Farm Labour Big Concern With COVID-19 Outbreak

Mar 16, 2020

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is being felt around the world.

The story is no different for agriculture here at home.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Katie Ward talked about one of the major impacts of the virus.

"A big concern is going to be the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, and what impact health screening or isolation measures are going to have on that program," she said. "We've started investigating that ourselves in the National Farmers Union and we're hoping to have advice for our members coming up shortly."

Manitoba Pork Chair George Matheson agreed with that sentiment.

"Probably our greatest concern right now is if there were large scale infections of it that might affect the workforce," he said. "Number one for their own health issues and also that work at barns, work at the two major packing plants, and even the smaller packing plants in Manitoba, would be under pressure."

Manitoba Pork has postponed its March 25 AGM until further notice.

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Video: How Swine Nutrition Can Revolutionize Biogas Production - Dr. Felipe Hickmann

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Felipe Hickmann from Laval University explores how nutritional strategies and manure management impact biogas production in pig farming. He breaks down the science behind anaerobic digestion at low temperatures and explains how dietary adjustments affect methane production and environmental sustainability. Learn how producers can reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Lowering crude protein can reduce nitrogen in manure, but only if animal intake doesn’t compensate by increasing feed consumption."

Meet the guest: Dr. Felipe Hickmann / felipe-hickmann-963853a6 is a PhD research assistant at Laval University, specializing in swine and poultry sustainability. With extensive experience in manure management, nutritional strategies, and precision livestock technologies, he contributes to improving environmental outcomes in animal agriculture.