Manitoba Beef Producers E-Newsletter April 8/22

E-Newsletter dsfsfa An update from MBP April 8, 2022

mbbeef.ca

IMPORTANT REMINDER

April 15 Deadline Nearing re: Herd Management Program Application Process The Herd Management Drought Assistance program under AgriRecovery is the third program developed in consultation with industry to help meet the needs of Manitoba livestock producers experiencing drought conditions.

and accurate. They must declare that their breeding female inventories are accurate and the inventory declared for March 16, 2022 will be maintained to that date. They must accept all declarations for the application to be complete.

This program will assist livestock producers in offsetting the cost of replacing breeding animals when culling is above normal due to shortages of winter feed. Producers may be eligible to apply for assistance to: • purchase replacement breeding females • retain replacement females from their existing herd or flock

An application form can be submitted from Jan. 10, 2022 to April 15, 2022. Only one application can be submitted.

Note: You can also pick up an application package at any of the ARD/MASC Service Centres, or by calling us at 1-844-7696224 to have an application package mailed to you.

Step 2 - Claim

The replacement is to assist in returning the applicant’s inventory of breeding females to pre-drought levels.

The claim forms will be available on Dec. 1, 2022.

Animals culled under the Herd Management Drought Assistance program are not eligible for assistance under the other two AgriRecovery programs launched on Aug. 31, 2021.

Applicants are required to complete in full and submit the Claim Form with a declaration of their: a) Inventory of eligible breeding females owned and maintained until Jan. 31, 2023

A two-step application and claim process is required for Herd Management Drought Assistance. Producers must submit applications by April 15, 2022. Only producers who have submitted an application by this deadline will be able to submit a claim. Claims will be accepted from Dec. 1, 2022 to Feb. 17, 2023.

Applicants must declare that they meet all the program terms and conditions and that the information provided is complete and accurate. They must declare that the inventory of breeding females is accurate and will be maintained until Jan. 31, 2023. They must accept all declarations for the application to be complete.

Step 1 - Application

A claim form can be submitted from Dec. 1, 2022 to Feb. 17, 2023. Only one claim can be submitted.

Applicants are required to complete in full and submit the Application Form with a declaration of their: a) Inventory of eligible breeding females owned on March 16, 2021 b) Inventory of eligible breeding females owned and maintained until March 16, 2022 Applicants must declare that they meet all the program terms and conditions and that the information provided is complete

More information re: Herd Management Drought Assistance Web Page: Herd Management Drought Assistance • Video: Herd Management Drought Assistance Determining Payments • Video: Herd Management Drought Assistance - TwoStep Application Process • Factsheet - Herd Management Drought Assistance

For reliable information and resources please visit:

COVID-19 Bulletin #577: Second Booster Shot Being Made Available to Some Manitobans (April 6, 2022 Province of Manitoba News Release)

Based on recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Manitoba will be offering a second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine to: •

residents of personal care homes and elderly persons housing congregate living sites (such as supportive housing and assisted living) with no age limit;

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individuals aged 70 or older who live in the community; and

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First Nations, Inuit and Metis people aged 50 or older, regardless of where they live.

The second booster should be Pfizer or Moderna and given at least six months after their last booster dose. Based on the timing of previous vaccine campaigns for these groups, the second booster will be offered as early as mid-April and remain available over the coming months.

For most people, the second booster dose will be their fourth dose of vaccine. However, for immunocompromised people who received an

initial series of three vaccine doses to offer stronger protection against COVID-19, the second booster would be their fifth dose. This dose should also be given six months after their first booster.

Manitoba continues to post weekly COVID-19 epidemiology reports, including vaccination coverage, at www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/surveillan ce/covid-19/index.html .

More Resources •

COVID-19 in Manitoba: www.manitoba.ca/COVID19

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Vaccine campaign: www.manitoba.ca/vaccine and https:/ /protectmb.ca.

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Testing information: www.manitoba.ca/covid19/testing/inde x.html.

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Outbreaks: www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/prs/index.htm l.

Your cow-calf operation is unique and your Livestock Price Insurance-Calf policy should reflect that.

Coverage options are available every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Visit lpi.ca to learn more.

Changes Made to AgriRecovery Drought Programming to Provide More Support to Producers Effective March 30th the governments of Canada and Manitoba made changes to the AgriRecovery Drought Assistance Program to make it easier for producers to receive funding and to enhance financial compensation.

Changes include: •

eliminating the “producer share” for applicants to increase payments to each applicant. The “producer share” was set at $50 per head for cattle, bison, elk and horses or $10 per head for sheep and goats;

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reducing the compensation rate and the extraordinary expenses for feed receipts to 70 per cent from 75 per cent, which, when combined with eliminating the “producer share”, will increase funding to all applicants;

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increasing the maximum payment to $270 per head for cattle, bison, elk and horses from $250 per head and from $50 per head for sheep and goats to $54 per head, which will allow producers who have already received the maximum amount to receive an additional payment; and

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adjusting previous claims automatically, so clients do not need to reapply.

As well, an extension has been put in place for the Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance program. The program, which covers feed, feed transportation and related extraordinary expenses, will now cover eligible expenses up to April 15. The application deadline has been updated to May 13. The

deadline has been extended due to extreme weather conditions in January and February that have required producers to increase the amount of feed used to maintain the health and welfare of their animals.

