Discover Agriculture on the Farm an opportunity to learn about Manitoba food production
Urban and rural Manitobans are invited to explore farming and food production at the popular “Discover Agriculture on the Farm” open house this weekend on Sunday, September 15.
The free event, which kicks off Farm and Food Awareness Week in Manitoba, will run from 10 am to 2 pm at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre, 15 minutes south of Winnipeg on Highway 75.
Visitors can engage in conversations with local Manitoba farmers, take a wagon ride to visit pigs, dairy cows, broiler chickens, and laying hens, and explore crops grown on the Prairies.
Hands-on activities include crushing canola to make oil, guessing the identity of different seeds and matching farm goods to products found in everyday life. Visitors young and old can try their hand at the Guardians of the Grasslands grazing simulation, the Oinko! ball drop and the Wheel of Chicken trivia game. Participating organizations will be sharing recipe books and other free giveaways, including kitchen utensils, colouring books, reusable bags, squeeze toys, temporary tattoos, and more.
Free food samples that feature Manitoba products will be served while supplies last, and include pulled chicken and pork sliders, cookies made from eggs and canola, beef charcuterie and freezedried berries.
"Discover Agriculture on the Farm" gives visitors an opportunity to learn more about the great diversity of food production in this province and the importance of agriculture to the provincial economy.
Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-food sector generates $18.8 billion in direct output, employing over 37,000 people in the province or essentially one in 20 jobs in Manitoba.
For more information:
Crystal Jorgenson, University of Manitoba 204-791-8109
crystal.jorgenson@umanitoba.ca
Applications for Consideration for The Environmental Stewardship Award Due to MBP by
December 13
Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is accepting applications until Friday, December 13, 2024 for consideration for the local awarding of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA).
Since 1996, TESA has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices and set positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public. As stewards of a vast portion of the Canadian landscape, Canada’s beef cattle producers play a significant role in protecting and enhancing the environment. They continuously strive to improve existing stewardship conservation practices to create a sustainable future – always farming for tomorrow.
At the local level, a producer receives provincial recognition for their outstanding environmental
contributions. In Manitoba, this occurs in conjunction with MBP’s annual general meeting in February. All provincial award recipients then move forward to compete for national recognition from the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). The national TESA recipient is announced during the CCA’s semiannual meeting held in August in conjunction with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference.
Each nominee exemplifies significant innovation and attention to a wide range of environmental stewardship aspects in their farm or ranch operation. Such innovations extend beneficially to areas far beyond their land, including water, wildlife and air.
How to Nominate
All beef cattle operations in Canada are eligible to apply for consideration for TESA. Interested producers can either nominate themselves, or be nominated by another individual or an organization. All methods are equally encouraged. More details and the application form can be found at: https://www.cattle.ca/sustainability/tesa
Note: If you are a producer who is considering selfnomination, MBP can provide you with guidance and suggestions on completing the application process.
The completed application form, along with all supporting documentation (such as letters of support, photos and/or videos), is to be submitted to Manitoba Beef Producers by email to info@mbbeef.ca no later than Friday, December 13, 2024. If you have questions, please contact the MBP office at 204-772-4542.
Canadian Cattle Young Leaders announce 2024 Finalists
September 9, 2024
Calgary, AB - The Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) Program, a national youth initiative of the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), is pleased to announce its 16 finalists for the 20242025 program year.
The annual CYL Selections Competition took place on August 20, 2024, at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon, SK.
During the competition, impressive semi-finalists from across Canada who are involved in various roles within the beef supply chain, competed for a spot in the 2024 mentorship program year
Through the Selections Competition, semi-finalists rotated through discussions with their peers at six roundtables, each facilitated and judged by representatives from the program’s sponsors and industry Semi-finalists put their skills to the test during thought provoking discussions about timely beef industry topics such as environmental sustainability, succession planning, leadership, support for new entrants and young producers, and much more.
Each finalist will be awarded a $3,000 budget for beef industry travel and learning opportunities and will be paired with a hand-picked industry leader for a nine-month mentorship in their specific area of interest. This is an increase of $1000 each, thanks to Cargill’s generous funding increase to Platinum Partner. The Canadian CYL Program sincerely thanks Cargill for its funding commitment that has helped make this and other program improvements possible. Click here to read more
“Congratulations to the CYL finalists for their remarkable commitment to our industry and their engaging contributions during the roundtable discussions," said Nathan Phinney, CCA President. "The impressive pool of semi-finalists this year is a promising sign for the future of our industry.”
