Darren Bond
At the recent St. Jean Farm Days, Darren Bond, Farm Management Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, delivered a sobering message to farmers: it’s time to sharpen their pencils and prepare for tighter margins in 2025.“Commodity prices have come down quite a bit, while input costs have only slightly decreased,” Bond explained, describing the cost-price
Thanks, and keep focused for 2025
As the New Year continues, it’s still the perfect time to reflect on the immense contributions of those who work tirelessly to feed, clothe, and sustain us. It’s a blessing as a farm journalist to witness the dedication, resilience, and innovation of individuals across the agricultural industry. Each of
Janelle Hamblin
Cam Dahl, General Manager of Manitoba Pork, confirmed a case of PED (Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea) in a finishing barn in southeastern Manitoba. He highlighted the effectiveness of on-farm bio-security efforts, noting that this case reported in December 2024 was the first one in 2024.“In previous cycles, we would have seen a significant number
Gerry Ritz, who spends his winters in Arizona, recently reflected on his pivotal role in one of the most significant shifts in Canadian agriculture. His leadership was instrumental in ending the Canadian Wheat Board’s (CWB) monopoly on August 1, 2012, through the passage of Bill C-18, the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act.Ritz expressed
What do you call a pig that looks like a sheep? It turns out the answer is simply a Mangalitsa.For those unfamiliar with the Mangalitsa (also commonly called Mangalica pigs) it is a breed of domestic pig which originated in Hungary.The breed is heavily hair-covered – reminding a lot of the wool of a
Mark Fynn
The Canadian hog industry’s Code of Practice requires all farms to transition to group sow housing by 2029, with steady progress already being made toward this objective.Mark Fynn, director of Quality Assurance and Animal Care at Manitoba Pork, shared insights during the recent Prairie Livestock Expo seminar section. Speaking on a topic he
Jason Care inCarcass Cooler at PLE
The popular Pork Quality Competition returned to this year’s Prairie Livestock Expo in mid-December in Winnipeg, MB, with record participation – 46 carcasses from 23 entrants across Manitoba.The Pork Quality Competition is a premier event that celebrates excellence in pork production, recognizing the “Best of the Best” in the
Rick Bergmann
Rick Bergmann, AGvocate, past chair of the Canadian Pork Council, vice-chair of the Manitoba Pork Council, and president of Buckingham Ag in Steinbach, MB, highlighted innovative solutions for producers transitioning to loose housing.“Canadian producers have to find a way to go to loose housing,” Bergmann explained at Prairie Livestock Expo. While electronic sow
Top place honours a repeat of 2022 to Starlite Colony.
The popular Pork Quality Competition returned to this year’s Prairie Livestock Expo in mid-December in Winnipeg, MB, with record participation—46 carcasses from 23 entrants across Manitoba. The event combines friendly competition with meaningful support for causes like Siloam Mission, Harvest Manitoba, and other charities backed
Dr. Jen Yun Chou
The Prairie Swine Centre is prioritizing more research to help Canadian pork producers adapt to upcoming changes to the Pig Code of Practice. Dr. Jen-Yun Chou, appointed Research Scientist in Ethology at the centre in March 2024, is building on the foundational work of Drs. Yolande Seddon, Jenifer Brown, and Harold