Under the drought assistance program, eligible expenditures between June 1, 2021 and April 15, 2022 include feed purchases, rentals of additional crop or pasture acres, temporary fencing for supplemental grazing, hauling water, harvesting extra acres and hauling selfproduced feed from distant locations. Eligible animals under the program include breeding animals of beef and dairy cattle, horses raised for pregnant mare urine, sheep, goats, bison and elk. Producers must support a minimum of 10 animals to qualify for assistance.

For detailed program information, producers can contact an AG-MASC Service Centre or call toll-free 1-84-GROW-MB-AG (1-844-769-6224).

They can also visit www.manitoba.ca/agriculture/canadianagricultural-partnership/business-riskmanagement-programs/index.html.

Program Description – Livestock Feed and Transportation Assistance AgriRecovery is a disaster relief framework under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership that provides a coordinated process for federal, provincial and territorial governments to respond rapidly when disasters affecting several producers occur.

The Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance program was developed in consultation with industry to help meet the needs of Manitoba producers experiencing drought conditions.

The program helps livestock producers affected by low moisture conditions in 2021 to maintain their breeding herds.

HOW TO APPLY Review the AgriRecovery Drought Assistance Farmers Guidebook for detailed information on eligible and ineligible costs, as well as other program requirements.

For your application to be considered complete, you must submit all necessary program documents.

continued on pages 6-7

AgriRecovery program – cont.

Required Documents

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These changes are retroactive to June 1, 2021 and apply to all applications received.

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For previously submitted claims, the Program Administrator will automatically issue payments triggered by eliminating the producer share and increasing the caps. A cheque and payment letter will be automatically issued without producers needing to submit extra documentation or request that their payments be recalculated.

Application Form Declaration of Eligible Breeding Animals - if first time applying Declaration of Extraordinary Expenses - if have extraordinary expenses - only submit once Self-Haul Declaration - if you hauled the feed Invoices - for each feed and/or transportation purchase Proof of Payment - for each invoice (e.g. cleared cheque, bank statement, credit or debit card receipt)

WHAT IS NEW? Feed Purchases and Extraordinary Expenses – Deductible Removed and Maximum Payments Increased •

The producer share or deductible has been eliminated from the payment calculation.

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The maximum per head payments have been increased to $270 per breeding head for beef and dairy cattle, bison, elk and horses (for PMU); and $54 per breeding head for sheep and goats.

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The payment rate is now 70% of eligible expenses with payments capped at the new maximums.

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Producers will see increased payments due to these changes. No producers will see a reduction.

Extension of Invoice Dates - Invoices dated on or before April 15, 2022 are eligible if the purchase or transportation was to continue maintaining the eligible breeding animals owned on March 15, 2022. This extension will assist producers facing issues with taking delivery of feed ordered before the original March 15th deadline.

Extension of Application Deadline - The application deadline has been extended to May 13, 2022 due to the extension of the eligible dates for invoices. This extension will allow time to obtain proof of payment for the purchases made by April 15, 2022.

PREVIOUS EXPANSION OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES Expansion of Eligible Feeds: the list of eligible feeds now includes feed additives and premixes, molasses based products, vitamins, minerals, and oils and fats. The change is retroactive to June 1, 2021. Previous applicants of the program have been sent an email or letter in the mail informing them how they can apply for these expenses.

Extraordinary Expenses incurred between June 1, 2021 and March 15, 2022 including hauling water, renting extra pasture and cropland, harvesting extra acres for livestock feed,

AgriRecovery program – cont. temporary fencing for supplemental grazing, and transporting feed from distant locations. A one time declaration of extraordinary expenses can be submitted over the life of the program.

Guidebook: AgriRecovery Drought Assistance Farmers Guidebook

View: What are Extraordinary Expenses?

Web Page: Livestock Feed and Transportation Assistance

Updated Video: How are Payments Calculated for Feed Purchases and Extraordinary Expenses?

For Full Program information on AgriRecovery Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance refer to:

Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance

Video: What are Extraordinary Expenses?

Video: How are Payments Calculated for Feed Purchases and Extraordinary Expenses?

Quick Reference: How to Apply for Livestock Feed and Transportation Assistance

https://www.manitoba.ca/agriculture/livestoc k/agrirecovery-feed-purchase-transportassistance.html

Quick Reference: What Qualifies for Livestock Feed and Transportation Assistance

RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TOOLS FOR ALL AGRIRECOVERY DROUGHT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:

Web Page: Livestock Transportation Assistance

AgriRecovery Drought Assistance (All Three Programs)

Livestock Transportation Drought Assistance

Quick Reference: How to Apply for Livestock Transportation Assistance Quick Reference: What Qualifies for Livestock Transportation Assistance

FCC supports cattle producers in western Canada Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is reminding ranchers across western Canada that its customer support program is available for those facing financial challenges due in part to rising feed prices.

Customer support was originally announced in July 2021 as FCC anticipated the impact of the drought.

After experiencing some of the driest conditions on record in 2021, ranchers headed into a winter that saw production challenges amplify.

“We’ve had a long, tough winter after a hot and dry summer,” said Wilco Van Meijl, District Director for the prairie region. “We recognize the compounding difficulties, including the escalation in both grain and hay feed costs are putting producers in a tough spot. We want them to know this customer support program continues to be available."

FCC will work with customers to come up with solutions for their operations on a case-by-case basis which may include consideration of additional short term credit options, deferral of principal payments and/or other loan payment schedule amendments to reduce financial pressures on those impacted by the current challenges.

“We continue to be in close contact with our beef customers and we see them doing the best they can in the current environment,” said Van Meijl.

