News - Agriculture

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre has released the 2023 Manitoba Basins Fall Conditions Report, which indicates soil moisture levels at the time of freeze-up, precipitation received over the fall and summer, and river and lake levels are all normal to below normal throughout Manitoba.

The General Manager of Manitoba Pork is encouraging farmers to ask the right questions of government. Manitoba Pork General Manager Cam Dahl says the provincial and federal governments need to be fighting to make sure our trade corridors, whether to the U.S. or around the world, are not arbitrarily being closed.

Effective immediately, the Manitoba government is increasing the temporary rent reduction scheduled for Agricultural Crown Land (ACL) forage leases to 55 per cent from 33 per cent for the 2024 growing season in recognition of the hardships producers have faced in recent years.

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine advises, with flu season on us once again, there are signs of a return of the H1N1 virus that caused a global pandemic in 2009.

Despite this year’s delayed start to planting and extremely variable moisture, Manitoba Agriculture reports crop yields and quality for the 2023 growing season have been average.

A partner with Polar Pork says a reduction from the record prices evident one year ago in feed grain costs has improved profitability but pork producers are still losing money.

Manitoba Agriculture reports 90 percent of crops across the province are now in the bins. Dennis Lange, a pulse and soybean specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and editor of the provincial crop report, says only trace amounts of precipitation were reported over the past week, allowing farmers to get back on the fields.

The Associate Director of the Swine Health Information Center suggests an accurate diagnosis of the cause of diarrhea in pigs is key to formulating the most effective treatment.

Scientists with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are exploring the effects of early life management strategies in pigs on reducing stress and improving lifetime productivity.

Manitoba Agriculture reports harvest progress across the province was slowed by rain this past week but remains head of the long-term average.