MBP E-Newsletter: March 8/2024 by ManitobaBeefProducers

March 8, 2024

Industry Leader Presented with MBP Lifetime Achievement Award

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At our 45th Annual General Meeting in February in Brandon MBP announced the very deserving recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Allan Preston.

The award was developed to recognize Manitoba cattle producers who have made significant contributions to the

beef industry and their commitment to excellence, exemplifying leadership and involvement in their community and province. It is presented every five years.

Dr. Preston has been a long-time contributor to Manitoba’s beef industry, helping it to navigate many different issues, from floods and droughts, to bovine TB and other animal health matters, and many, many more. He has assisted our organization both during his time as a civil servant, and then later taking on other important roles such as Bovine TB Coordinator, and chairing organizations like the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative (ARBI) which is tackling water-related challenges affecting the agriculture sector. He’s never been too busy to respond to a phone call or an email and to provide input and suggestions to MBP and others throughout our sector.

Unfortunately the weather was not cooperative during MBP’s AGM, so Allan was unable to be there to receive the award in person. However, MBP’s Policy Analyst, Maureen Cousins, had the opportunity to present the award to Allan at this week’s ARBI conference in Brandon. Larry Maguire, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris also spoke to Allan’s considerable contributions to Manitoba’s agriculture sector.

Watch the Lifetime Achievement Award presentation at the 45th AGM here.

mbbeef.ca

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS

2024-25 SCHOLARSHIP INTAKE

Manitoba Beef Producers is pleased to make available six $1,000 scholarships annually for MBP members or their children attending a university, college, other post-secondary institution or pursuing trades training. Preference will be given to those students pursuing a field of study related to agriculture or to those acquiring a skilled trade or pursuing a career that would be beneficial to the rural economy.

This application intake process is for students who will be undertaking post-secondary studies or trades training in the 2024-25 academic year.

The scholarship criteria are as follows:

Eligibility:

• Must be an active Manitoba beef producer or the child of an active Manitoba beef producer. Note: This can also include active beef producers returning to school after a period of time in the workforce.

• Must be pursuing post-secondary studies or trades training in the 2024-25 academic year.

• Post-secondary programs or trades training must be a minimum of one academic year in duration.

Items You Are Required to Submit:

• The completed application form;

• Either a typed 600-word (maximum) essay OR a 5-7 minute maximum video submission discussing the topic “What the beef industry means to my family, my community and Manitoba.” Also, you need to identify in the essay or video the reasons you enjoy being involved in agriculture*;

• A copy of your transcript (either high school, or a recognized college, university or trade school);

• Proof of enrolment in a recognized institution (current transcript, or your acceptance letter, or a letter of intent indicating your intended institution and field of study for 2023-24);

• A list of your community involvement (e.g. 4-H, community clubs, volunteer work, etc.); and,

• The names of two references, including their addresses and telephone numbers.

*Note: Scholarship winners’ essays or video submissions will be published in Manitoba Beef Producers’ newspaper Cattle Country in fall 2024 or posted to MBP’s social media channels and website.

The completed application, supporting documents, references, required essay or video, etc. must be submitted to MBP by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024 to the attention of:

Manitoba Beef Producers Scholarship Committee

220 – 530 Century Street

Winnipeg MB R3H 0Y4

E-mail: info@mbbeef.ca

Fax: (204) 774-3264

For more information, including steps on how to submit your video, please contact Manitoba Beef Producers at 1-800-772-0458 or email info@mbbeef.ca. A selection committee will review the submissions. Winners will be notified by September 12, 2024.

Manitoba Government Announces Budget Day –April 2

(March 4, 2024 Province of Manitoba News Release)—

The Manitoba government will present the 2024-25 provincial budget on Tuesday, April 2, Premier Wab Kinew announced.

“As a province, we have so many opportunities to grow our economy and repair the services Manitobans need,” said Kinew “It’s going to take a balanced approach. With our first budget, we’re taking responsible steps to deliver on our commitments to rebuild health care in our province, lower costs for families, make our communities safer and create good jobs.”

Budget 2024 will include major investments to bring quality health care closer to Manitobans in their communities, increase capacity and staffing across the province, and create new measures to lower costs and grow Manitoba’s diversified lowcarbon economy, noted the premier.

Daylight Time Starts March 10

(March 8, 2024 Province of Manitoba news release)

Manitoba Municipal and Northern Relations reminds all Manitobans daylight time will start in the province early March 10 when clocks move forward one hour.

Under the Official Time Act, daylight time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November with a return to standard time.

The official time change will occur at 2 a.m., Sunday, March 10, at which time clocks will

Province Advises Outflow From Shellmouth Reservoir Will Increase

(March 8, 2024 Province of Manitoba News Release) Manitoba Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre reports the outflow from the Shellmouth Reservoir will be increasing on March 8 as part of the normal operation to draw down the level of the reservoir in preparation for spring runoff from the upper Assiniboine River.