“If your operation is facing financial pressures please come in and talk to us about what options may be available for you.”

Customers in Western Canada are encouraged to contact their FCC relationship manager sooner rather than later to allow for the most flexibility in discussing options available to them.

Customers can do this by contacting their local office or the FCC Customer Service Centre at 1-888-332-3301

News Release CCA comments on the Government of Canada’s 2022 Budget, recognizes investments in supply chain resiliency, climate smart agriculture, labour, and rural infrastructure April 7, 2022 Ottawa, ON – Today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the Hon. Chrystia Freeland, released the 2022 Federal Budget. Agriculture themes included supply chain resiliency, climate smart agriculture, labour, and key investments in rural infrastructure. As expected, a commitment to continue investing in the Canadian Agriculture Partnership, which is to be renewed in 2023, is included.

Budget 2022 recognizes Canada’s unique ability to be a global agriculture leader and when paired with smart investment will help make Canada a leader in green agriculture, while creating significant jobs within Canada. CCA is pleased to see the increased investment in resilient supply chains, as they are critical to our ability to maintain functioning essential businesses and access to world trade. Further, the Budget emphasizes that investments which enable the flow of goods and services will make Canada more resilient in the face of future interruptions. AgriRecovery funding is also included for farmers and ranchers following the flood in British Columbia (BC), which significantly impacted these essential businesses and supply chains.

“Budget 2022 includes strategic investments that can support and enhance our industry’s role in Canada’s green economy,” said Reg Schellenberg, CCA President. “The impact of the devastating flooding in BC is just one example of many highlighting the need for investment in critical infrastructure to ensure supply chain resiliency.”

As indicated in the recently announced 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, there is a significant investment in the intersection of agriculture and the environment. Canada’s beef industry has set out ambitious 2030 goals related to sustainable beef production and we are pleased to see government investment in research, innovation and programming in support of our work towards these goals. CCA looks forward to working further with the government to ensure these funds are optimized and aligned with our strategy.

CCA is also pleased to see investment to address the significant labour challenges within the agriculture sectors, including $48.2 million for a new foreign labour program for agriculture and fish processing.

“One of the largest factors limiting our ability to grow Canada’s beef industry and our contributions to Canada’s economy is access to labour,” notes Schellenberg. “We have long been advocates to create agriculture specific solutions to address challenges related to labour and we are pleased to see this continue to advance.”

While many pieces of what CCA advocated for were included in the budget, others will require further engagement, including the investment in a Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank and the creation of additional trade technical support in the Indo-Pacific region.

CCA notes new investments in rural infrastructure are central to rural community viability. A highlight of this rural infrastructure investment is the $2.75 billion earmarked for the Universal Broadband Fund to improve high-speed Internet access in rural and remote areas.

The CCA is the national voice for Canada’s beef cattle industry representing 60,000 beef farms and feedlots.

Visit www.cattle.ca

CCA staff will continue to analyze and engage on other aspects of the Budget including the proposed National School Food Policy, establishment of the Canada Water Agency, the return of the fuel charge proceeds and various proposed tax changes. These proposed tax changes include a consultation process identified in the Budget for Bill C-208, a Private Member Bill related to inter-generational farm transfer, that received royal ascent in 2021.

CCA will continue to reach out to the Government of Canada to discuss and receive clarity on the various programs and funding investments announced, to ensure the beef industry is part of these upcoming consultative processes and policy developments.

The full Budget 2022 document can be found here: https://budget.gc.ca/2022/home-accueil-en.html.

For further information, contact: Michelle McMullen Communications Manager Canadian Cattlemen’s Association 403-451-0931| mcmullenm@cattle.ca

The CCA is the national voice for Canada’s beef cattle industry representing 60,000 beef farms and feedlots.

Visit www.cattle.ca

Flood Bulletin #4: Province Advises Red River Floodway has been Activated, Portage Diversion to be Operated over the Weekend (April 8, 2022 Province of Manitoba News Release) Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) advises ice has largely cleared out from the Red River Floodway inlet and the floodway has been activated to manage water levels in the city of Winnipeg, after two weather systems this week brought precipitation to much of the Red River basin.

A small amount of flow is being used to flush ice from the Portage Diversion channel in preparation for normal operation expected to begin this weekend.

Flows downstream on the Assiniboine River will be limited to 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to prevent ice jamming on the lower Assiniboine River east of Portage la Prairie.

The Red River has peaked at Emerson, St. Jean Baptiste, and Letellier and is near peak at Morris. A flood warning remains for the Red River from St. Jean Baptiste to Morris, at St. Adolphe and in the vicinity of Selkirk due to ice jamming. A flood watch remains for the Red River from Emerson to the floodway inlet except areas under flood warning. There is a risk of moderate flooding in these areas.

There are no significant precipitation events in the forecast for the next three days. Officials are monitoring a precipitation system that is forecast to affect southern Manitoba and the Red River basin in the United States mid- to late-next week. The timing, location and amount of this forecast precipitation system are not yet known. Flood forecasters at Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre will continue to monitor the system and its impact on flows and levels as the system develops into next week.

As the snowmelt and runoff continue, localized flooding is occurring in some areas, often due to ice jams on streams and blockages in drains. MTI is responding to issues relating to provincial infrastructure and local authorities are managing other instances.

Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 75 is expected to remain open based on the current forecast. A number of provincial roads are being affected by high water levels, often due to ice jams or blockages in drains.

