this edition...
Reminder
An important ag plastics management survey is underway in Manitoba, which includes a survey of Manitoba beef farmers. The survey is being conducted on behalf of Cleanfarms – a non-profit organization that has programs in place across Canada to recover and manage non-organic waste, most of it plastic, for recycling or environmentally responsible disposal. See page 10.
MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS
2025-26 SCHOLARSHIP INTAKE
Manitoba Beef Producers is pleased to make available six $1,000 scholarships annually for MBP members or their children attending a university, college, other post-secondary institution or pursuing trades training. Preference will be given to those students pursuing a field of study related to agriculture or to those acquiring a skilled trade or pursuing a career that would be beneficial to the rural economy.
This application intake process is for students who will be undertaking post-secondary studies or trades training in the 2025-26 academic year.
The scholarship criteria are as follows:
Eligibility:
• Must be an active Manitoba beef producer or the child of an active Manitoba beef producer. Note: This can also include active beef producers returning to school after a period of time in the workforce.
• Must be pursuing post-secondary studies or trades training in the 2025-26 academic year.
• Post-secondary programs or trades training must be a minimum of one academic year in duration.
Items You Are Required to Submit:
• The completed application form;
• Either a typed 600-word (maximum) essay OR a 5-7 minute maximum video submission discussing the topic “What the beef industry means to my family, my community and Manitoba.” Also, you need to identify in the essay or video the reasons you enjoy being involved in agriculture*;
• A copy of your transcript (either high school, or a recognized college, university or trade school);
• Proof of enrolment in a recognized institution (current transcript, or your acceptance letter, or a letter of intent indicating your intended institution and field of study for 2025-26);
• A list of your community involvement (e.g. 4-H, community clubs, volunteer work, etc.); and,
• The names of two references, including their addresses and telephone numbers.
*Note: Scholarship winners’ essays or video submissions will be published in Manitoba Beef Producers’ newspaper Cattle Country in fall 2025 or posted to MBP’s social media channels and website.
The completed application, supporting documents, references, required essay or video, etc. must be submitted to MBP by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025 to the attention of:
Manitoba Beef Producers Scholarship Committee 220 – 530 Century Street
Winnipeg MB R3H 0Y4
E-mail: info@mbbeef.ca
Fax: (204) 774-3264
For more information, including steps on how to submit your video, please contact Manitoba Beef Producers at 1-800-772-0458 or email info@mbbeef.ca. A selection committee will review the submissions. Winners will be notified by September 12, 2025.
Province Issues February Flood Outlook Predicts Low-to-Moderate Risk of Spring Flooding
(February 27, 2025 Province of Manitoba News Release)
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre has released its February Flood Outlook Report, which indicates a low-to-moderate risk of significant spring flooding in most Manitoba basins.
Spring flood risk is largely dependent on weather conditions from now until the spring melt and throughout the spring.
Currently, there is a moderate risk of flooding along the Red, Assiniboine and Pembina rivers and in the Interlake region including the Fisher and Icelandic rivers. The risk of spring flooding is low along several other rivers, including the Roseau, Rat, Saskatchewan and Churchill rivers. Water levels are expected to remain below community flood protection levels. The risk of flooding is low for most Manitoba lakes throughout the spring period. Most lakes are expected to be within the desired operating ranges after the spring runoff.
on the lower Assiniboine River (from Portage la Prairie to Winnipeg).
The Shellmouth Reservoir is being operated in consultation with the Shellmouth liaison committee to reduce the risk of flooding downstream on the Assiniboine River, while also providing sufficient storage for water supply and recreation.
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is conducting normal spring ice-cutting and breaking work along rivers to reduce ice-jam related flooding. Ice-cutting and breaking is currently underway on the Red River. Ice-cutting and breaking will start along the Icelandic River once breaking is completed along the Red River.
The Manitoba government, local authorities and First Nations communities are proactively preparing for any spring flooding. This includes reviewing emergency plans, information sharing between governments and preparing resources used in flood responses.
The Red River Floodway and the Portage Diversion are only expected to be operated under unfavourable weather conditions. Additionally, minimal operation of the Portage Diversion may be necessary to mitigate ice-related water level rises
The 2025 spring flood outlook report is available at: www.gov.mb.ca/floodinfo/pdf/2025/february_2 025_flood_outlook_report.pdf.
The next flood outlook is anticipated to be released in late March.
Minister MacAulay visits Washington, D.C. to strengthen ties with Canada's most important partner
(February 27, 2025 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada News Release) Canada and the United States share one of the most integrated trading relationships in the world, especially when it comes to agriculture. This week, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, travelled to Washington, D.C. where he met with U.S. officials and key stakeholders to underline the importance of maintaining it.
While in Washington, Minister MacAulay met with Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), Wes Ward, President of NASDA and Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture, and Blayne Arthur, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture on the margins of the 2025 NASDA Winter Policy Conference. During these meetings, they discussed shared priorities, work to reduce trade barriers, the value of our agricultural trading relationship, and its benefits for both Canadian and American farmers and consumers. With $101 billion (CAD) in agri-food and seafood bilateral trade in 2024, it’s a vital partnership to farmers, businesses, and our food security.