The current outflow is 300 cubic feet per second (cfs). The outflow will be increased to 500 cfs

today. This outflow increase will result in about a one-foot level increase on the Assiniboine River from the Shellmouth Reservoir to Russell, and a half-foot or less level increase from Russell to Brandon. The increase will diminish as the river reaches Winnipeg.

The province will continue to monitor conditions in the upper Assiniboine River as well as downstream river levels.

Reminder: 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.

continued on page 7

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

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

Farm Product Prices, January 2024

Source: Statistics Canada’s The Daily for March 8, 2024

Monthly provincial prices received by farmers in January 2024 for grains, oilseeds, specialty crops, cattle, hogs, poultry, eggs and dairy products are now available.

In January, slaughter cattle price movements varied across provinces compared with December. The monthly price declines ranged from 0.4% in Alberta to 8.1% in Quebec, while Ontario and the Atlantic provinces reported increases. Furthermore, the shrinking cattle herd supported year-over-year price gains in slaughter cattle, with each province posting growth of at least 16.3%.

Prices for feeder cattle also varied across provinces in January compared with December. Western provinces, led by Alberta (+3.3%), reported price increases, while the remaining provinces reported decreases. The declines ranged from 0.5% in Ontario to 8.3% in Prince Edward Island. In January, feeder cattle prices increased across all provinces year over year, with gains ranging from 8.4% in Prince Edward Island to 39.1% in Alberta. This marked at least three consecutive year-over-year price increases for feeder cattle in all provinces for the month of January.

Monthly prices for wheat (excluding durum) declined in all the Prairie provinces in January compared with December, with Manitoba (4.8%) leading the decreases. Furthermore, the price of wheat (excluding durum) recorded yearover-year declines in all Prairie provinces in January, mainly due to the rise in global wheat stocks. Manitoba (-24.1%) posted the most

notable year-over-year drop, followed by Saskatchewan (-22.8%) and Alberta (-22.1%).

Prices for canola fell month over month in all provinces in January, with Quebec posting the largest decline, down 11.2%. Despite strong domestic demand, canola prices were down due to lower Canadian canola exports. This was the fifth consecutive month-over-month decline for Alberta and the third for Saskatchewan.

In January, soybean prices were down compared with December in the major producing provinces of Manitoba (-2.0%), Quebec (-3.4%) and Ontario (-3.5%). Soybean prices fell due to the lower demand for soybeans and expected higher supplies from South America.

Dry peas recorded price increases across all the Prairie provinces in January compared with December, with Saskatchewan leading the increase (+6.6%), followed by Alberta (+6.1%) and Manitoba (+4.7%). This was the fifth consecutive month-over-month gain for both Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Hog prices recorded mixed movements across provinces in January compared with December. Monthly price gains were recorded in four of the provinces, led by Ontario (+2.8%). These four provinces also posted their first monthover-month price increase after four consecutive monthly declines. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia (-6.2%) led the decreases in hog prices, recording its fifth consecutive month-overmonth drop.

To see the price tables, go to: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dailyquotidien/240308/dq240308d-cansim-eng.htm

Federal Support for Animal Health Canada’s Work to Prevent and Prepare for Animal Disease Outbreaks

(Joint March 7, 2024 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Canadian Food Inspection Agency News Release) By protecting Canadian livestock through proactive prevention and preparedness measures for diseases, we’re supporting the resilience of Canada’s rural communities and the agricultural sector.

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of up to $1,697,850 to Animal Health Canada to support their role in foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness efforts in Canada, including for African swine fever (ASF) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Animal Health Canada brings together the agriculture industry, and federal, provincial and territorial partners to provide input on a cohesive, functional and responsive farmed animal health and welfare system in Canada.

With an investment of $999,900 from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program (ASFIPP), Animal Health Canada will continue its coordination role in prevention efforts while working to minimize the potential impact of an ASF outbreak on Canada’s swine industry. This includes providing the African swine fever Executive Management Board (ASF EMB) with support for the prevention and control of ASF through coordination of wild pig management activities, industry stopmovement protocols, partner roles and responsibilities, Indigenous engagement and the development of ASF resources and plans.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is providing a contribution of $697,950 to Animal Health Canada through its Federal Assistance Program (FAP) to support ongoing efforts over the next two years aimed at advancing

preparedness for ASF and FMD. This funding will facilitate the analysis of surveillance data, critical training, further definition of stakeholder roles and responsibilities in responding to outbreaks, and the development of a vaccine strategy in the event of an FMD outbreak in Canada. Additionally, it will enable preparations and exercises in advance of potential ASF or FMD outbreak.

The Government of Canada takes the threat of foreign animal diseases seriously and continues to make strategic investments to bolster mitigation and preparedness efforts to protect the livestock industry and the vitality of rural communities.