The forecast peak flow of the Red River at the floodway inlet is estimated to be between 42,000 and 46,000 cfs. Standard operating procedures for the Red River Floodway gates require river ice to be broken up and cleared upstream of the floodway inlet.

Manitoba has extensive flood control measures in place, including the Red River Floodway, Portage Diversion, Fairford River Water Control Structure and the Shellmouth Dam and Reservoir. These flood control measures together with individual and community flood protection dikes across the province continue to prevent property damage and reduce the potential impact of flooding on families and communities.

Recent significant investments in critical flood mitigation projects across the province include: • raising the northbound lanes of PTH 75 by up to 1.2 metres to protect this major trade route from a 2009-level flood event; • upgrading Provincial Road (PR) 246 to Manitoba’s highest loading standard to provide an efficient detour for PTH 75 as needed; • ongoing repairs to dikes and pump stations at key locations throughout Manitoba’s major basins; and • ongoing investment in the Portage Diversion including repairs to the outlet structure and upgrades to the control structure.

Manitoba continues to invest on new flood protection works, upgrade existing flood protection works and advance flood-prediction technologies so that residents are protected from increased flood threat due to climate change.

Updated forecast information is available at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/floodinfo/index.html.

For current highway conditions and road closures, call 511 or visit www.manitoba511.ca/en/.

Changes Announced to Advance Payments Program to Support Farmers Ahead of Planting Season (April 6, 2022 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada News Release) Exceptional circumstances such as feed shortages due to drought and delays stemming from the global pandemic and the war in Ukraine have disrupted supply chains and increased input costs for Canadian farmers, including for fuel and fertilizer. In these challenging times, it is important that farmers have the support they need to ensure a successful 2022 planting season.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced a change to the Advance Payments Program that will increase cash flow to producers this spring to help with these high input costs. There will be a temporary waiving of the requirement for pre-production advances to be issued in two installments, 60 per cent upfront and 40 per cent after seeding is confirmed. This change will allow producers to receive 100 per cent of their 2022 advance immediately when they apply.

Under the Advance Payments Program, producers are provided with easy access to affordable credit through cash advances of up to $1 million based on the expected value of their agricultural product, of which the first $100,000 in each crop year is interest free.

Access to additional cash flow at the start of the production cycle will ensure farmers can purchase important inputs such as fuel, fertilizer and seed, in order to maintain full production this growing season. Pressure on world food supplies continues to increase due to the conflict in Ukraine. Canada is prepared to help fill the gap in world production.

crop input financing to customers that met specific pre-approval criteria, ensuring they have access to the capital they need for the upcoming growing season.

The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting Canada’s agriculture sector to ensure farmers and businesses have the tools they need to ensure a continuous supply of safe and nutritious food for Canada and the world.

Quotes "Canada's agricultural producers are facing an increase in the cost of raw materials, including fuel and fertilizer, a situation exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that our farmers are able to maximize their production to feed Canadians and the world. This temporary change to the Advance Payments Program comes in time for the planting season and will help farmers purchase the inputs needed for sustainable food production.”

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Quick facts

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Cash advances are calculated based on up to 50% of the anticipated market value of the eligible agricultural products that will be produced or are in storage.

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The APP is delivered through 30 industry led associations.

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In 2021, the APP provided $2.39 billion in advances to 17,430 producers across Canada.

Associated links

Given the significant increase to input costs, in December 2021 Farm Credit Canada proactively offered credit limit increases of 30 per cent for

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Advance Payments Program

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Farm Credit Canada

Canada and Manitoba Invest More Than $2 Million to Strengthen Animal Disease Preparedness (April 6, 2022 Joint Federal/Provincial Government News Release) The governments of Canada and

Manitoba are investing $2.2 million to modernize the provincial Animal Health Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced.

“Manitoba’s agricultural producers are committed to the health and well-being of their animals,” said Bibeau. “Investing in this innovative data analysis tool will help the sector quickly contain the spread of disease. It will help farmers protect the health of their animals and ensure a consistent, high-quality supply of Canadian food. Our government will continue to support initiatives that strengthen public confidence in Canadian agriculture.”

“This information technology modernization project will strengthen Animal Health’s ability to provide valuable and timely diagnostic and surveillance data to stakeholders and clients, which will help to improve decision making and to mitigate financial losses associated with animal disease outbreaks in the agriculture sector,” said Johnson. “It will also assist veterinarians, producers and the government of Manitoba to prevent the spread of disease and protect the health of humans, animals and the safety of the food supply.”

LIMS is computer-based information technology infrastructure that manages all laboratory animal disease diagnostic information and results generated by Veterinary Diagnostic Services (VDS), Manitoba’s animal heath laboratory whose existing diagnostic testing technology is at the end of its life cycle.

LIMS allows for the collection, analysis and reporting of test results for users and clients including producers, private and provincial veterinarians, livestock sector companies, commodity groups and government partners, as well as surveillance networks and researchers across Canada. The LIMS modernization will: •

strengthen the provincial animal disease surveillance program and improve overall diagnostic service delivery in the agriculture sector, and

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enhance Manitoba’s ability to prepare for new and emerging animal diseases by increasing efficiency and capacity to diagnose.

The ministers noted this initiative highlights a commitment by both governments to improve resilience and preparedness for animal disease outbreaks.

“Veterinary Diagnostic Services, and the people who work there, are critical components of disease preparedness and management in Manitoba,” said Rick Préjet, chair, Manitoba Pork Council. “Enhancing the diagnostic and surveillance data management capacity of the laboratory is welcomed by Manitoba pork producers, particularly given that effective disease response is measured in hours and not days. This is a significant investment that will pay dividends for many years to come.”

