There are now 22 cases of COVID-19 at the Maple Leaf packing plant in Brandon. On Aug. 10, Manitoba’s provincial health officer, Brent Roussin, announced an additional 16 positive cases in the province. Eleven of the cases were in the Prairie Mountain Health Region, which includes Brandon. Roussin didn’t mention the Maple Leaf Foods pork […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 virus
Most AgriInvest accounts less than $10,000
Farm groups say the federal data discredits argument that gov’t aid must wait until producers use up program money
Data sent to the House of Commons agriculture committee shows that most AgriInvest accounts hold less than $10,000 each. Only a small percentage of accounts contain $100,000 or more, according to a letter from Agriculture Canada to the committee. This highlights why the federal minister’s insistence that producers use their accounts before expecting any further […] Read more
China demands COVID-free food assurances
The Canada Grains Council say Canada and other exporting countries must start standing up to these kinds of demands
Ottawa needs to take a stand against non-science-based conditions of trade, says the chair of the Canada Grains Council. Chinese importers of agricultural commodities recently started demanding that exporters around the world provide assurance that their food shipments are free of COVID-19. Cam Dahl said this is happening despite assurances from groups like the United […] Read more
Sask. reports 42 more COVID cases
There are 42 new COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan on July 23, as well as a death. Manitoba has reported a single new case in the Interlake-Eastern health region. The Saskatchewan cases include 23 in the south region, 11 in central, three each in north and far north, and two in Saskatoon. Of the daily total, […] Read more
COVID-19 forces farmers to go digital
COVID-19 has interrupted the face-to-face contact farmers traditionally enjoyed with their agronomists, suppliers and equipment dealers. Although not as efficient, all parties have come to rely on digital communications daily. Five months ago, communications tools such as live chat and video conferencing for the farm would have been considered silly by most. Not so silly […] Read more
Let the races begin
The 2020 horse racing season exploded out of the gates at Evergreen Park’s JDA Raceway near Grande Prairie, Alta., July 11 as race organizers and the park established strict protocols in an effort to corral COVID-19. It first appeared the race season, which runs until late August, was not going to happen, like so many other […] Read more
Feds’ emergency COVID programs continue to evolve
The government programs for COVID-19 and their acronyms continue to evolve as we move through this pandemic. Canada Emergency Bank Account This is the $40,000 interest-free loan that many producers have been talking about. Repaying this loan by Dec. 31, 2022, will result in forgiveness of up to $10,000 of the loan. It has continued […] Read more
Alta. announces reopening plan for schools
Alberta students will be back in classrooms in September unless there are major changes in the current pandemic situation. Premier Jason Kenney today announced education plans under “scenario 1,” described as “near normal daily operations with health measures.” The province has developed a re-entry tool kit for parents and students that outlines health measures to […] Read more
COVID cases jump in Manitoba
The spread of COVID-19 through Hutterite colonies has moved east into Manitoba. The virus has already affected colonies in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Last week, the Manitoba government reported two colonies were in voluntary lockdown after five cases were found. They included a man and woman in their 60s, a man and woman in their 30s […] Read more
Covid-19 will impact global food systems for years to come: FAO, OECD
Two international organizations expect COVID-19 to depress agriculture demand for years and weaken food security around the world. A joint report from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded the pandemic has brought about “unprecedented uncertainties in global food supply chains, with potential […] Read more