The 2024 finalists, from west to east, are:
• British Columbia: William Gamache (Lumby)
• Alberta: Ashley Perepelkin (Condor), Beatriz Montenegro (Picture Butte), Brianna Elliot (Sundre), Brittany Sigfusson (Strathmore), Emily Jamieson (Duchess), Erik Nottveit (Calgary), Janelle Graham (Olds), Jayse Wilson (Strathmore), Laura Buss (Millarville), Taylor Iwasiuk (High Prairie)
The Canadian Cattle Association is the national voice for Canada’s beef cattle industry representing 60,000 beef farms and feedlots. www.cattle.ca
• Manitoba: Alice Rooke (Alexander)
• Ontario: Chelsea Allan (Cumberland)
News Release
The Canadian Beef Industry Conference was also a special occasion for the 2023-2024 CYLs who graduated from the program and were awarded their certificates at the graduation celebration. This year’s graduates represent a significant milestone for the Canadian CYL Program, bringing the total number of alumni to over 200 since the program’s inception in 2010.
The graduation also saw the presentation of the second Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award in partnership with the Canadian CYL Program, Canadian Cattle Foundation, and the Schellenberg family. Click here to read more.
The opportunities offered to the next generation through the Canadian CYL Program would not be possible without the generous support of its Platinum Partners, McDonald’s Canada and Cargill, Foundation Partners MNP, New Holland, and Elanco, and Gold Partners Farm Credit Canada, Alltech, and RBC Future Launch.
About the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders Program
Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) welcomes young people ages 18-35 across Canada, involved in various aspects of the beef supply chain, to be paired with an industry leader in their specific area of interest for a nine-month mentorship. Through mentorship, networking, and travel, the Canadian CYL Program acts as an industry succession planning tool to equip the next generation of leaders with the skills and tools they need to continue to drive the growth and profitability of the Canadian beef industry. Since established by the Canadian Cattle Association in 2010, the program has seen over 200 CYL graduates. Program applications are open annually for ages 18-35 on our website from early January to the end of March. Learn more at www.canadiancattleyoungleaders.ca
Read more: Canadian Cattle Young Leaders names its 2024 Program semi-finalists
For further information, contact:
Carol Reynolds Communications Manager Canadian Cattle Association 403-451-0931| reynoldsc@cattle.ca
The Canadian Cattle Association is the national voice for Canada’s beef cattle industry representing 60,000 beef farms and feedlots. www.cattle.ca
Manitoba Wolf Trapping Workshops
Attend a free Manitoba Agriculture workshop to learn, develop and/or enhance your wolf trapping skills to assist producers experiencing livestock predation losses. There will be hands on outdoor demonstrations and discussion.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 (2 locations)
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Place: Mulvihill Community Pasture
From Mulvihill, turn east on Rd 133N and travel 4.5 km, turn north on Rd 28W and travel 2.5 km View on Apple Maps
Date: Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Place: Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives Farm
Corner of Highway 353 and #10 north of Brandon View on Apple Maps
3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (includes light supper)
Dauphin/Ochre River – Justamere Farm
From Ochre River junction travel 8.3 km east on highway 5, turn south on Rd 104W, and travel 2.5 km to yellow Justamere farm sign. View on Apple Maps
Agenda featuring John Hart, Wildlife Biologist, Custom Wildlife Capture and Consulting, LLC
Introduction to wolf biology in relation to trapping in agricultural landscape
Trapping techniques, equipment, and strategies
Wolf population management
Characteristics of predator kills
Working with producers
Requirements for working under Targeted Predator Removal Program
John is a certified wildlife biologist with a wildlife degree from the University of Wisconsin. Involved with wolf damage management in northern Minnesota since 1989, he has extensive experience with the capture of depredating wolves, training, the supervision of trappers, and assisting with the development of the Minnesota Wolf Management Plan.
Please register before Sept. 25, at 1-844-769-6224 or agriculture@gov.mb.ca
October Workshops to follow in Teulon and Birds Hill Provincial Park.
