The governments of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have announced a renewed financial commitment to the University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). The three provinces' agreement will provide more than $134 million to the college over the next five years. The agreement helps to ensure that Western Canada has veterinarians with in-depth... Read More
Category: Livestock
The rebate offered to Saskatchewan cattle producers enrolled in the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) will now be available until the end of the calendar year. The program, originally announced by the Saskatchewan government in May, was created to help livestock producers cope with the significant spike in price insurance premiums, due to the... Read More
The Manitoba government is asking for input for possible legislation aimed at addressing several rural crime-related issues, including metal theft, landowner liability regarding trespassers, and risks to animal biosecurity. Justice Minister Cliff Cullen, speaking in Portage La Prairie, Man. on Monday, said the province is considering adopting legislation similar to other provinces that would make... Read More
Farm management and cropping practices can be complimentary to a livestock operation. Making use of all the months of the year can be quite the challenge, but Chris McLaren, of Larenwood Farms near Drumbo, Ont., has managed to do just that by integrating a cereal rye into his rotation. In this episode of The Sharp... Read More
Later this week, it will be an offence under Ontario law to "stop, obstruct, hinder or otherwise interfere with a motor vehicle transporting farm animals." Ontario's government has proclaimed Section 6(1) and three other related sections of Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020. These proclamations will ensure the safety... Read More
It’s time for Day 4 of the virtual Ontario Diagnostic Days! This week we focus on soil snippets — a series of soil management insights delivered by a host of Ontario soil researchers, agronomists, and extension specialists. The lineup includes Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs soil management specialists Anne Verhallen and Sebastian... Read More
The Canadian Pork Council (CPC), on behalf of pork producers, is asking the federal government to consider "targeted enhancements" to AgriStability. In a departure from the ask put forward by most in the agriculture industry, the CPC has sent a letter to the federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) agriculture ministers asking them to consider leaving... Read More
Good fences make good neighbours, but better fences stop hogs from becoming feral. Unfortunately, across Canada, feral hogs have become an increasing issue. In Ontario, pork producers are asking anyone who sees a pig out of place to report the sighting. Feral hogs eat crops, ruin fences, could spread disease (such as PEDv or African... Read More
Back in February, the opportunity for pork and beef protein exports from North America to China was so promising. The potential vacuum of demand for proteins after African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in the Chinese pork industry could have been filled by North America, but COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in the whole prospect. "The... Read More
I know I'm not alone when I say the recent decision by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) surprised me. I'm also likely not alone when I say the decision made me incredibly angry. And angry for a few reasons, I might add. Angry, because I assumed (wrongly) that my name... Read More