There is some who think the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic the last several months will lead to some rather dramatic changes in how we view our food.That is an interesting viewpoint, given my own experiences given that I am now 60.When growing up through the 1960s and 1970s, on a Saskatchewan farm my
A theft warning – Reflection As I sat down to write my monthly Siemens Says column, I received this note from a stranger.Hello Harry, I hope you can share some information. There is some grain theft taking place in the Pembina Valley area. Hopefully, if you could share this, farmers will be even more diligent about
The Swine Health Information Center called for proposals for improved oral fluids PCR (polymerase chain reaction) sensitivity. Although the deadline for accepting these research proposals was August 25, the aim is to improve oral fluids’ PCR sensitivity. Dr. Paul Sundberg, the Executive Director of the SHIC, said the genesis of this is a question about
A new foreign animal disease surveillance effort will help speed up the detection of African Swine Fever in pigs should it arrive in Canada. CanSpotASF is part of a suite of African Swine Fever preparedness activities under the ASF Executive Management Board. Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network manager Dr. Jette Christensen explains CanSpotASF is a
Pork producers, swine transporters, and regulatory authorities will reap the benefits of research to assess the effects on pigs of long-distance versus short-distance transport. The Prairie Swine Center and the Universities of Saskatchewan and Guelph with support from Swine Innovation Porc and the Agriculture Development Fund Saskatchewan, said scientists are tracking the effects of stress
The community spread of COVID-19 in the Prairie Mountain Health Region since late July challenged the Manitoba, the Western Canadian, and even for that matter, the Eastern Canadian hog sectors in terms of processing capacity at the Maple Leaf Foods (MLF) plant in Brandon, MB. According to Andrew Dickson, general manager of Manitoba Pork, at
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure has taken on new meaning over the last six months. COVID-19 has taught Canadians that prevention, including social distancing, masks, and handwashing, are small steps that can make a big difference in the fight against a virus.Canada’s pork producers have been thinking a lot
With reports of multiple cases of COVID-19 at the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Brandon, MB, the pork processor voluntarily suspended pork exports to China temporarily. Chinese protocol requires any plant reporting a COVID-19 positive case to suspend exports to China temporarily. Worker absenteeism forced Maple Leaf to temporarily redirect some of the hog farmer live
Tyler Fulton, the director of risk management with h@ms Marketing Services, said a range of strategies helps minimize the impact of COVID-19 related slowdowns at the Maple Leaf plant in Brandon, MB. Uncertainty over the impact of COVID-19 on pork processing capacity continues to pressure live hog markets. Fulton said a number of the bigger plants
Manitoba Pork held its 2020 AGM by Zoom webinar on July 29, with several board members physically distancing in the Manitoba Pork boardroom in Winnipeg, MB, and other board members calling in via Zoom, joined by some Manitoba pork producers and interested observers. Manitoba Pork employee Grant Melnychuk acted as returning officer in the election
