MBP E-Newsletter: March 1/2024 by ManitobaBeefProducers

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March 1, 2024

Manitoba Government Announces New Appointments to Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation Board

(February 27, 2024 Province of Manitoba News Release) The Manitoba government has appointed a new chair, vicechair and directors to the board of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC), Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.

“Agriculture in Manitoba is growing and I am confident that the experience, knowledge and abilities of the individuals appointed to this newly formed board will play an important role in supporting agricultural stakeholders across our province,” said Kostyshyn.

The new chair of the board is John Plohman and the vicechair is Don Kostesky. Newly appointed directors are Paul Gregory, Mary Johnson, Larry Bohdanovich, Rayna Gleich and Gurjaspal Singh Bala.

Kostyshyn noted these appointments are part of the Manitoba government’s efforts to support a strong

agriculture industry as the backbone of the provincial economy.

The board of directors for MASC is responsible to support and encourage a strong and diversified rural economy through a variety of financial services and risk management programs as set out in the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation Act. This provincial Crown corporation also administers emergency assistance programs and provides inspection and verification services to the agriculture industry.

Brian Brown and Kristy-Layne Carr will remain as directors for MASC. Brown serves on multiple boards and has been a director since May 2023. Carr owns and operates Rich Lane Farms and has been a director since September 2023.

In making the announcement, Kostyshyn thanked previous board members for their past service to MASC.

Information on the appointees to the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation cBoard of Directors an be found on page three.

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Background Information on New Appointments to MASC Board of Directors

Here are the seven new appointees to the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation board:

John Plohman, board chair (East St. Paul) is a retired teacher who now makes his home in East St. Paul. Plohman’s previous roles include minister of government services, highways and transportation, minister of natural resources, member of the legislative assembly and municipal councillor in Dauphin. He holds a postbaccalaureate from the University of Manitoba as well as a bachelor of pedagogy in English and industrial arts. Plohman has previously served as the chairperson of the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation as well as on the Manitoba Municipal Board, the Crown Corporations Council, the Port of Churchill Advisory Board and the Churchill Gateway Development Corporation.

Don Kostesky, board vice-chair (Brandon) is a retired farmer whose work history includes being the CEO and general manager of Farmers Co-op Seed Plant and Keystone Seedcoaters Ltd. He is an active volunteer with St. John Ambulance as well as with Seniors for Seniors. Kostesky also serves as the president and chairman of the board for the Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc.

Paul Gregory, director (Fisher Branch) is currently the president of Interlake Forage Seeds Ltd. and Interlake Honey Producers Ltd. as well as a professional agronomist. Gregory previously founded a forage seed farm and seed plant and international forage seed marketing firm. He is currently the chair of the provincial AgriStability Appeal Committee, vice-president of the Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association and a board member of Prairies East Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Inc. Gregory received a bachelor of science in agronomy and monogastric nutrition from the University of Manitoba.

Mary Johnson, director (Beausejour) held previous roles as a union representative and negotiator with United Food and Commercial

Workers (UFCW) 832 and was employed with Burns Meats as a line worker, department clerk and inventory control. She holds a bachelor of arts majoring in women and gender studies and minoring in disability studies from the University of Winnipeg. Johnson is currently on the board of directors with the Coalition of Manitoba Motorcycle Groups and the Beausejour Royal Canadian Legion. She previously served on the Manitoba Public Insurance board.

Larry Bohdanovich, director (Grandview) has been a full-time farmer since 1985. Bohdanovich holds a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Manitoba. He has been involved with numerous community organizations over the years including Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board and the Grandview Kinsmen Club. Bohdanovich has been a member of the Hudson Bay Route Association since 1985.

Rayna Gleich, director (Eriksdale) is a Red River Métis citizen who works as an agriculture specialist with the Manitoba Métis Federation. Gleich grew up on a purebred Hereford Farm north of Winnipeg. She received her agribusiness diploma from Assiniboine Community College in 2023.

