B.C. funds livestock disease fight
The British Columbia government plans to invest $5 million to help protect farms from animal diseases, including avian influenza, swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.
The funding will help farmers and ranchers develop an emergency action plan to prevent and quickly respond to disease outbreaks in the livestock and poultry sector.
The investment will also support industry associations with a variety of measures, including business planning, research, biosecurity measures and equipment purchases needed to respond to an animal disease outbreak.
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RCMP have charged a 51-year-old Weyburn man after an altercation at the Pioneer elevator at Corinne, Sask. July 22.
The new animal disease preparedness and response program is part of the $200 million the province is spending on food security initiatives.
Canola growers named top employer
The Canadian Canola Growers Association has been recognized as an exceptional place to work by Manitoba’s Top 100 Employers for the third time.
The association, as well as other contest winners, were assessed on eight criteria including: workplace, work atmosphere, benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications, performance management, training and development, and community involvement.
Ontario to increase vet school spaces
The Ontario government is increasing veterinary spaces for the first time since 1988 and adding incentives to address critical shortages in veterinary care.
This investment includes support for a new Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program in Rural and Northern Community Practice between the University of Guelph and Lakehead University.
Lakehead has campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.
The new program is aimed at ensuring livestock producers have the necessary veterinary services needed to expand operations.
It will also provide loan assistance to recently graduated veterinarians to practise in under-serviced areas and support large animal care.
Funding will help expand facilities in Guelph and build specialized labs and clinical facilities unique to veterinary science in the Thunder Bay region.
Feds fund Ag in the Classroom
The federal government is providing $1 million over two years for Agriculture in the Classroom Canada’s new digital agriculture awareness campaign.
The new I Am Agriculture digital campaign is aimed at inspiring youth to explore career paths in the agriculture industry.
A new website page, videos and social campaign will help showcase the agriculture industry.
The funding will also support the second year of the Great Canadian Farm Tour beginning in April.
The tours foster conversations between students and farmers about where their food comes from.
More information is at aitc-canada.ca.