Testing by VDS supports industry-wide herd and flock disease diagnostics and surveillance programs for new and emerging diseases. Each year on average, VDS receives 17,000 submissions from veterinarians and the agriculture sector in Manitoba and reports more than 135,000 test results to clients and

Canada and Manitoba Invest More Than $2 Million to Strengthen Animal Disease Preparedness animal health surveillance networks across Canada.

A vendor will be selected through a public tendering process, the ministers noted. Up to $2.2 million has been set aside for the purchase, installation and commissioning of software and equipment.

This initiative is supported by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors.

This includes a $2-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

Getting Prepared for Possible Spring Flooding Are you prepared for possible spring flooding?

The following is some information from the provincial government to help you get organized in the event of an emergency such as a flood.

A reminder about individual responsibilities during an emergency: Step 1: – Producers/Individuals are the first point of responsibility to deal with their own emergency situation.

Step 2: - If individuals cannot provide appropriate response to their emergency situation, their local municipality is the first point of contact for emergency-related information and assistance.

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Disaster Financial Assistance Fact Sheet

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Disaster Financial Assistance Application and Information

If you do experience flooding and are incurring damages and expenses related to that which may be eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance it is important that you: •

Take pictures of all damaged property and items before you dispose of anything.

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Keep track of all your disaster-related repairs and activities including:

Step 3: - If the local municipality cannot handle the situation, that municipality will contact Emergencies Measures Organization (EMO) for assistance. If EMO requires Manitoba Agriculture’s assistance, they will assign an issue to our emergency coordinator.

Below are some useful provincial links related to flooding (forecasts, river and lake levels, etc.), tips for evacuation, Disaster Financial Assistance, etc.

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Flood Forecasting

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Flood Information

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Evacuation Information Sheets

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Caring for Livestock During an Evacuation

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Animal Emergency Supply Kit

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Labour and equipment hours.

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Materials used, including quantities.

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Specific types of equipment used, including make, model, year, horsepower and attachments.

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Receipts, invoices and other documents you need to support your DFA claim.

Keep all receipts, invoices and any other documents for disaster related expenses as they are required in order to support your DFA claim. Invoices submitted to Manitoba EMO must be accompanied by the corresponding proof of payment (e.g. credit/debit slip, cancelled cheque) in order to be considered for eligibility.

Government of Canada Announces Workforce Solutions Road Map – Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program to Address Labour Shortages Across Canada (April 4, 2022 Employment and Social Development Canada News Release) Canada’s economic

recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is well underway. In February 2022, Canada added 337,000 jobs, bringing our unemployment rate to 5.5% - the lowest since the start of the pandemic. In fact, Canada’s economic recovery is outpacing the ability of many employers to find workers. To support Canada’s continued economic growth, the Government of Canada is focused on building a strong, resilient workforce in all sectors.

That is why the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program Workforce Solutions Road Map. This initiative marks the next step in an ongoing effort to adjust and improve the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure it continues to meet the labour market needs of today. Central to this is addressing labour shortages, enhancing worker protections and building a stronger workforce for today and tomorrow, including through pathways to permanent residency. Five key policy changes will be implemented in the coming weeks as part of the TFW Program Workforce Solutions Road Map to respond to current labour and skills shortages.

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To address seasonal peaks, there will no longer be a limit to the number of lowwage positions that employers in seasonal industries, such as fish and seafood processing, can fill through the TFW Program. This makes permanent the Seasonal Cap Exemption that has been in place since 2015. Also, the maximum duration of these positions will be increased from 180 days to 270 days per year.

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The maximum duration of employment for High-Wage and Global Talent Streams workers will be extended from two years to three years. This extension will help workers access pathways to qualify for permanent residency, enabling them to contribute to our workforce for the long-term.

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For seven sectors with demonstrated labour shortages, such as Accommodation and Food Services, employers will be allowed to hire up to 30% of their workforce through the TFW Program for low-wage positions for one year. All other employers will be allowed to hire up to 20% of their workforce through the TFW Program for low-wage positions until further notice, an increase from the former 10% cap for many employers.

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The Government will end the current policy that automatically refuses LMIA applications for low-wage occupations in the Accommodation and Food

Effective immediately: •

Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA’s) will be valid for 18 months, an increase from 9 months. (Prior to COVID-19, LMIA’s were valid for 6 months).

Government of Canada Announces Workforce Solutions Road Map – Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program to Address Labour Shortages Across Canada Services and Retail Trade sectors in regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.

In 2020, Temporary Foreign Workers made up less than 0.4% of the Canadian workforce and will continue to make up a small percentage of our workforce with these changes. The Government will carefully monitor implementation and continually review the policies to ensure they are addressing real labour shortages without displacing Canadian workers. The Government continues to support broader efforts to build a strong Canadian workforce for today and tomorrow. This includes historic investments in jobs and skills training, improving working conditions, and strengthening worker protections. The Temporary Foreign Workers Program will continue to have strong protections in place, including serious penalties if employers abuse the Program.

In order to ensure that employers across the country can hire TFWs in a timely manner, Service Canada recently implemented a series of measures to increase capacity and expedite the processing of LMIA applications. This includes increasing staffing resources in all regions, including Quebec. Employers are also encouraged to submit their application online to reduce processing time. These changes will not affect the stringent checks undertaken through the process to keep workers safe and protect labour market conditions.

