide input through an EngageMB survey that will run until late October.
To participate in the survey, visit http://engagemb.ca/agcl forage leases.
Manitoba Beef Producers thanks the provincial government for announcing the temporary Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program rent reduction. Lease costs have been a key area of concern for our members. MBP has continued to raise with the provincial government matters such as: the need for unit transfers, how improvements are valued, potential adjustments to the rental rate formula, enforcement issues, auction process adjustments and more. MBP strongly encourages lease holders to complete the provincial government’s online survey as soon as possible. It touches upon topics such as these, including: lease terms and conditions; how rent is determined; subletting or transferring leases; investments in productivity improvements; transferring improvements; valuing improvements; the auction process model (virtual, in person or hybrid models); producers’ understanding of the annual rent invoice; communications with ACL staff, and more.
Government of Canada to remove COVID-19 border and travel measures effective October 1
(September 26, 2022 Public Health Agency of Canada News Release) Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has taken a layered approach to border management to protect the health and safety of Canadians. As the pandemic situation has continued to evolve, adjustments to border measures have been informed by the latest evidence, available data, operational considerations, and the epidemiological situation, both in Canada and internationally. Today the Government of Canada announced the removal of all COVID 19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada, effective October 1, 2022.
The removal of border measures has been facilitated by a number of factors, including modelling that indicates that Canada has largely passed the peak of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 fuelled wave, Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the availability and use of vaccine boosters (including new bivalent formulation), rapid tests, and treatments for COVID 19.
Effective October 1, 2022, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:
• submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
• provide proof of vaccination;
• undergo pre or on arrival testing;
• carry out COVID 19 related quarantine or isolation;
• monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID 19 upon arriving to Canada.
Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements. As of October 1, 2022, travellers will no longer be required to:
• undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or
• wear masks on planes and trains.
Although the masking requirement is being lifted, all travellers are strongly recommended to wear high quality and well fitted masks during their journeys.
Cruise measures are also being lifted, and travellers will no longer be required to have pre board tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew, which will align with the approach used in the United States.
Individuals are reminded that they should not travel if they have symptoms of COVID 19. If travellers become sick while travelling, and are still sick when they arrive in Canada, they should inform a flight attendant, cruise staff, or a border services officer upon arrival. They may then be referred to a quarantine officer who will decide whether the traveller needs further medical assessment as COVID 19 remains one of many communicable diseases listed in the Quarantine Act.
The Government of Canada also reminds travellers to make informed decisions when considering travel outside of Canada to protect their health and safety. They are encouraged to review the travel advice at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories for more information on safe travel.
Canadians can continue to do their part to protect themselves and others, and reduce the spread of COVID 19, by getting vaccinated and boosted, using high quality and well fitted
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Government of Canada to remove COVID-19 border and travel measures effective October 1
masks where appropriate, self isolating if they have symptoms and self testing if they can.
Quick facts
• Travellers must follow any provincial or territorial COVID 19 requirements as applicable. Foreign nationals must still meet the entry requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and provide appropriate travel and immigration documentation as necessary.
• Air carriers will no longer need to validate that travellers have entered information in ArriveCAN before boarding.
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As of October 1, 2022, travellers who entered Canada in the 14 days prior to October 1, 2022, will not be required to complete the remainder of their quarantine or isolation, or complete their testing requirements.
• While travellers will no longer have to submit their quarantine and vaccination information through ArriveCAN, they can continue to use the optional Advance Declaration feature in ArriveCAN (free as a mobile app or on the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website) to save time at the airport by submitting their customs and immigration declaration in advance of arrival.
o This feature is currently available to travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, or Montréal Trudeau international airports and will expand to the Calgary,
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Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop Toronto City, Ottawa, Québec City, and Halifax international airports in the coming months.
Early data shows that using the Advance CBSA Declaration in ArriveCAN cuts the amount of time a traveller spends at a kiosk by roughly one third, and over 30% of travellers arriving at the airports are already using it.
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The CBSA will continue to make technology available at the border to speed up traveller entry and enhance the safety and security of Canadians. For example, CBSA is exploring other optional ArriveCAN features to provide travellers with easy access to information such as border wait times, and other self serve functions. This will be expanded to travellers by land so they can make use of available technology to expedite and facilitate their travel.
Associated links
• Backgrounder COVID 19 Border Measures
• COVID 19: Travel, testing and borders
• ArriveCAN
• COVID 19: Boarding flights and trains in Canada
• Summary data about travellers, testing and compliance
• Travelling to, from and within Canada
The Canadian Cow calf Cost of Production Network launched in 2020 with the objective to benchmark cow calf production systems across Canada This year, 21 benchmark cow calf farms were added to the existing Network, bringing the total to 46 cow calf and 3 dairy beef benchmark farms, with data collected from 186 participating producers across Canada.
Farms within the Network represent a wide variety in Canadian production systems, including variation in animal performance, economies of scale, labour productivity, feeding, and farm financials. Since the original set of benchmark farms in the 2020 Network, effort has been made to include production systems previously not represented, including larger herds (particularly in the West), and a broader range of farm sizes within the individual provinces.
Analysis and results from the 2021 reference year are now available online.
For producers, the Network provides opportunity for continuous learning, which is one of the top farm management practices that contributes to financial success. Within the Network, share what you know, learn from others, and find support to attain your goals for the future.
Does your operation look like one of the 49 systems we’ve modelled so far? Don’t hesitate to investigate by reviewing each of the Farm Summary results. These reports provide a valuable starting point for data driven decision making, industry competitiveness and continuous improvement within your own operation. In addition, there are future farm scenarios for the initial farms with more coming in January 2023.