Gurjaspal Singh Bala, director (St. Adolphe) is the technical program manager with Harmonic Technologies where he is the project manager for multiple software initiatives. He volunteers with Punjabi Radio USA as a radio host and technology expert. Bala received his master of science in software engineering from San Jose State University in California in 2010 and his master of business administration from the University of Manitoba in 2021.

Manitoba Government Celebrates World Wildlife Day with Commitment to Improved Wildlife Conservation

Manitoba Investing in Innovative Technology to Improve Data for Wildlife Population Assessments: Moses

(March 1, 2024 Province of Manitoba News Release)

The Manitoba government is further enhancing and modernizing the way it assesses wildlife populations as part of ongoing efforts to conserve valued wildlife species across the province, Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses announced today in advance of World Wildlife Day on March 3.

“Protecting Manitoba’s wildlife is an important part of protecting our natural environment for generations to come,” said Moses. “This year’s theme for World Wildlife Day is ‘Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.’ By harnessing the potential of modern technology and innovative new methods, the Manitoba government can collect better data in a more efficient manner to support the critical work of sustainably managing our wildlife populations ”

New advances in survey methods can facilitate the efficient collection of reliable survey data while reducing costs and safety risks, noted the minister

The Manitoba government collects a variety of information to help manage species such as moose, elk and deer in the province. Aerial population surveys is one method, which has traditionally been conducted by government staff on a helicopter, focusing on a single big game species.

The 2024 aerial surveys will use innovative technology including solar powered long-range drones and infrared cameras. Infrared cameras detect the heat signatures of mammals, providing an effective way to collect data for multiple wildlife species. Using this innovative technology will allow staff to survey multiple populations at one time, including deer, moose, elk and caribou, the minister noted.

This population data is important for informing wildlife conservation and management decisions including the designation of moose conservation closure areas, the allocation of hunting opportunities and the management of threats to wild populations such as Chronic Wasting Disease and invasive species. Manitoba is actively reviewing co-management opportunities with Indigenous Nations for wildlife health, collaring and survey programming.

Manitoba continues its commitment in collaborating with Indigenous governments and other interest holders to ensure the sustainable management of wildlife provincially, noted the minister.

Annual reports for the big game aerial surveys are available at https://manitoba.ca/nrnd/fish-wildlife/ resource/articles-andpublications.html?wg=wildlife_and_fisheries_branc h&term=survey.

Flood Outlook Predicts Low-To-Moderate Risk of Spring Flooding

(March 1, 2024 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 across Manitoba basins.

Normal- to below-normal soil moisture at freeze-up and normal- to well-below-normal winter precipitation for most Manitoba basins have contributed to the low-to-moderate risk of spring flooding across the province. Water levels are expected to remain below dikes and community or individual flood protection levels. However, the risk of flooding may change depending on weather conditions including amount of precipitation between now and the spring melt.

The spring flooding risk is low to moderate for the Red River and tributaries including the Roseau River and the Pembina River. The spring flooding risk is low for the Assiniboine, Souris and Qu’Apelle Rivers and in northern Manitoba including the Saskatchewan and Carrot Rivers. The risk of spring flooding is generally low for the Whiteshell Lakes Region including the Winnipeg River system. The spring flood risk is moderate for the Interlake region. As in other years, there is a risk of ice jamrelated flooding on the Fisher River and the Icelandic River.

Most Manitoba lake levels are normal to below normal for this time of year and within their capacity ranges. The risk of lakes flooding is low for most Manitoba lakes.

The Red River Floodway is not expected to be operated under normal and favourable future weather scenarios. However, in the event of unfavourable weather conditions, the floodway could be operated to mitigate water levels in Winnipeg. The Shellmouth Reservoir is being operated to reduce the risk of flooding downstream on the Assiniboine River, while providing sufficient storage for water supply and recreation.

This forecast could change depending on weather conditions including amount of precipitation between now and the spring melt. The Hydrologic Forecast Centre is monitoring a potential precipitation system that could impact Manitoba basins in the first week of March. The next flood outlook will be released in late March and will have a better assessment of Manitoba’s spring runoff conditions at that time.