BeefResearch.ca Now Available in French
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is excited to announce the launch of its bilingual website, with the addition of //www.BeefResearch.ca/fr, for FrenchCanadian beef cattle and forage producers. It was developed thanks to funding through Canada’s Beef and Forage AgriScience Cluster (2023-2028), announced in July 2023, as an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Craig Lehr, BCRC chair and a producer with a backgrounding feedlot and cow-calf operation in Alberta, recognizes the importance of making relevant and practical science-based information easily accessible to all farmers and ranchers.
“BeefResearch.ca/fr is a continuation of the BCRC’s work to extend the latest beef, cattle and forage research and deliver resources that support producers across Canada to make informed decisions on farm,” says Lehr. “This website is an example of the opportunities provided by the research allocation of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off and the current Beef and Forage AgriScience Cluster, which helps to drive environmental, economic and social sustainability in Canada’s beef sector.”
The new bilingual toggle function on the website offers a selection of pertinent and popular content that is available on the original BeefResearch.ca Input from industry colleagues and website traffic by users in French-speaking regions determined which content to make available in both languages. More relevant content will be added to //BeefResearch.ca/fr semi-annually through the duration of the 20232028 AgriScience Cluster.
“This website is another valuable tool Canadian beef producers can use to access the latest research and economic-based information that could help them reduce risks and increase
productivity and profitability on their operations,” says BCRC vice chair and Ontario cow-calf producer Ron Stevenson. “Producers who speak either of Canada’s official languages now will find practical articles, fact sheets and interactive calculators at their fingertips.”
Research and extension projects funded through the AgriScience Cluster benefits farmers, ranchers, processors, retailers and consumers, as well as the broader Canadian population. It drives research and technology transfer that supports producer profitability with on-farm improvements in things like animal health and performance, feed production and efficient feed use so Canada’s beef producers can continue to supply high-quality, nutrientdense protein.
Information concerning support for the continued supply of livestock feed as supply chain challenges persist
(September 10, 2024 CFIA Notice) The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has developed temporary measures and conditions to help the animal feed industry continue to maintain the supply of feed to livestock and protect animal health in response to supply chain issues.
The CFIA expects that regulated parties will continue to act responsibly during this period to minimize the effects and duration of any noncompliance. The CFIA has developed the following temporary measures and conditions for feed manufacturers to support the continued supply of livestock feed.
For registered standard feeds (complete feeds, supplements, premixes):
• changes may be made to ingredients used in registered standard feeds to maintain the label guarantees without needing to advise the CFIA of these changes
o this will allow for substitutions in ingredients where sources are limited
• changes may be made to nutrient levels in registered standard feeds resulting in guarantees that do not match the registered feed label without needing to advise the CFIA of these changes
For registered specialty feeds that are identified by the number 8 in the second digit of the registration number (for example, reg. # 98xxx or reg. # 18xxx):
• changes may be made to ingredients used in registered specialty feeds to maintain the label guarantees without needing to advise the CFIA of these changes
o this will allow for substitutions in ingredients where sources are limited
o these substitutions should be limited to ingredients that serve the same purpose in the feed (for example, soybean meal substituted by canola meal and corn gluten meal, registered mineral complex substituted by another one)
In all cases, the temporary reformulation of feeds must:
• only use approved feed ingredients listed in the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table of the Feeds Regulations, 2024, or registered feed products for the approved species or at the approved levels
• be suitable for the intended purpose
• not cause any undue safety or welfare risks to livestock
• not exceed the maximum nutrient levels identified in the Tables of Maximum Nutrient Values for Feeds when fed as directed on the label to avoid any potential residues in foods of animal origin (meat, fish, milk and eggs)
• follow the Compendium of Medicating Ingredient Brochures or veterinary prescription for any medications
• not exceed the maximum levels of contaminants as found in the Tables of Maximum Contaminant Levels for Feeds or RG-8 Regulatory Guidance: Contaminants in feed
Information concerning support for the continued supply of livestock feed as supply chain challenges persist
• comply with the Health of Animals Act and regulations and the Plant Protection Act and regulations
Feed manufacturers are required to:
• inform customers receiving feeds that have been reformulated with reduced nutrient levels (this can be done via the label or other documentation)
• maintain records demonstrating the temporary measure has been followed and may be subject to review during CFIA inspection
For livestock feeds manufactured in in accordance with these temporary measures, CFIA feed inspectors will not issue corrective action requests (CARs) where:
• label guarantees of registered feeds are different from the approved label
• ingredients listed on registered feeds are different from the approved label
When these temporary measures are withdrawn, feed manufacturers will be required to:
• reformulate all feeds that were affected by the feed ingredient shortage with ingredients and guarantees as approved in their registrations and with ingredients and guarantees as approved in their registrations and
• update the labels for the affected feeds accordingly (return to using the labels as approved for registered feeds)
The CFIA's Enforcement and Compliance Policy has always been to respond to noncompliance with fairness, impartiality and transparency. The CFIA will continue to do so with additional considerations specific to the current situation. While all requirements of the regulations will continue to apply, the CFIA wishes to assure industry that it will exercise its enforcement discretion in a flexible manner and will take into account challenges faced by the feed industry at this time.
