MBP wraps up District Meetings

Nov 09, 2023

The Manitoba Beef Producers wrapped up their District Meetings with a virtual event on Tuesday.

General Manager Carson Callum noted that 2023 was a variable year with some areas too wet and some too dry.

"It's just a really mixed bag of production outcomes that we saw. So producers from our understanding and over the last number of weeks, in-person meetings, have been able to find enough feed or produce enough feed or have some carryover. So going into the winter months it's not as concerning as say we saw in 2021."

He noted that some producers had challenges with losses during the spring storms of 2022 adding that the Disaster Financial Assistance program can be very cumbersome and delayed.

Callum encourages producers who may still be waiting on assistance to keep pushing or to call their office for some assistance in moving through the backlog.

Source : Pembinavalley online

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.