The Manitoba government, local authorities and First Nations communities are proactively preparing for any spring flooding. This includes ice cutting and breaking on the Red River in late February, reviewing emergency plans, information sharing between governments and preparing resources used in flood responses.

The 2024 spring flood outlook report is available at: https://gov.mb.ca/mti/floodinfo/pdf/2024/february _2024_flood_outlook_report.pdf

Katie and Austen Anderson of Anderson Cattle Co. near Swan River hosted staff from MBP and FRANK Digital this week. The family will be featured on Season 35 of Great Tastes of Manitoba later this fall. (Photo: David Hultin/ MBP)

Industry Update: The Cooking with Canadian Beef Contest closes soon – enter by March 10

February 27, 2024

Calgary, AB – Did you know Canada Beef has been building the capacity to enable Canadian consumers to scan existing bar codes on beef packages with a smartphone using the Canadian Beef Information Gateway (Gateway)?

The Gateway currently supports barcodes from more than 30 retailers who represent most of the beef sold in Canadian grocery stores. Scanning barcodes will provide dedicated information about a specific product, including recipes, videos, cooking tips and more.

To introduce consumers to this new scanning capability, Canada Beef launched its Cooking with Canadian Beef Contest in January. The contest runs until March 10, so the time to enter is now. While this contest is focused on consumers, industry partners are eligible to enter for a chance to win some cooking utensils, including the grand prize, a MiniMax Big Green Egg Ultimate Kit barbecue/smoker with accessories.

Canada Beef President, Michael Young said the team is excited to unveil the Gateway’s new scanning functionality as it allows shoppers to directly access information about Canadian beef products in real time. “We hope it will inspire them to try something new and take advantage of beef cuts that are available at lower prices from time-to-time. This will help us sell more of the carcass,” he said.

“The ability to scan the existing barcode on beef packages represents a convenient solution for both retailers and Canadian consumers This will further assist us in educating consumers about Canadian beef in the years ahead,” Young continued.

The Cooking with Canadian Beef Contest is open to individuals who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory of residence. The campaign runs from January 25 until March 10, 2024. Visit cdnbeef.ca/contest for full contest rules and regulations.

For more information, please contact:

Gina Teel Director, Stakeholder Communications Canada Beef

e. gteel@canadabeef.ca

c.403.875.3616

www.canadabeef.ca

Click here to enter the Gateway or visit Cdnbeef.ca and gain a contest entry for a chance to win one of 30 prize packages. Additional entries can also be earned by watching two short videos that showcase functions of the Gateway.

Information Sessions Coming Up on Proposed Silver to Rosser Tap Transmission Line

Source: Manitoba Hydro

The Silver to Rosser tap transmission project is a new proposed 230kV transmission line that would tap into an existing line (S65R) located west of Highway 7, and connect it to the Diageo Gimli distillery. The proposed project would run from the existing line to the Diageo Gimli distillery and would allow Diageo Canada Inc. the ability to reduce natural gas usage and use more hydroelectricity to power its facility.

Manitoba Hydro has developed a preferred route and alternative route segments for the project and will be collecting feedback from landowners, Indigenous communities, interested parties, and the public. This feedback will help determine the final transmission line placement and inform the environmental assessment work being undertaken. We plan to submit our environmental assessment report to Manitoba Environment and Climate Change in summer 2024 to seek approval to start construction.

The attached map shows Manitoba Hydro’s preferred route and alternative route segments for the proposed transmission line. You can visit www.hydro.mb.ca/silver-rosser-tap to view an enlarged map and zoom into the route options in more detail.

We want to hear from you

You are encouraged to share your feedback on the route segments through our online survey and feedback portal, at our open house, as well as at one of our virtual information sessions.

Join us for a virtual information session

• March 12 at 7:00pm.

• March 20 at 12:00pm.

To register, click the link for the session you would like to attend. If you have any difficulties registering, please email us at projects@hydro.mb.ca or call 1-887-343-1631.

