Keystone Agricultural Producers held its Summer Advisory Council Meeting online last week. Here are the passed resolutions from the meeting:
Inter-Provincial Trade of Provincially Inspected Meat – Manitoba Sheep Association
- Whereas, there are provincially inspected abattoirs struggling to maintain year-round viability; and,
- Whereas, these businesses perform a vital function in many rural municipalities and villages throughout Manitoba; and,
- Whereas, these facilities are all inspected at the highest provincial standards for health and safety compliance; and,
- Whereas, COVID-19 has highlighted weaknesses in the dependence on a few large packers to deliver food supply in crisis; and,
- Whereas, it is currently illegal to purchase or retail meat out-of-province with provincial inspection; and,
- Whereas, federally inspected facilities, built to specification for international export markets, are limited in Manitoba and building more is cost prohibitive; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP lobby Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to allow for inter-provincial meat trade with provincially inspected meat.
Pregnancy Detection Services by Ultrasound Technicians – Manitoba Sheep Association
- Whereas, there have been complaints by producers unable to access pregnancy detection services by their veterinarian during COVID-19 as it was not deemed an essential service; and,
- Whereas, there are trained technicians presently available in Manitoba to perform this specialized service in small ruminants; and,
- Whereas, all other developed sheep producing nations allow the contracting of ultrasound technicians for pregnancy detection; and,
- Whereas, pregnancy detection and fetus counting are important management tools in the nutritional management of the gestating small ruminant; and,
- Whereas, pregnancy detection can only be legally performed by an accredited veterinarian in Manitoba; and,
- Whereas, few veterinarians have the interest or desire to specialize and gain proficient delivery in small ruminant pregnancy detection; and,
- Whereas, ultrasound use is minimally invasive as compared to palpation in other ruminant species; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Chief Veterinary Officer for Manitoba, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to allow ultrasound technicians to offer pregnancy detection services in Manitoba.
Right to Repair and Planned Obsolescence in Agriculture – District 1
- Whereas, right to repair is a topic that affects all farmers; and,
- Whereas, legislation regarding right to repair and planned obsolescence in agriculture is being discussed; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP work in conjunction with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to research and actively engage in discussions regarding farmers’ right to repair and planned obsolescence.
Unsafe Highways & Public Safety – District 1
- Whereas, certain highways in Manitoba became unsafe to drive on in spring 2020 and became a danger to life; and,
- Whereas, there is currently no clear system or procedure to report unsafe roads; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP work with and lobby the Government of Manitoba to create a clear and effective system to report unsafe roads.
Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development and Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation Service Levels – District 6
- Whereas, cuts in staffing of Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development and Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) have recently occurred; and,
- Whereas, there is a current emphasis on balancing budgets and reducing expenditures of all provincial departments; and,
- Whereas, producers have seen delays in resolution of MASC claims and have limited staff to access for production questions and advice; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP continue to be involved in discussions with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development and MASC about staff reductions or department restructuring; and be it further.
Resolved, THAT KAP continue to lobby the Government of Manitoba about the importance of the Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development department to the success of Manitoba producers.
KAP Manitoba Farmer License Plate – District 6
- Whereas, in the past farmer license plates identified producers in Manitoba; and,
- Whereas, many other special interest groups and sports groups have license plates; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP investigate the possibility of a KAP license plate to be combined with KAP’s Growing Manitoba Together campaign to promote agricultural production in Manitoba.
Increased Funding for Public Research – District 3
Be it resolved THAT KAP lobby the Government of Canada to increase its funding for public research on grains, oilseeds, pulses, and other crops grown in Western Canada.
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