The AgriPost
Continued Strength and Growth Seen for Canada’s Agricultural Sector By Elmer Heinrichs Canada is a leading producer of high-quality, safe agricultural and food products. Agriculture is a major contributor to Canada’s economy, and the sector is expected to prosper throughout 2018. A growing world population, the rise in disposable income in developing nations, and increasing trade in farm products present opportunities to further grow the Canadian agriculture sector, creating more jobs for the middle class. Canadian exports of agriculture, agri-food, fish and seafood to all countries in 2017 rose to $64.6 billion, a $2 billion increase from 2016 exports. Canada is the world’s fifth highest total exporter (by value) of agricultural and food commodities. Maintaining and enhancing the strength of our exports is vital to achieving
the government of Canada’s trade target of growing agriculture and food exports to $75 billion by 2025. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada recently released the 2018 Canadian Agricultural Outlook with analysis on the economic state of the agriculture and food sector. The outlook report provides a forecast of farm income for 2017 and 2018, and looks ahead to longer-term trends that could impact the agriculture sector. According to the report, Canada’s producers are forecast to see record farm income levels in 2017 and near-record levels in 2018. Crop and livestock receipts are both set to increase in 2017 and 2018. Net cash income is forecast to reach a record level in 2017 and remain high in 2018. At the same time, continued growth in asset values is expected to raise average farm net worth
to $3.16 million. Canada’s budget 2018 takes the next steps towards building a gender equal, competitive, sustainable and fair Canada where science and innovation spur economic growth. This budget contains many initiatives that will build on the ambitious growth agenda for agriculture set out in budget 2017, which included many significant ongoing investments to help our farm families and agri-food processors excel, including the $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial agricultural policy framework, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, $950 million Innovation Supercluster Initiative including the Protein Industries Supercluster, $1.26 billion Strategic Innovation Fund, $70 million for agricultural science, and $2 billion in rural infrastructure. Together, these invest-
ments will build on the government of Canada’s strong agenda for agriculture and help ensure Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector remains a leader in job creation and innovation, and a continued engine of economic growth. “Strong international demand for Canada’s safe, high-quality agricultural products has helped make the sector a key driver of the economy. The government of Canada is working hard to ensure farmers and the agriculture and food systems as a whole, are prepared to meet global needs, helping to strengthen the middle class and keep Canada on the path to prosperity,” said Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
April 27, 2018
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Flood Risk Moderate Hwy 75 to Stay Open By Elmer Heinrichs The risk of widespread major flooding remains low across most of the province, with a continued moderate risk of some overland flooding to low-lying areas along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, says the hydrologic forecast centre of Manitoba Infrastructure in its April 18 outlook. It says ice is expected to start breaking up and moving this week, with the Red River Floodway gates likely to be in operation later in April, based on current weather forecasts. PTH 75 is expected to remain open throughout the run-off period. The Red River is expected to peak between approximately 50,000 and 60,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) between April 27 and May 2 at Ste. Agathe. This flow is similar to the one observed in 2017, which was 54,000 cfs at Ste. Agathe. The Portage diversion could start operation in the week of April 23 for ice control along the lower Assiniboine River. Flows along the Assiniboine River at Portage la Prairie could reach just over 20,000 cfs, which would require the use of the Portage diversion to limit the downstream flow
to 12,000 cfs. The Shellmouth Dam will continue operations to reach summer levels after the spring run-off. The risk of major flooding continues to be low for the Souris, Qu’Appelle and Pembina rivers and their tributaries. Levels will be within flood protection levels even with unfavourable weather conditions. The risk of major flooding in the Interlake region and for most major lakes, including Lakes Winnipeg, Manitoba and Dauphin and the Whiteshell is low. The risk of major flooding is moderate on northern basins including the Churchill and Carrot rivers in The Pas region. Ice-jam related flooding continues to be a possibility due to the thickness of the ice on some of Manitoba’s rivers and streams. Icebreaking activities have been completed at all locations that have been at high risk of ice jamming in past years. South of us, a flood warning has been issued for the Red River in parts of North Dakota and stretches from south of Grand Forks to Grafton, and also includes areas around Fargo, ND.
Woodmore’s WI Learns the Science of Homemade Soap Making
By Joan Airey The Food Security Committee of the Woodmore Women’s Institute decided to have a change of venue and hosted an old fashion soap making workshop on April 11 in the Home Ec. Room of Roseau Valley School. Eighteen people turned out to learn how Shauna Wagenhoffer, from Stuartburn and her husband Karl make soap. They demonstrated the step by step process of making a basic soap with oil, water and lye. “It looked like a chemistry lab as Shauna protected herself with gloves and goggles, carefully mixing the lye and water creating spontaneous heat as steam rose from the mixing container. Attendees learned the word ‘saponification’ when the melted coconut oil was added to the cooled lye mixture and then blended until thickened to ‘trace’ a homogenous mixture resembling a thickened pudding. After the mixture reaches trace, fragrance, colour and additives are added and the mixture is poured into a mould. Shauna noted that her favourite mould is the one litre milk carton. She then showed the next three steps, insulating the soap moulds in blankets to rest for a day, then cutting the moulded soap into bars and finally allowing it to cure. By the end of the workshop you have simple unadulterated soap for your family and it is cost effective too. Some participants who are sensitive to fragrances in soaps appreciated that adding fragrance and colour is optional. “We all got to take home a basic bar of soap,” said Janet Kroeker a participant. On Saturday June 2 the Woodmore Women’s Institute is offering an advanced sourdough workshop. Janet Kroeker will be hosting the workshop in her home near Roseau River. Ian Timshel from the area will be instructing. He has had a long interest in living foods such as cultivated cheese, butter, and numerous fermented food products. There is only room for ten participants. If you are interested in learning more about this workshop contact Red River Recreation Commission in Emerson.
Shauna Wagenhoffer demonstrates how to make soap to a group of Woodmore W.I. members.
Photo courtesy of Jean Charney