Open House

• Drop-in any time between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the Fraserwood Community Hall to learn more about the project and share your feedback.

Online survey

• Check out our online survey to tell us what you think about the preferred route and alternative route segments. The survey will be open until March 31, 2024.

Interactive map & feedback portal

• Visit our interactive map and feedback portal to zoom into the preferred route and alternative route segments, provide comments and suggestions, flag points of interest, and see what others are saying. The portal is open until March 31, 2024.

Learn more about the project at www.hydro.mb.ca/silver-rosser-tap.

Statistics Canada Releases Farm Cash Receipts, January to December 2023

(Source: Statistic Canada, February 29, 2024) Farm cash receipts totalled $98.6 billion in 2023, up 3.6% (+$3.4 billion) compared with 2022.

Livestock receipts and crop receipts increased, while program payments fell. Livestock receipts were up primarily because of gains for cattle, while crop receipts had mixed results. A drop in crop insurance payments led to the decrease in total program payments.

All provinces posted increases in farm cash receipts in 2023, compared with 2022, except Ontario, where receipts were flat. Saskatchewan (+$1.5 billion) and Alberta (+$1.0 billion) led the gains.

Livestock up on higher cattle receipts

Livestock receipts rose 9.8% to $37.3 billion in 2023 because of increases in the cattle and supply managed sectors.

The gain in cattle receipts (+$2.7 billion) represented just over 80% of the total increase in livestock receipts. Total cattle receipts ($13.5 billion) were up because of a rise in cattle prices for both slaughter and exports. This may have been caused by strong demand in the Canadian and US markets and higher input costs for producers.

Supply managed receipts grew 5.7% to $14.9 billion and accounted for 40% of total livestock receipts. This growth may have been caused by price increases, reflecting higher production costs. Dairy receipts rose 3.9% to $8.6 billion and were the main driver of the increase in supply managed receipts. At the same time, both marketings and prices pushed up receipts for chickens for meat by $292.9 million to $4.1 billion.

Meanwhile, hog receipts declined 10.3% from 2022 to $5.9 billion in 2023. Reduced domestic and international demand for Canadian pork may have contributed to the price drop of 11.5%.

Mixed results for crop receipts

Total crop receipts in 2023 were up 2.0% to $54.9 billion, compared with 2022. Receipts for wheat (excluding durum), durum wheat and potatoes led the way in 2023, while receipts for corn and soybeans showed the largest decreases.

Receipts for wheat (excluding durum) increased $922.4 million, while durum wheat receipts were up $194.8 million. Higher marketings for wheat (excluding durum) (+24.1%) and durum wheat (+21.5%) drove up crop receipts. The gain in marketings was caused by a return to normal production levels in the 2022 crop year, following the severe drought in Western Canada in 2021. In 2023, prices fell 11.4% for wheat (excluding durum) and 9.4% for durum wheat, although they were still higher than their fiveyear average.

Total potato receipts rose 12.4% to $1.9 billion because of higher prices (+12.0%), while marketings were flat. The notable price increase was a result of contract settlements between producers and processors, as well as short supply in Western Canada and the United States.

Receipts for corn (-$469.4 million) and soybeans (-$308.7 million) both fell as a result of drops in marketings and prices. Increased supply of corn and soybeans from the US market put downward pressure on both prices and marketings in Canada.

Statistics Canada Releases Farm Cash Receipts, January to December 2023

Crop insurance falls from previous year's record high

Total direct payments dropped by $983.0 million (-13.4%) to $6.4 billion in 2023, compared with 2022. Although crop insurance payments fell in 2023, compared with the previous year's record high, crop insurance levels were nevertheless higher than the five-year average.

For more information go to: https:// www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240229/ dq240229ceng.htm?utm_source=mstatcan&utm_medium= eml&utm_campaign=statcan-statcan-mstatcan

Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council labour market forecast predicts growing shortages across agricultural industries

(February 29, 2024 CAHRC News Release) Ottawa, ON - Recent research examining worker shortages throughout Canada’s agricultural sector is projecting that the fruit and vegetable industry will bear the brunt of the domestic labour gap and could be required to fill more than 35,000 jobs during its peak season by 2030.

