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FOREIGN WORKERS

FLOOD COMPENSATION For farmers near the Portage Diversion » Pg 3

Red tape snarls program » Pg 20

NOVEMBER 27, 2014

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | VOL. 72, NO. 48

Federal scientists muzzled by PMO

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$1.75

MANITOBACOOPERATOR.CA

Stance on antibiotic issues hard to pin down

National forage association loses funding, executive director

By Shannon VanRaes

Canada’s biggest acreage crop running on fumes

CO-OPERATOR STAFF / ATLANTA, GA

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anada’s federal government wants the public to know that it is promoting the “prudent use” of medically important antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals. But it doesn’t want the public to know what that means — and it certainly doesn’t want the public to hear what its scientists and veterinarians have to say about what many are calling a “crisis” in modern agriculture and public health. “They muzzled people,” said Dr. James Hutchinson, medical director of the Vancouver Island See SCIENTISTS on page 7 »

Hay exporters Edward Shaw (l) and Jeffrey Gao take a closer look at hay producer David Normandin’s product during a Canadian Forage and Grassland Association tour near Saint-Césaire, Que., Nov. 17. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON

By Allan Dawson

Publication Mail Agreement 40069240

CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BROMONT, QUE.

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orage is Canada’s biggest crop, generating billions in revenues and environmental benefits, but it’s struggling and so is the national organization created five years ago to promote it. The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, has lost a major funder and its executive director. T h e C a n a d i a n C a t t l e m e n ’s

Association withdrew its support, which amounted to $20,000 annually, earlier this year. Ron Pidskalny, resigned Nov. 19, following the CFGA’s annual meeting. Pidskalny, who took on the job as part of his consulting business a year ago, realized the CFGA couldn’t continue to pay him, CFGA chair and Irricana, Alta. rancher Doug Wray said later in an interview. The CFGA will have just $3,000 in the bank by year’s end, with three

months until the start of a new fiscal year, Pidskalny told the CFGA’s annual meeting. “Nobody is saying we’re going to have to shut it down,” Wray said. He vowed to meet with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) again to try and convince it to continue its CFGA membership. The CCA pulled out for 2014-15 “due to limited CCA budgets,” CCA communicaSee FORAGE on page 6 »

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