greaT�TasTesMB
For Immediate Release
August 28, 2024
Every Ingredient Tells a Story
Great Tastes has entertained viewers since 1991, and there are many stories still to tel11 Manitoba's most-watched cooking series is back for a 35th season conecting consumers with our province's nutritious, affordable ingredients and the passionate people who produce them. That's over 500 episodes of television, 1509 recipes, and 70 stories about the people who work in agriculture that home cooks can access anytime. Ninety-one percent of Great Tastes' viewers have tried one of these recipes at home and 99% say they were happy with the results.
Great Tastes is hosted by popular Winnipeg media personality, Dez Daniels. Each week Dez isjoined by chefs, dietitiansand food experts representing local farm organizations who share recipes made with ingredients grown right here in Manitoba.
In celebration of the 35th anniversary season, the producers have partnered with Manitoba Ag Days to create a series of documentaries about the community of passionate people who work in Manitoba's agricultural and agri-food sector. One in twentyjobs in Manitoba is in the agriculture and agri-food sector.
"In past seasons, we have primarily showcased folks who work in food production - livestock and grain farmers - from across the province. We've compiled over seventy stories about farms and agricultural communities and everyone we've met has been so welcoming and genuine in their passion for what they do" saysGreatTastes' Senior Producer, Donalee Jones. "Sharing the stories, not only of the food produced on the prairies but of all the ways agriculture impacts the life ofan average Manitoban, is a great opportunity."Viewers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a world of agriculture that goes beyond the farm gate.
The series also has a fresh look for Season 35 and the brand has expanded beyond the Saturday evening television broadcast. Full episodes of Great Tastes can be viewed across Canada on The Rural Channel, and content is released all week long on the Great Tastes social media channels. "YouTube viewing is much more accessible now than it was even 5 years ago," says Jones "it's notjust for short format videos anymore. Streaming long-form content on YouTube and other platforms is much more common now thanks to the popularity of Smart TVs." This presents an opportunity to inspire more Manitobans to cook with local ingredients and provide a closer connection between them and the food on their plates.
The series is produced by Frank Digital with funding provided by the Government of Canada and Manitoba Agriculture through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership and Manitoba's farmers and ranchers through their non-profit industry associations: Manitoba Beef Producers, Hello Canola, Manitoba Chicken, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Manitoba Pork, Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers, Manitoba Turkey Producers.
Season 35 ofGreat Tastes airs on CTV Winnipeg, Saturday's at 6:30pm CST starting September 7th. Full episodes of Great Tastes can bestreamed on demand at greattastesmb.ca or on the @GreatTastesTV YouTube channel. You can follow along with exclusive behind-the-scenes content, recipe tips, meal plans and more at @GreatTastesMB on Facebook and lnstagram.
Livestock estimates, July 1, 2024
(Excerpts from August 23, 2024 Edition of Statistics Canada’s The Daily) On July 1, 2024, Canadian cattle and sheep inventories were down compared with the same date one year earlier, while hog inventories were up.
The Canadian cattle herd fell for the third consecutive year on July 1, despite improvements in Western Canadian feed and drought conditions in the first half of 2024. Higher international exports of live cattle helped offset decreases in slaughter caused by labour issues in the Eastern Canadian processing sector.
Cattle and calves Canadian farmers held 11.9 million cattle and calves on their farms on July 1, down 1.4% from the same date the previous year. This is the smallest cattle herd size observed since July 1, 1987.
Canadian cattle producers retained less breeding stock on July 1, 2024, with year-overyear decreases being observed in all breeding stock categories except milk cows (+0.4%) and beef heifers for breeding (+0.8%).
Producers held fewer calves (-2.4%) and feeder heifers (-1.5%), yet more steers (+0.7%), compared with July 1, 2023.
From January to June 2024, total cattle and calves slaughter decreased 4.6% year over year to 1.7 million head. By contrast, international exports of cattle and calves rose 15.5% to 398,300 head over the same period, supported by strong prices.
Looking at the Manitoba situation year over year, i.e. July 1, 2023 vs July 1, 2024:
• On all cattle operations, there were 960,000 head, down 35,000 from July 1, 2023
• On beef operations, there were 882,600 head, down 36,000 head
• On cow calf operations, there were 687,700 head, down 22,600 head
• On feeder and stock operations, there were 134,900 head, down 9,400 head
• On feeding operations, there were 60,000 head, down 4,000 from a year prior.
Manitoba Government Taking Action to Protect Lake Winnipeg
Government Sets First-Ever Formal Nutrient Targets
(August 27, 2024 Province of Manitoba News Release) The Manitoba government is establishing nutrient targets to protect Manitoba’s lakes and rivers for future generations, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt announced.