This finding, published in the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council’s (CAHRC) latest labour market report, Sowing Seeds of Change, would account for 35 per cent of the peak domestic labour gap heading into the next decade. The report provides an analysis of present-day labour market challenges as well as what is anticipated for 2030. This includes sector and industry vacancy rates, an assessment of the cost of labour shortages and insight into recruitment and retention challenges.

Other industry-specific projections on the anticipated peak domestic labour gap include dairy (5,000), poultry and egg (2,420), beef (2,600), swine (3,080), aquaculture (285), grain and oilseed (3,680), greenhouse (34,940), sheep and goat (240) and agricultural support services (1,570).

“These numbers emphasize what as a sector we continue to know: we must take action for agriculture to be able to attract and retain workers in Canada,” said Jennifer Wright, executive director of CAHRC. “Solving the labour and skill gap issue across all industry groups might not be easy, but it is essential to the sustainability of the sector and Canada’s ability to feed families here at home and abroad.”

The peak domestic labour gap is defined as the number of workers a sector needs but is not able to find in Canada. This measurement does not account for the foreign workers agriculture relies on to fill the current workforce, who in 2022 represented 17 per cent of the agricultural workforce. Still, the report finds that even if Canada continues to depend on foreign workers, filling an anticipated 40 per cent of jobs in 2030, there would still be 22,200 vacant positions across all industry sectors.

The national report notes that agriculture, with its aging population, is expected to experience retirements by 2030, which would amount to a loss of 30 per cent of its current workforce. Among those retirements, the tree fruit and vine, grain and oilseed, and beef industries are anticipated to have the largest share due to their older age profiles and occupational makeup.

Some of the ways the research recommends that Canadian agriculture grow its workforce include: focusing on the opportunity that immigration presents, addressing infrastructure needs, educating the public to improve perceptions of agriculture, developing and updating HR management practices and leveraging new technology and automation.

This labour market forecast will serve as a supporting document for CAHRC’s National Workforce Strategic Plan (NWSP). The NWSP exists as a national framework to address labour shortages and skill gaps throughout the sector. To date, more than 100 stakeholders, including primary producers, food and beverage manufacturers, educational institutions, producer groups, industry associations and government officials, have participated in the development of this strategic plan.

Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council labour market forecast predicts growing shortages across agricultural industries

This research and its publication were made possible through Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Growing the Agriculture Workforce of the Future: Cultivating Canada’s Post-Pandemic Recovery initiative. This funding is part the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Programs, which helps key sectors of the economy implement solutions to address their current and emerging workforce needs. For in-depth information on specific industry statistics, a number of factsheets with a data breakdown can be found here.

Key Highlights at a Glance

In 2022:

• Supply-managed sectors struggled less than other sectors to find workers: 26 per cent of employers in poultry and egg, and 38 per cent in dairy were unable to find all the workers they required in 2022, compared to a 44 per cent average for the entire sector.

• More than half of employers in the beef and swine industries were unable to find all the workers they needed and 47 per cent of employers in these industries identified the lack of experienced applicants as an obstacle to recruitment.

• Employers in grain and oilseed saw a vacancy rate of 7 per cent. This is lower than other industries in agriculture; however, grain and oilseed vacancies come at a great cost, considering the high sales per worker.

• Fifty-six per cent of employers in support services experienced a labour shortage in 2022, a figure surpassing the 44 per cent across the entire sector, while 78 per cent reported lost sales as a direct consequence of their vacancies, a figure notably higher than the 53 per cent observed across the entire agriculture sector.

• Sales lost from the agriculture sector in 2022 because of worker vacancies amounted to $3.5 billion.

• Common barriers such as remote locations, seasonality and manual labour make recruitment challenging. Employers also expressed receiving a lack of experienced and qualified applicants.

• Still, in 2022, the Canadian agriculture sector generated $38.8 billion in GDP and $92.8 billion in agricultural and processed food exports.