All of these changes are occurring alongside the

Government’s ongoing work to strengthen worker protections. Minister Qualtrough also announced that she will convene the inaugural TFW Program Ministerial Consultative Roundtable in June 2022 to hear directly from worker representatives and other stakeholders on how to make the program stronger and more effective for workers, employers and their communities. The focus of the first Roundtable will be on housing accommodations, as the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for safe and adequate employer-provided housing for TFWs. This Roundtable builds on working group discussions already underway between federal, provincial and territorial officials on this topic. As part of a ‘What We Heard Report’ released in December 2021, the Government of Canada committed to changes in this area to address immediate health and safety concerns.

ESDC is also working to rebuild the TFW compliance regime to better protect TFWs. Ongoing activities to strengthen ESDC’s riskbased approach to target higher-risk employers include: •

furthering strengthening TFW inspection tools and mandatory training;

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leveraging its tip line service, allowing workers to flag any situation of abuse or misuse of the program; and

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expanding its work with consulates to identify concerns that need immediate attention.

Government of Canada Announces Workforce Solutions Road Map – Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program to Address Labour Shortages Across Canada Through Budget 2021, the Government also announced 49.5 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support communitybased organizations in the provision of migrant worker-centric programs and services, such as on-arrival orientation services and assistance in emergency and at-risk situations, through the new Migrant Worker Support Program.

In July 2021, the Government pre-published

new proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette Part I to help prevent the mistreatment or abuse of temporary foreign workers during their stay in Canada and strengthen program integrity. Work is underway to finalize the 14 regulatory amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Temporary Foreign Workers) and final publication in the Canada Gazette Part II is anticipated later this summer.

Reminder of April 14, 2022 Claim Deadline re: Lake Manitoba Flood Class Action Lawsuit Settlement 2021 Exchange Solutions Inc. is the Claims Administrator for the 2011 Lake Manitoba Flood Class Action Settlement Agreement that received the Court-Approval Order by the Honourable Justice Joan McKelvey of the Court of Queen's Bench on January 13, 2022.

A class action lawsuit was initiated against the Province of Manitoba in 2013 on behalf of those affected by the 2011 Lake Manitoba flood waters.

In 2021, the Province of Manitoba and the class legal counsel DD West LLP reached a settlement of $85.5m that was approved by the Court of Queens Bench on January 13, 2022.

compensation based on the Claims Administration Procedure criteria in the Lake Manitoba 2011 Flood Settlement.

It is important for you to know that your Claim Registration Form must be received by the Claims Administrator no later than April 14, 2022.

www.exg.ca

If you were affected by the 2011 Lake Manitoba Flood, you may be eligible for compensation even if you did or did not receive compensation from the original Government of Manitoba Financial Assistance Program as the Class Action Settlement includes different eligibility and compensation criteria.

CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR OFFICE 1 - 554 St. Mary's Road Winnipeg, MB R2M 3L5

If you believe you are eligible for compensation from the class action settlement, the first step is for you to obtain and submit a Claim Registration Form to the Claims Administrator.

Telephone: 1-204-947-7120 or 1-833-947-7120

A Claim Registration Form provides information for the Claims Administrator to assess if you are eligible to potentially receive

Questions@LakeManitobaFloodSettlement2021 .com

Fax: 1-204-957-5195 See also: https://www.lakemanitobafloodsettlement202 1.com/

Grazing Workshop Series Start Your Grazing Plan (Workshop 1) Choice of 3 locations MBFI Brookdale Farm Learning Centre - Tuesday, April 12, 2022 (12:00-6:00 PM) North of Brandon, Corner of PR 353 and HWY #10 Eriksdale Community Centre - Wednesday, April 13 2022 (9:30-3:00PM) 22 Railway Ave - Eriksdale Grandview Kinsmen Community Centre - Thursday, April 14, 2022 (9:30-3:00PM) 435 Burrows Ave - Grandview

Agenda

Building Pasture Productivity using Pasture Planning Steve Kenyon - Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd • Using Agri-Maps as a tool to develop grazing system plan Shawn Cabak - Ag Adaptation Specialist - Livestock, MB Ag • Developing applications for grazing project funding - Laura Grzenda, Andrea Bertholet, & Jewel Mazur Agri-Ecosystems Spec. - Livestock Stewardship, MB Ag - Local cost sharing programming • Hands–on supplementary training (optional) please bring your laptop •

SAVE THE DATES! - MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW Fence and Water Solutions (Workshop 2) - MBFI Brookdale Farm Site - June 1, 2022 Electric Fencing Theory & Hand-on Demonstration, Solar Power for Remote Water Systems, Pasture Pipeline Installation Health Check Your Pasture and Soil (Workshop 3) - MBFI First Street Pasture - July 6, 2022 Hands-on Demonstration of Pasture and Soil Health Assessments Diversify Your Grazing (Workshop 4 ) - MBFI Brookdale Farm Site - August 3, 2022 Extended Grazing and Annual Forages for Feed and Livestock/Crop Integration Workshop 1 Fee - $30.00 per person (Lunch included and discounts available) Pre-registration is required (spaces may be limited) - April 8 registration deadline for Workshop 1 Register at MBFI website @ https://www.mbfi.ca/registration or call 204-761-3300

AgriRecovery: Herd Management Drought Assistance WHO QUALIFIES PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AgriRecovery is a disaster relief framework under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership that provides a coordinated process for federal, provincial and territorial governments to respond rapidly when disasters affecting several producers occur.