While at the NASDA Winter Policy Conference, Minister MacAulay delivered remarks where he emphasized the importance of the Canada-U.S. relationship in contributing to a strong and prosperous agriculture sector across North America. He highlighted that $200 million worth of agricultural products cross the U.S.-Canada border daily, underscoring the scale of the trade. The Minister also emphasized the potential negative impacts that tariffs could have on this mutually beneficial trade, which is vital to both countries' economies.
To conclude his visit, the Minister met with Senator John Boozman, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Representative Angie Craig, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture, and representatives from the Meat Institute. In those meetings, Minister MacAulay reiterated Canada’s commitment to being a reliable and indispensable trading partner in agriculture and agri-food products. He also emphasized the highly integrated nature of our supply chains and the negative impacts that U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods would have on both countries’ agriculture sectors, workers, and businesses.
Quotes
“Canada and the United States are neighbours by chance, and friends by choice. As part of our government’s ongoing Team Canada approach, we are committed to preserving and bolstering this vitally important relationship, while standing up for Canadians and supporting our hard working farmers, ranchers, and the communities they support.” - The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Quick facts
• During his visit, Minister MacAulay also met with representatives from the Canadian Cattle Association, the Canadian Pork Council, the Canadian Meat Council, the Canola Council of Canada, the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Crop Life Canada, SaskOilseeds, and Cereals Canada.
• Canada and the U.S. enjoy one of the largest bilateral agricultural trading relationships in the world, creating jobs and economic opportunities in both countries.
• Canada and the U.S. have highly integrated and mutually beneficial supply chains.
Redesigned National BSE Surveillance Program
Coming March 7, 2025
(Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency) The redesigned National BSE surveillance program will come into effect on March 7, 2025
Samples collected before March 6, 2025, will continue to be processed under the current program, including applicable incentives. Samples collected on or after March 7, 2025, will be processed under the redesigned program, with the updated incentives and procedures in place.
Starting on March 7, 2025, the CFIA’s dedicated BSE surveillance web page will be the source of the latest updates and resources, and will contain the following:
• A direct link to the online questionnaire to determine if a bovine is a candidate for surveillance
• Incentive payments and a link to directly submit an invoice to the CFIA for services provided
• Participation details for bovine veterinarians, cattle producers, necropsy rooms, deadstock collectors and abattoirs
• A list of laboratories processing BSE samples, with postal addresses
• Step-by-step sample collection and packaging instructions
• The number of animals tested
Learn more at https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrialanimals/diseases/reportable/bovine-spongiformencephalopathy/enhanced-surveillance
Canadian Livestock Estimates as of January 1, 2025 Released
On February 25, 2025 Statistics Canada released its Livestock Estimates as of January 1, 2025. The following are the key highlights. The link to the full report is: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dailyquotidien/250225/dq250225b-eng.htm
On January 1, 2025, Canadian cattle, hog and sheep inventories were down compared with the same date one year earlier.
The Canadian cattle herd fell on January 1 for the third consecutive year. However, this latest decline was smaller than those observed on the same date in 2023 and 2024, following improvements in western Canadian feed and drought conditions over the past year.
Canadian farmers held 10.9 million cattle and calves on their farms on January 1, 2025, down 0.7% from the same date the previous year. This represents the smallest year-over-year decline since January 1, 2022, as feed supplies were more abundant in 2024.
same period, contributing to strong prices for feeder cattle.
Delving further into the department’s findings, in terms of the Manitoba herd, there was a slight increase in overall herd size:
• Re: total cattle inventory, there were 910,000 head of cattle in Manitoba on January 1, 2025 compared to January 1, 2024 when there were 905,00 head an increase of 5,000 head
• On beef operations, there were 835,600 head this January compared to last January when there were 829,300 head – an increase of 6,300 head. (Statistics Canada footnote: This is excluding small numbers of heifers for slaughter and steers on dairy operations.)
•On cow calf operations there were 638,100 head this January compared to last January when there 648,700 – a decline of 10,600 head.
Canadian cattle producers retained less breeding stock on January 1, 2025. Year-overyear decreases were observed for bulls (-1.8%) and beef cows (-1.2%), while dairy cows were virtually unchanged. Conversely, beef heifers for breeding rose 0.8%, lending support to the beef cow herd. Producers also held fewer steers (1.8%), heifers (-0.5%) and calves (-0.2%) compared with January 1, 2024.
Slaughter of cattle and calves for July to December 2024 fell 4.6% year over year to 1.7 million head. Meanwhile, international demand for live cattle and calves remained high, as exports rose 1.9% to 396,500 head over the
• On feeder and stocker operations as of January 1 there were 126,500 head compared to last January when there were 117,600 head – an increase of 6,900 head (Statistics Canada footnote: Farms where cattle are fed on a low energy ration such as hay or pasture.)