Quotes

“Animal diseases are an ongoing threat to Canada’s livestock producers and prevention and preparedness initiatives from all orders of government and industry are vitally important. Animal Health Canada’s coordination role with partners and stakeholders has been key to Canada’s animal disease prevention, and to ensuring our livestock sector is ready in the event of an outbreak.”

- The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"We're pleased we are continuing our collaboration with industry and government to not only prevent and control African swine fever in Canada, but other foreign animal disease outbreaks."

- Colleen McElwain, Executive Director of Animal Health Canada

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Federal Support for Animal Health Canada’s Work to Prevent and Prepare for Animal Disease Outbreaks

Quick facts

• Preventing and preparing for foreign animal diseases is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and industry.

• While ASF is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans, nor is it a food safety issue, ASF is a contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and wild pigs.

• Since 2018, ASF has spread through parts of Asia and Europe, and was detected in the Caribbean in 2021. It has never been found in Canada or the United States.

• FMD does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, but it is a severe and contagious viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.

• The disease is currently present in many areas of the world. It was last reported in Canada in 1952 and Canada is considered free of FMD.

• The Pan-Canadian ASF Action Plan is a collaborative plan which lays the groundwork for a timely and coordinated response to reduce the size of an ASF outbreak and limit its impact.

• The ASF EMB includes membership from federal and provincial governments, and industry representatives. Chaired by Animal Health Canada, the ASF EMB is an example of unprecedented cooperation between its members to coordinate and prioritize ASF prevention and preparedness efforts.

• The $23.4 million ASFIPP was launched in 2022 and is designed to help Canada's pork industry prepare for the possibility of ASF entering the country. Funding for this

program supports projects such as biosecurity assessments and improvements, wild pig management, the retrofit of existing abattoirs, sector analysis and ASFrelated research projects. ASFIPP is still accepting applications.

o African Swine Fever Industry

Preparedness Program: Prevention and Preparedness Stream

o African Swine Fever Industry

Preparedness Program: Welfare Slaughter and Disposal Stream

• The Canadian pork industry exports roughly two-thirds of its pork production and millions of live hogs per year. In 2023, exports were valued at $4.7 billion, not including the 6.7 million live swine exported throughout the year.

• The FAP is the CFIA's contribution program. It operates within the context of the broader mandate of the CFIA and provides a means for the agency to broaden its reach by supporting projects and initiatives that advance the CFIA's core responsibility for safe food and healthy plants and animals.

Associated links

• Foot and Mouth Disease (CFIA)

Government of Canada announces plans to create a vaccine bank for Foot and Mouth Disease in animals

Farm Product Price Index, December 2023

(Source: February 5, 2024 Statistics Canada The Daily)

The Farm Product Price Index (FPPI) declined 4.7% in December compared with the same month a year earlier, after recording year-over-year increases in December 2022 (+9.4%) as well as December 2021 (+26.4%). The decrease was mainly the result of lower grains and oilseeds price indexes, which outweighed the gains for livestock and animal products.

The crops index was down 11.1% in December 2023 compared with December 2022. Crop prices began posting yearover-year drops in January 2023, after reaching record levels in the second quarter of 2022.

The declines in the grains and oilseeds indexes were the main contributor to the decrease in the crops index. The oilseeds index dropped 17.7% in December 2023 compared with the same month a year earlier, due to lower prices for canola (-18.7%), soybeans (-12.8%) and flaxseed (-29.7%). Prices for oilseeds, particularly canola, were under pressure, as Canadian exports of canola fell 41.6% in December compared with the same month a year earlier.

The grains index decreased 17.7% in December compared with the same month in 2022. The decline was driven by lower prices for corn (-24.8%), wheat (excluding durum) (-20.8%) and barley (-19.0%). Despite lower production, especially in Western Canada where growing conditions were generally drier than in 2022, grain prices were under pressure as a result of improving global wheat supplies and a larger global corn harvested in 2023.

Mitigating the year-over-year decline in the total crops index in December were increases in the price indexes for fresh fruits (+8.8%), specialty crops (+8.4%), vegetables (+4.8%) as well as fresh potatoes (+3.1%).

The specialty crops index recorded year-over-year growth in December 2023, mainly due to an increase in lentil prices (+16.7%). Restricted supply supported lentil price gains.

Shrinking cattle herd contributes to higher cattle and calves index

In December, the livestock and animal products index increased 6.3% compared with December 2022, the third consecutive year-over-year gain.

The cattle and calves index recorded the largest year-over-year increase among all FPPI components, up 24.7% in December 2023. Elevated feed costs and feed availability issues were the primary contributors to the continued shrinking of the cattle herd. The cattle and calves inventory as of January 1, 2024, was the smallest since January 1, 1989. The value of cattle exported for immediate slaughter rose 27.9% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with the fourth quarter of 2022, while the quantity of cattle exported for immediate slaughter increased 5.0%. In addition, prices for domestic slaughter cattle (+24.5%) and calves (+8.1%) rose year over year in December 2023.