The Herd Management Drought Assistance program is the third program developed with industry to help meet the needs of Manitoba livestock producers experiencing drought conditions. The other two programs include the Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance program and Livestock Transportation Drought Assistance program.

This program will assist livestock producers in offsetting the cost of replacing breeding animals when culling is above normal due to shortages of winter feed. Producers may be eligible to apply for assistance to: • purchase replacement breeding females

Primary producers who owned eligible animals located in Manitoba, and were responsible for their feeding expenses as of March 16, 2021, are eligible. Elk producers must have a Game Farm Production Licence and only elk farmed under that licence are eligible.

An applicant must: • be an individual who is 18 years of age or older at the time of application; a partnership, a corporation, a cooperative, a commune or a First Nation • be liable to pay income tax in Manitoba under the Income Tax Act (Canada), or is specifically exempted from filing income tax but is a permanent resident of Canada; and must file farm and expense tax forms

Eligible animals • Breeding females of beef cattle, bison, sheep, goats, and elk owned by the applicant • Breeding females are mature females (cows, ewes, does, bred heifers, bred ewe lambs, and bred does) that have previously calved, lambed or been exposed to breeding.

The producer must own a minimum of 10 animals (by animal type) to apply for the program.

• retain replacement females from their existing herd or flock The replacement is to assist in returning the applicant’s inventory of breeding females to pre-drought levels.

Animals culled under the Herd Management Drought Assistance program are not eligible for assistance under the other two AgriRecovery programs launched on Aug. 31, 2021.

Available Assistance Assistance is provided to replace breeding females culled due to drought and support returning the applicant’s inventory of breeding females to pre-drought levels.

Eligible Sales of Breeding Females Culled Due to Drought The breeding females must be sold during the March 16, 2021 to March 15, 2022 time period and contribute to a decline in the applicant’s inventory of eligible breeding females on March 16, 2022.

March 16, 2021 inventory (pre-drought)

-

March 16, 2022 inventory (drought impacted)

=

Decrease in inventory due to drought culling

Eligible Replacement Breeding females culled due to drought can be replaced by purchases or retaining replacement females from the applicant’s existing herd or flock. The replacement must contribute to an increase in the applicant’s inventory of eligible breeding females on Jan. 31, 2023. Any increase in the inventory above pre-drought levels is not eligible.

The following replacements are eligible: • Purchases of mature cows, mature ewes, mature does, bred heifers, bred ewe lambs, and bred does • Purchases of females that will be bred by Jan. 31, 2023 • Retaining females from the applicant’s existing herd to be bred for the first time by Jan. 31, 2023 The replacement animals must be maintained in the herd or flock until Jan. 31, 2023 or later.

Breeding Herd Inventory The following dates will be used for assessing the impact of drought and subsequent recovery on the applicant’s inventory of breeding females: • March 16, 2021 • March 16, 2022 • Jan. 31, 2023 The difference between the recovery and drought impacted inventory indicates the effect of purchasing and retaining replacement females on recovering from the drought.

Jan. 31, 2023 inventory (recovery inventory)

-

March 16, 2022 inventory (drought impacted)

=

Increase in inventory due to purchasing and retaining replacements

HOW TO DETERMINE HERD MANAGEMENT PAYMENT Payment Rates Payments per head for each animal type are listed in the table below for the replacement of eligible breeding animals culled due to drought. The payments are made for breeding females purchased or retained.

Animal Type(s)

Payment ($) per head

Beef Cattle, Bison, Elk

$250

Sheep and Goats

$50

Producers are paid the rates shown in the table above, based on the increase in the breeding female inventory between March 16, 2022 and Jan. 31, 2023.

The payments are calculated as follows,

Per Head Payment Rate Beef Cattle/Bison/Elk - $250 Sheep/Goats $50

Increase in inventory due to purchasing and retaining replacements

X

=

Herd Management Program Payment

Jan. 31, 2023 Inventory Subtract March 16, 2022 Inventory

Note: Payments are capped once inventory is restored to pre-drought levels. No payments are made for increases in inventory beyond the pre-drought level.

Other Criteria for Declaration of Inventory of Breeding Females: The following animals should not be included in the declared inventories of breeding females: • animals sold prior to being exposed to breeding for the first time • market livestock intended for slaughter or purposes other than breeding • animals sold after March 15, 2022

• animals leased by the applicant • animals not located in Manitoba as of March 16, 2021 (pre-drought) or Jan. 31, 2023 (when recovery complete) For the March 16, 2022 inventory declaration, breeding females that both gave birth and were sold in the Jan. 1, 2022 to March 15, 2022 time period should be included in the number of head declared.

Producers should maintain records of breeding animals sold or purchased in case they are requested by the program administrator.

HOW TO APPLY

Program Timelines

The application package will be available on Jan. 10, 2022: online at www.manitoba.ca/ agriculture, in-person at AG-MASC Service Centre,, or by calling 1-844-769-6224 to receive a copy in the mail.

• April 15, 2022 11:59 PM – Deadline for application declaring March 16, 2021 and March 16, 2022 inventory. Only producers who have submitted an application by this deadline will be able to submit a claim.

Application is a two-step process requiring applicants to fully complete and submit: 1) Application form, declaring their: a. March 16, 2021 inventory of eligible breeding females owned b. March 16, 2022 inventory of eligible breeding females owned 2) Claim form, declaring their a. Jan. 31, 2023 inventory of eligible breeding females

Contact Us • Go to manitoba.ca/agriculture • Toll free at 1-844-769-6224 • Email us at agriculture@gov.mb.ca • Follow us on Twitter @MBGovAg • Visit your nearest AG-MASC Service Centre

Available in alternate formats upon request.