“This a major step forward in water quality protection for Manitobans,” said Schmidt. “This regulation for Lake Winnipeg and its tributaries sets the first-ever formal nutrient reduction target for improving water quality in Manitoba’s history. Establishing nutrient targets for our cherished rivers and lakes is essential in protecting those waterways for generations to come.”
Through the Water Protection Act, the Nutrient Targets Regulation will include Lake Winnipeg and the Red, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Dauphin rivers. It commits Manitoba to report regularly on progress towards implementing the targets and actions underway to reduce nutrient levels in waterbodies in Manitoba. This provides a clear, measurable benchmark with the goal of effecting real change in the protection of Manitoba’s waterways, the minister said.
“Establishing and implementing nutrient targets will help Manitoba’s collective water quality efforts by guiding future nutrient reduction activities and best management practices, identifying priorities and helping track progress and outcomes over time,” said Schmidt.
In recent decades, nitrogen and phosphorous have increased in Lake Winnipeg and the Red, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Dauphin rivers, contributing to increased frequency and intensity of algal blooms. The minister noted these potentially toxic algal blooms have serious economic, health and environmental
implications and contaminate beaches, reduce water quality and are detrimental to the communities and industries that depend on the lake.
“This regulation is a welcome addition to the efforts to improve water quality across the Lake Winnipeg Basin,” said Ted Preister, executive director, Red River Basin Commission. The Red River Basin Commission believes these targets are an important step in bringing Manitobans together to address threats to our precious waters. Provincial leadership in setting these goals is a major driver in promoting further action throughout the basin.”
“Farmers, including those in Manitoba’s hog sector, are taking significant steps to help address today’s environmental challenges, including the protection of our lakes and waterways across the province,” said Rick Préjet, chair, Manitoba Pork. “Manitoba’s hog sector is committed to being part of the solution going forward and protecting our environment, all while producing more food for consumers in Canada and around the world. Having reliable data is a key step on this path forward.”
“Manitoba’s 14 watershed districts work directly with landowners throughout the province to protect and preserve our source water,” said Garry Wasylowski, board chair, Manitoba Association of Watersheds. “They remain committed to activities that reduce nutrient loading into our lakes and rivers, and support the collection of data to help move these efforts forward in a productive way.”
For more information on Manitoba’s water and nutrient management efforts, visit www.gov.mb.ca/sd/water/lakes-beachesrivers/index.html.
Minister Boissonnault reducing the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada
(August 26, 2024 Employment and Social Development Canada News Release) The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program is designed as an extraordinary measure to be used only when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not able to fill job vacancies.
Unfortunately, the TFW Program has been used to circumvent hiring talented workers in Canada. That is why, earlier this month, Minister Boissonnault brought together business organizations to inform them that the Government of Canada was considering reductions in access to the Program, as well as strengthened compliance measures.
Given current labour market conditions, and to further reduce the reliance of Canadian employers on the Program, Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, announced today that the Government is taking further action to weed out TFW Program misuse and fraud.
In response to the current employment environment, the following changes will be implemented, effective by September 26, 2024:
• The Government of Canada will refuse to process Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) in the Low-Wage stream, applicable in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. Exceptions will be granted for seasonal and non-seasonal jobs in food security sectors (primary agriculture, food processing and fish processing), as well as construction and healthcare;
• Employers will be allowed to hire no more than 10% of their total workforce through the TFW Program. This
maximum employment percentage will be applied to the Low-Wage stream and is a further reduction from the March 2024 reduction. Exceptions will be granted for seasonal and non-seasonal jobs in food security sectors (primary agriculture, food processing and fish processing), as well as healthcare and construction; and
• The maximum duration of employment for workers hired through the LowWage stream will be reduced to one year (from two years).
Employers in Canada have a responsibility to invest in the full range of workers available in this country, such as young people, newcomers, and persons with disabilities, who are too often an untapped economic resource in Canada. They must also invest in retraining or upskilling to ensure that those they currently employ can adapt to the economy of the future. The Government of Canada will continue to work with business and organizations to help them find the workers they need and ensure that Canadian workers have the opportunities they deserve, by providing supports for training and education.
The Government of Canada will continue to monitor labour market conditions and introduce further adjustments to the Program as needed in the coming months to ensure that only employers with demonstrable labour market needs have access to the Program. Within the next 90 days, further review will be undertaken of the Program, which could result in changes to the High-Wage Stream, to existing LMIA applications for which positions have not been filled, to sectoral exceptions, or refusing to process other LMIA applications, including for rural areas.
Minister Boissonnault reducing the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada
Quotes
“The Temporary Foreign Worker program was designed to address labour market shortages when qualified Canadians were not able to fill those roles. Right now, we know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions. The changes we are making today will prioritize Canadians workers and ensures Canadians can trust the program is meeting the needs of our economy.”
– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault
Quick facts
• According to the latest data from the Labour Force Survey, the overall unemployment rate has increased to 6.4% following two consecutive monthly increases in May and June. Canada’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 6.4% in June 2024. The unemployment rate trended up since April 2023, rising 1.3 percentage points over the period. In June 2024, there were 1.4 million unemployed people, an increase of 42,000 (+3.1%) from the previous month.
• As the labour market has loosened, the Government of Canada began rolling back the pandemic measures aimed at addressing an extraordinary labour shortage. Beginning in October 2023, those adjustments have included gradual reductions to the validity period of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) from 18 months to 6 months, as well as to the cap on percentage of temporary foreign workers from 30% to 20%, both necessary steps toward bringing the program back to pre-pandemic levels.
• On August 20, 2024, the Government of Canada announced the approval of a proposal by the Government of Quebec for a temporary freeze on the approval of new Temporary Foreign Workers in the low-wage stream in Montreal. Effective September 3rd, 2024, processing of Labour Market Impact Assessment applications will be discontinued for six months for job offers located in the Montreal region with wages below $27.47/hour, which is the current Quebec median hourly wage.
Associated links
• Government of Canada announces approval of provincial request for temporary freeze of low-wage occupations in Montréal under Temporary Foreign Worker ProgramCanada.ca
• Refusal to process a Labour Market Impact Assessment application - Canada.ca
• Minister Boissonnault announces new measures to address fraud in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• Government of Canada continues to take action to protect Temporary Foreign Workers, non-compliant employer penalties increased by 36%
• Government of Canada takes action to improve employer compliance and better protect foreign workers
• Backgrounder: Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Compliance Regime
• Government of Canada strengthens protections for temporary foreign workers as new regulations come into force
• Employer compliance - Canada.ca
Public consultations on Canada-United StatesMexico Agreement commence
(August 21, 2024 Global Affairs Canada News Release) The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is a high-standard, highambition agreement that promotes the integration of Canadian SMEs into regional and global supply chains, while advancing the rights of our workers and our environmental priorities. The Agreement provides a stable, rules-based, and predictable trading environment for Canadian enterprises in North America.
The Government of Canada has launched public consultations to gather Canadians’ views on CUSMA. The consultations will provide Canadians with an opportunity to share their views on and experiences with key areas of CUSMA, including elements of the agreement that are working well and those that can be further improved.
The feedback received from these consultations will inform Canada’s priorities in preparation for the first joint review of CUSMA by Canada, the United States and Mexico in 2026 and ahead of Canada’s chairing of the 5th meeting of the CUSMA Free Trade Commission, in 2025.
To participate in the consultations, Canadians are encouraged to review information provided at the page linked below. The consultations will be held until October 31, 2024.
Quick facts
• In 2020, CUSMA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement. CUSMA continues to safeguard Canada’s preferential market access in the United States and Mexico.
• CUSMA spans a market of around 500 million people and represents nearly 30% of the global economy.
• In 2023, the 3 countries imported a total value of close to $2 trillion in merchandise from each other an increase of 3.4% from 2022. That’s nearly $5.3 billion in trade that crossed their borders every day.
Related products
• Fourth meeting of the CUSMA Free Trade Commission
• Canada advances trade priorities at third annual Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Dialogue of CUSMA
Associated links
• Join the discussion: Consulting Canadians on the operation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
• About CUSMA
Time to Participate in Agroclimate Impact Reporter
August Survey
Help Inform Government of Weather Conditions Affecting Your Farm/Ranch
The Agroclimate Impact Reporter (AIR) is open for August reports!
Agroclimate Impact Reporter provides producers an opportunity to provide information to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) on how weather and climate conditions are impacting your farm. AAFC is interested in the impacts of Weather on things like water supplies, feed production, soil moisture conditions and crop stress.
The surveys are completely anonymously and the information you share cannot be tied to you or your email address. This information is extremely valuable and provides confirmation and details that are required to assist with various programs and activities of AAFC, including the Canadian Drought Monitor, Livestock Tax Deferral and AgriRecovery.
We’ve had a varied spring and summer so far across the country. To let the AAFC know what the conditions at the start of the season are in your area, please respond to one of the links below: English French
The AIR survey is open during the last week of the month over the growing season (April to October) and is intended to collect weather and climate impacts on farm operations across Canada over the previous month. Survey results are made into maps and published on the Drought Watch website the first week of every month during the growing season. Impact maps are also available and cover topics such as: moisture and erosion, crop, hay and pasture quality and staging, feed production and availability, water supply and quality and much more. See: https://www.agr.gc.ca/DWGS/mapselectorselecteurdecartes.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true
For more information about AIR and how to enrol to complete the surveys go to www.agr.gc.ca/air .
Manitoba Beef & Forage Conference
Working on the Farm with Hands-On Science!