In September, we did a BCRC webinar on “Cost, Profits, and What If? A Look into the Canadian Cow Calf Cost of Production Network” that provides an overview of work to date. For more information check out the fact sheets, case studies, and videos available at: https://www.canfax.ca/resources/cost of production/cop analysis.html
Canadian Cow calf Cost of Production Network Producers receive:
• Farm summary of production system including production indicators
• Summary of baseline cow calf enterprise data; with five years of historical indexing
• Summary of Future Farm scenarios
• Opportunity to learn from and share experience with other producers
• $500 honorarium
Learn more at https://www.canfax.ca/resources/ cost of production.html
What is next for the Network? We’re entering our third and final year of data collection. We’re inviting producers to signup for focus groups in January to March 2023! All producers are welcome to apply. We especially need participation from producers with herds over 500 head, producers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario! Follow one of the links below to sign up by November 30, 2022, and a provincial coordinator will contact you in December 2022 with more details.
• Cow Calf Producer (English) Sign up
• Cow Calf Producer (French) Formulaire d’admission
• Dairy beef producers
In the meantime, we are modelling more future farm scenarios to support our current Network participants in their short and medium term goals. Together, participants developed ambitious but attainable future farm goals during their virtual focus groups. Whether improving grass management, calving distributions or winter feed practices, we’re calculating what those goals might look like for profitability, and what trade offs may need to be made to get there.
Figure 1. Missing Production Systems
Related articles
Why a Cost of Production Network?
Networks Make the Dream Work
A New Approach to Cost of Production Benchmarking
Calculation Choices for Evaluating Cost of Production
Summary of the 2020 Results
Methods for understanding and reducing Cow Depreciation
Recommendations for Young Producers, from those who have lived and learned
What is a Successful Farm, according to Canadian Cow calf producers
Cost, Profits, and What If? A Look into the Canadian Cow Calf Cost of Production Network
Notice to industry: Service fee cap extended for certain animal health export certificates
(Canadian Food Inspection Agency Notice) As of September 30, 2022, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has extended its service fees for certain animal health export certificates until September 30, 2024. This cap applies to export certification for live animals for example swine, cattle, flightless birds, poultry, hatching eggs, horses, sheep and goats and mammalian embryos that do not require testing and inspection by the CFIA.
The current fee cap is of $78.02. Under the Service Fees Act (SFA), the CFIA adjusts its fees annually, based on the Consumer Price Index
(CPI). As such, on March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024, the current fee cap will be adjusted for inflation. The CFIA continues to review its service standards and service fees to better reflect the actual cost of delivering services.
The cap does not affect the level of inspection or animal health services provided by the CFIA. There are no other changes to animal health fees at this time.
For more information, please email Cost Recovery@inspection.gc.ca
Bridge at St. Andrews Lock and Dam to Be Closed Overnight Starting October 6th
(September 26, 2022 Advisory) Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise motorists that the bridge at the St. Andrews Lock and Dam will be closed to vehicular traffic for deck replacement work during the following period: Thursday, October 6, at 7 pm, to Friday, October 7, at 6 am
During this period, all lanes will be closed to vehicular traffic in both directions. Motorists are encouraged to consult local electronic signs for the most up to date information.
Travellers are reminded that the bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists. As of September 30, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the bridge using the newly constructed pathway on the north side of the bridge. Cyclists are asked to dismount their bikes when using the walkway.
PSPC encourages users to exercise caution when travelling on the bridge and thanks them for their patience.
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Tesa application
Name(s):
Farm Name: Address:
PLEASE ATTACH A WORD DOCUMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1. Provide a description of your farm including the environment it operates in.
2. What have you done/what are you doing to improve environmental management on your farm?
3. What are your challenges and successes? Please include high-resolution images and data which help show measurable results.
4. What factors have enabled you to make management changes? (e.g. Working with conservation organizations, programs such as the Environmental Farm Plan, funding support, education, etc.)
5. What are your environmental goals for the future and how do you plan to carry them out?
6. Include two letters of reference that speak to your leadership in conservation.
Please limit your application to 10 pages (not including letters of reference and photos). Electronic applications are preferred and a single, complete PDF document is requested. A sample application from previous years can be found online at https://www.cattle.ca/sustainability/theenvironmental-stewardship-award/how-to-nominate/
Contact your provincial organization listed on the previous page to determine when your association requires you to submit your application for the provincial award.
Phone: Email:
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE APPLICATION:
A selection of no less than ten high-resolution images suitable for reproduction on social media, print etc.
Video presentation link if available, media stories/ broadcasts showcasing your stewardship efforts.
TESA SPONSORS
TESA sponsorship program is available to appropriate organizations that wish to affiliate themselves with the CCA’s TESA program. In addition to showing support for environmental stewardship and Canada’s beef cattle producers, the program also provides the opportunity to join industry leaders, government representatives and nearly 60,000 Canadian beef farms in the national discussion on environmental issues affecting the industry. For more information, visit www.cattle.ca/what-is-tesa
TESA PLATINUM SPONSOR
For more than 65 years, MNP has been helping beef producers get the most from their operations. Whether you are looking to pass the farm on to the next generation, improve your profitability, be more competitive or expand MNP’s beef industry specialists will help you get the results you’re looking for. To find out what MNP can do for you, contact Marvin Slingerland, Partner, MNP Lethbridge, at Director of Livestock Services at 1.800.661.8097 or Marvin.Slingerland@mnp.ca
HELPING YOU GET EVEN MORE OUT OF YOUR LIVESTOCK OPERATION.