• On feeding operations there were 71,000 head as of this January, compared to 63,000 last January – an increase of 8,000 head.
• On dairy operations there were 74,400 head this January, compared to 75,700 last January – a decline of 1,300 head.
RBC Report Calls for Bold Agri-Food Strategy to Diversify Canada's Trade and Unlock $44 Billion in New Export Growth
(Feb. 25, 2025 News Release) Canada's agricultural sector is poised to lead a new era of trade diversification, but only if it acts decisively. A new RBC Thought Leadership report, Food First: How Agriculture Can Lead a New Era for Canadian Exports, outlines a plan to expand Canada's global market share by 30% and drive $44 billion in new agri-food exports by 2035.
"This research highlights a critical moment for Canada's agri-food sector. While Canada's agricultural exports have quadrupled in value since 2000, its global market share has shrunk by 12% as competitors like Brazil and Australia expand into high-growth regions. With rising trade uncertainty and escalating tariffs in North America, Canada must accelerate efforts to diversify its trading partners, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East," states Lisa Ashton, Agriculture Policy Lead, RBC Thought Leadership and author of the report.
To achieve this, RBC worked with the BCG Centre for Canada's Future to build a model projecting export market share potential. The Food First report introduces a national roadmap designed to unlock Canada's full potential as an agricultural powerhouse.
"Canada has long been one of the world's leading food producers," said John Stackhouse, Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO, RBC. "We have an opportunity to turn agriculture into a driving force for trade diversification and if we act now, we can ensure Canadian farmers, processors, and exporters are well-positioned to lead the global food economy rather than losing ground to competitors. This report lays out a clear roadmap to strengthen our trade relationships, scale our agri-food industries, and
make Canada a leader in sustainable, high-value food production."
The release of the Food First report marks a key milestone in RBC's broader efforts to help Canada build a resilient and diversified economy. The report is part of series of major initiatives tied to the RBC Trade Hub, a platform designed to provide data-driven insights, strategic recommendations, and actionable solutions for Canada's trade future.
Through the Trade Hub, RBC will bring together business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to drive forward a new vision for Canadian trade - one that strengthens North America while expanding globally.
Key Recommendations from the Food First Report
1. Innovation: Accelerate the adoption of precision farming and food processing technologies to increase productivity and efficiency.
2. Capital: Scale up agri-food processing clusters to add value to raw commodities and expand Canada's footprint in global markets.
3. Digital access: Close the 5G and highspeed internet gap in rural Canada to unlock the full potential of digital agriculture.
4. Export Infrastructure: Modernize ports, logistics, and transportation networks to reduce bottlenecks and improve export reliability.
5. Global marketing: Strengthen market development efforts and regulatory
Export Growth
alignment in high-growth regions like Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
About RBC Thought Leadership
RBC Thought Leadership strives to deliver critical insights to help businesses, policymakers, and communities make informed
decisions in a changing world. From geopolitical shifts to Canadian growth and productivity, disruptive technology, and the future of skills, its research is designed to provide meaningful insights that can help drive prosperity for all Canadians. You can find out more about RBC Thought Leadership at https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/
Your feedback is important – Earn $25 to complete an online survey about agricultural plastics management – Deadline Extended to March 9, 2025
An important ag plastics management survey is underway in Manitoba, which includes a survey of Manitoba beef farmers.
The survey is being conducted on behalf of Cleanfarms – a non-profit organization that has programs in place across Canada to recover and manage non-organic waste, most of it plastic, for recycling or environmentally responsible disposal. Farmer feedback will help Cleanfarms and other stakeholders evaluate current and future initiatives.
Manitoba Beef Producers encourages you to participate to ensure our members’ voices are represented.
The survey will take about 20 to 25 minutes to complete. To qualify for this survey, you must be one of the main decision makers regarding what to do with ag plastics, once used. For those who qualify (based on a few short questions at the start) and complete the survey, an
honorarium of $25 will be provided. Please note that once the targeted sample size has been reached, the survey will be closed and no further responses will be accepted.
Your responses will be held in complete confidence by Stratus Ag Research and used only for research purposes. Results will be grouped for analysis, and no identifying information will be attached to any responses.
Please complete the survey by March 9, 2025.
If you think that you have already participated in this survey (you may have already been contacted directly by Stratus Ag Research), please do not complete the survey a second time.
Please click on the survey link below, or copy it into your browser to start the survey.
https://survey.us.confirmit.com/wix/p90549543 6341.aspx
AgriStability
Plan ahead and protect your farm
What is AgriStability?
AgriStability is an important tool that can help you manage risks and financial losses due to poor yields, low commodity prices or rising input costs. Why should you participate in AgriStability?
• Provides support when risks are beyond your capacity to manage
• Personalized and affordable coverage
• Protection for your whole farming operation
• Payments in times of financial distress
• Can be used to secure financing
in the program
2 Pay your fee
Complete and send your AgriStability form