• Dec. 1, 2022 – Claim forms will be available • Feb. 17, 2023 11:59 PM – Deadline for claim forms declaring Jan. 31, 2023 inventory

Further Resources • Herd Management Drought Assistance – Frequently Asked Questions • Video – Herd Management Drought Assistance – Determining Payments • Video – Herd Management Drought Assistance – Two-Step Application Process

What Qualifies AgriRecovery Livestock Transportation Drought Assistance Helps livestock producers offset freight expenses associated with moving their eligible breeding herd to alternate feeding locations due to shortages of feed.

Primary Producers

Breeding Animals

• Owned or leased the eligible breeding animals between June 1, 2021 and March 15, 2022 or later

• Mature females exposed to breeding (natural service or artificial insemination)

• Have a minimum of 10 eligible breeding animals (per type of livestock)

• Males used previously for breeding

Eligible Breeding Animals • Beef cattle • Sheep • Goats

• Immature replacement females are not eligible

Eligible Alternate Feeding Locations • Farms, custom feeders and other livestock operations where breeding animals must be relocated to address a shortfall in winter feed capacity

• Movement to a normal wintering site is not eligible

• Locations are not owned, leased or rented by the eligible producers

• Animals cannot be sold or marketed prior to returning to the location of origin when temporary feeding is complete

• Must be capable of housing and providing adequate feed, water and care

• Animals must remain in the new location for at least 30 days

Eligible Distance • Minimum distance of 40 kilometres to a maximum one-way distance of 1,000 kilometres

Contact • 1-844-769-6224

• manitoba.ca/agriculture

Date of Eligible Expenses • Incurred from August 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022

• ARD@gov.mb.ca

How to Apply for Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance Livestock Transportation Drought Assistance Six Steps for Application

STEP 1

Application deadlines:

May 13, 2022 for Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance July 30, 2022 for Livestock Transportation Drought Assistance

Application form and program guide Complete the form as instructed, declare that you meet all the program terms and conditions, and that the information you provide is complete and accurate. The terms and conditions are outlined in the AgriRecovery Drought Assistance for Farmers Program Guidebook. You can access the application form and the program guide by: downloading them at manitoba.ca/agriculture

In-person at your nearest Service Centre (see reverse for locations)

STEP 2

Declaration of eligible breeding animals

STEP 3

Self-haul declaration

STEP 4

calling 1-844-769-6224 to have a copy mailed to you

Extraordinary Expense Declaration

• Complete a Declaration with your first application • Declare the number of eligible breeding animals that will be maintained and overwintered

• Contact the program administrator (email: agaction@gov.mb.ca) if the number of eligible animals changes over time.

If you self-haul feed or livestock, complete the self-haul declaration form and provide invoices for feed purchases or accessing feed as outlined in the guidebook.

If you have extraordinary expenses for renting pasture or cropland, temporary fencing, hauling or pumping water, harvesting feed, or transporting self-produced feed, complete the one-time declaration as outlined in the guidebook.

Note: If your application is successful, you will receive a notification letter and cheque in the mail from the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC).

STEP 5

Prepare your application After completing the necessary documents, check the boxes for all declarations on the forms. Ensure that you have included everything needed in your submission:

STEP 6

 application form  invoices for each feed and/or transportation purchase  proof of payment for each invoice (e.g., cleared cheques, bank statement, credit or debit card receipt)

 eligible breeding animal declaration (first application only)  self-haul declaration (only if you self-hauled feed or livestock)  declaration of extraordinary expenses (only one submission allowed)

Submit your application Email documents in step 5 to: agaction@gov.mb.ca

or mail to: Manitoba Agriculture AgriRecovery Drought Assistance 903-401 York Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0P8

Service Centre Contact Information Arborg Box 2000, 317 River Road Arborg MB R0C 0A0 1-833-206-0451 1-833-478-1304 arborg@masc.mb.ca

Headingley 1-5290 Monterey Road Headingley MB R4H 1J9 1-833-206-0465 1-833-478-1307 headingley@masc.mb.ca

Portage la Prairie Unit 400, 50-24th Street NW Portage la Prairie MB R1N 3V7 1-833-206-0470 1-833-478-1312 portagelaprairie@masc.mb.ca

Brandon Unit 100 - 1525 1st Street S Brandon MB R7A 7A1 1-833-206-0455 1-833-478-1305 brandon@masc.mb.ca

Killarney Box 190, 203 South Railway Street Killarney MB R0K 1G0 1-833-206-0466 1-833-478-1309 killarney@masc.mb.ca

Steinbach Unit C – 284 Reimer Avenue Steinbach MB R5G 0R5 1-833-206-0480 1-833-467-1059 steinbach@masc.mb.ca

Dauphin Room 209, 27-2nd Avenue SW Dauphin MB R7N 3E5 1-833-206-0459 1-833-478-1306 dauphin@masc.mb.ca

Morden 536 Stephen Street Morden MB R6M 1T7 1-833-206-0479 1-833-467-1056 morden@masc.mb.ca

Swan River Box 1108, 120-6th Avenue N Swan River MB R0L 1Z0 1-833-206-0476 1-833-478-1315 swanriver@masc.mb.ca

Neepawa Box 1179, 41 Main Street E Neepawa MB R0J 1H0 1-833-206-0469 1-833-478-1310 neepawa@masc.mb.ca