Keystone Agricultural Producers

KAP speaks up on the issues that are important to both crop and livestock producers.

Latest News

KAP hires Program Marketing Coordinator

KAP would like to welcome Emily Lalonde, who starts today (Monday, November 9) as our new program marketing coordinator.

Emily is an experienced events and marketing professional in the international electric power systems industry. Prior to her work in power systems, she lived in Nunavut for a year working in grocery sales.

Emily is born and raised in Winnipeg, and she is excited to be working in the agriculture sector. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors and continuing to hone her passion for photography.

KAP submission – Development of Rural Crime, Bio-Security, and Metal Theft Legislation

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is Manitoba’s general farm policy organization, representing and promoting the interests of agricultural producers in the province. KAP’s membership consists of approximately 4,500 farm families and 21 commodity associations.

KAP is grateful for this opportunity to provide input into possible amendments and new legislation on rural crime and biosecurity. Statistics Canada reports that in the prairie provinces in 2017, crime rates in rural areas were 36% to 42% higher than in urban areas.

Increased rural criminal activity parallels an increased interest from KAP members to work with government and stakeholders towards a rural crime solution. Since 2018, 5% of resolutions passed by members through KAP’s grassroots democracy relate to rural trespassing and biosecurity. KAP policy, developed through input from all members, is clear in acknowledging that rural crime and trespassing is an issue for farm families and the solution requires legislative action.

Click here to read the full submission.

KAP Young Farmers – University of Manitoba report

Hannah Bihun and Dr. Annette Desmarais of the University of Manitoba have released “Becoming a Young Farmer in Manitoba: A Report Prepared for Manitoba Agriculture”.

This report is focused on determining how young farmers are entering into or continuing to farm, what supports and motivates them to farm, what barriers they face in farming, and how they view their futures in agriculture.

Click here to view the full report.

KAP op-ed – Changes needed to protect farms, animals

This article originally appeared in the October 5th edition of the Winnipeg Free Press. 

Manitobans should be confident about where their food comes from. Manitoba farmers take biosecurity and food safety incredibly seriously because we know that what we produce should meet the highest standards.

Stringent national biosecurity requirements from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency include requirements, depending on species, such as employees showering when entering and exiting a barn, mandatory gowns, face masks, and boot covers, and other standards aimed at keeping both the animals and the food supply safe.

These standards and accompanying programs from the livestock industry are mandatory, enforceable and include third-party independent auditing and verification.

KAP request for information – selection of an online EFP platform

KAP is Manitoba’s general farm policy organization, representing and promoting the interests of thousands of agricultural producers in Manitoba. KAP works for farmers by advocating for policies that will keep Manitoba’s agriculture industry profitable, sustainable, and globally competitive. KAP policy is developed by farmers and commodity group members representing all agricultural commodities and all regions of Manitoba.

The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program is a voluntary, self-assessment process that helps farm managers identify on-farm environmental assets and risks and develop an action plan to address those risks.