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
William Glesby Centre
11 2nd St NE Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Registration
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION COST
Register by October 1, 2024
1. Early bird registration - $75
2. Farm registration (2 people from the same farm) - $125
3. Students - $60
REGISTRATION
Register on or after October 2, 2024
$100 per person
No farm registrations accepted after October 1.
REGISTRATION IS NON-REFUNDABLE BUT TRANSFERABLE
Registration includes access to all sessions and lunch catered by Merv’s Pitchfork Fondue.
To register please visit manitoba.ca/agriculture/ livestock/beef-conference.html
Questions about registration? Call: 204-761-3300
Accommodations
Super 8
2668 Saskatchewan Ave W 204-857-8883
Canad Inns
2401 Saskatchewan Ave W 204-857-9745
Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham
5100 Crescent Road West 204-400-5083
Wednesday, October 30
8:00 REGISTRATION, COFFEE and BOOTH DISPLAYS
9:00 THEATRE – Dr. Frank Mitloehner, University of California Davis
Climate-Smart Livestock: Separating Science from Scare Tactics
Livestock, in particular cattle, are often branded as major methane (CH4) emitters. This thought-provoking presentation will explore the true impact of CH4 emissions from the beef and dairy sectors on temperature, clarify misunderstandings regarding greenhouse gases related to animal production and uncover the potential role of animal agriculture in fighting climate change.
10:00 THEATRE – Patti Durand, Brightrack Consulting Strategies for Low Stress Handling of Family Succession Planning Conversations
Farm succession is a top source of uncertainty for farm families. How can you lead, guide, and participate in planning discussions, while protecting the family and the business? Join us to find out!
11:00 REFRESHMENT BREAK/VISIT DISPLAYS
11:30 BREAKOUT SESSION
(Choose one of three offered sessions)
B-1 VISUAL ARTS ROOM - Dr. Cheryl Waldner, University of Saskatchewan
Investigating Effective Strategies for the Control of Johne’s Disease in Western Canadian Cow-Calf Herds – A Potential Economic Loss for your Herd
Johne’s disease poses significant challenges to the beef cattle industry because of its negative effects on animal health and farm income. Although the diagnostic tools currently available for detecting Johne’s aren’t perfect, testing and culling infected animals is the most effective way to control the disease. Learn more about what you can do to protect your herd and to determine if testing makes financial sense on your operation.
Featuring Dr. Nadine Wohlgemuth, Virden Animal Hospital
B-2 ART GALLERY – Ben Hamm, Manitoba Agriculture
Safeguarding your Profit – Incorporating Business Risk Management Tools as Part of your Everyday Chores
This presentation will cover calculating production risk and understanding the steps you can take to maximize profitability and alleviate risk in volatile times. Ben will focus on the pros and cons of AgriInsurance for forages, Livestock Price Insurance and talk about how AgriStability can fill the gaps.
Featuring Tyler Fulton, Cattle Producer, Birtle, Manitoba and CCA Vice President
B-3 THEATRE – Dr. Stephanie Hansen, Iowa State University
Smart Mineral and Vitamin Nutrition for Stronger Beef Herds
Wondering how trace minerals help keep your cattle productive and healthy? Learn about Stephanie’s research, as it relates to the critical ways micronutrients support growth, health and reproductive success in cattle.
Featuring Dr. Mary-Jane Orr, Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives
12:30 LUNCH AND BOOTH DISPLAYS
1:30 THEATRE – John Hart, Wildlife Biologist, Custom Wildlife Capture and Consulting, LLC
Keeping the Wolf from the Door - Effective Tools and Techniques for Producers to Reduce Wolf Damage
John will share his experience in wolf damage management by addressing wolf biology and behaviour, dispelling misconceptions about wolf predation and explaining various techniques for protecting livestock from wolves.
2:30 REPEAT OF BREAKOUT SESSION
(Choose one of three offered sessions)
3:30 REFRESHMENT
4:00 THEATRE – Dr. John Basarab, University of Alberta Genomic Strategies for Improving Beef Cattle Efficiencies in a Changing Environment
Join Dr. Basarab to learn about genomic tools for commercial beef production. This presentation will highlight current research as well as the benefits and considerations for using genomic tools to boost profitability, reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and help cattle adapt to changing environments.
5:00 CLOSING REMARKS AND ADJOURNMENT
Hear from local producers and industry experts about applying research on the farm. Our breakout sessions feature local producers and their on-farm experience.
Organizing Committee:
Pam Iwanchysko, Elizabeth Nernberg, Cindy Jack, Kristen Bouchard-Teasdale, Shawn Cabak, Andrea Bertholet, Juanita Kopp, Mary-Jane Orr (MBFI) and Melissa Atchison (MBP)
Organized by Manitoba Agriculture in partnership with Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives and Manitoba Beef Producers.