This notice is in effect until further notice and will be revisited as the situation evolves. If you have questions or for any other urgent concerns related to the current situation, please contact the CFIA's Animal Feed and Veterinary Biologics Division at cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca.
Results of the Inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), in collaboration with Canfax Research Services and regional representatives, recently took a snapshot of production practices that have been adopted by cow-calf producers across the country, as well as performance measures of their herds.
The inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey collected data from 600 producers across nine provinces on the 2022 breeding season through the 2023 weaned calf crop, as well as reasoning and rationale for some practices.
Results will be used to help the BCRC prioritize research and extension strategies funded by the research allocation of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off to support producers with different types of herds and operations in various regions.
A sampling of results is now available on BeefResearch.ca on the following topics:
•Weaning
•Calf death loss
•Open rates
•Feed testing
•Water testing
•Vaccination
•Remote drug delivery
•Pain mitigation
•Record-keeping
The BCRC’s Cow-Calf Production Indicators Calculator can be used by producers to compare 15 of their own production numbers with industry targets and regional benchmarks informed by this survey
The Canadian Cow-Calf Survey amalgamated and replaced regional cow-calf production surveys conducted by various organizations between 2013-2017. The BCRC intends to repeat the national survey every five years.
Read or listen to the full post at BeefResearch.ca
For more detailed information, download the full 2022-2023 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey Aggregate Results report prepared by Canfax Research Services.
Farm product prices, July 2024
Released by Statistics Canada in the September 10, 2024 edition of The Daily
Monthly provincial prices received by farmers in July for grains, oilseeds, specialty crops, cattle, hogs, poultry, eggs and dairy products are now available.
In July, monthly prices for durum wheat fell for the 10th consecutive month in Alberta (-11.7%) and Saskatchewan (-9.5%), the two major durum-producing provinces. Both provinces also recorded a year-over-year decline, with Alberta decreasing 17.4% and Saskatchewan falling 15.1%. Competition from exporting countries, such as Turkey, put downward pressure on durum wheat prices.
Monthly barley prices declined in some provinces in July, led by Prince Edward Island (18.3%). Year over year, barley prices decreased in all provinces, except Quebec (+6.4%). Reduction in feed demand and competitive prices for other feed grains, particularly corn, put downward pressure on barley prices.
Monthly soybean prices recorded declines in all major producing provinces in July, with Manitoba (-6.1%) posting the largest decrease. Canadian soybean prices were under pressure due to strong global supply and favourable crop growing conditions in other soybean-producing countries.
Compared with June, lentil prices fell 6.3% in Alberta and 1.2% in Saskatchewan in July. The
prices for dry peas recorded monthly declines across the Prairie provinces, with the largest drop being in Saskatchewan (-11.0%), followed by Alberta (-8.1%) and Manitoba (-6.8%). Prices were down, as markets adjusted to higher production estimates for lentils and dry peas for the new crop year due to larger seeded areas.
Monthly prices for slaughter cattle rose in all provinces in July, except Alberta (-2.0%). This marked the seventh consecutive month of gains for the Atlantic provinces, and the sixth month of growth in a row for Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Year over year, slaughter cattle prices were higher in July across the provinces, with increases ranging from 9.6% to 21.6%. Price gains were supported by the shrinking cattle herd, as well as strong demand from processors.
Monthly feeder cattle prices varied across provinces in July. Alberta (-4.2%) and Quebec (2.2%) reported declines, while the remaining provinces reported increases, led by Ontario (+5.2%) and Manitoba (+3.9%). Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia reported their third monthly price gains in a row.
In July, monthly slaughter hog prices decreased across all provinces. The declines ranged from 0.6% in Manitoba to 3.0% in Ontario. Slaughter hog prices fell, as increasing inventories led to higher supply.
