2021

Ongoing drought conditions across Manitoba have a coalition of farm groups urging producers to know their options when making decisions about their crops.

Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA), along with Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), Manitoba Bison Association (MBA) and Manitoba Sheep Association (MSA), are warning that ongoing drought conditions pose a significant challenge to livestock, grain and forage producers.

“With drought conditions reported across Manitoba, we recognize the detrimental impacts across the crop and livestock sectors,” said MCA chair Fred Greig. “Producers need to know their options so they can make the best business decision for their operation.”

Before making decisions about drought-damaged crops, the coalition is asking producers to contact Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) about putting crops to alternative use.

The following statement is attributable to Bill Campbell, president, Keystone Agricultural Producers.

“Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) congratulates Ralph Eichler on his appointment to cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development. We look forward to working with him to grow Manitoba’s agricultural industry. KAP would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Blaine Pedersen, outgoing Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development. As a producer and advocate, MLA and cabinet minister, we have appreciated Minister Pedersen’s passion and engagement and wish him the best.”

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For more information:
Graham Schellenberg, Communications and Government Relations Coordinator
Keystone Agricultural Producers
431-554-8352
graham.schellenberg@kap.ca

The Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) board of directors is pleased to announce that Brenna Mahoney is the new general manager of KAP, effective June 14, 2021.

Mahoney has contributed to and built national coalitions and partnerships focused on advancing grain nutrition and health, farm practices, market access, public trust and sustainability. 

The following statement is attributable to Bill Campbell, president, Keystone Agricultural Producers.

“Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is pleased to see the important contribution farmers make to Manitoba’s economy recognized in the 2021 Manitoba Budget.

The announcement that the provincial government will begin to phase out the education property tax this year is welcome news. We support the delivery of high-quality and affordable education for farmers, farm families and rural residents and have advocated for the complete removal of education taxes from all property. Farmers pay a disproportionate amount of education property taxes, and the disparity between what farmers are paying and what the average homeowner is paying remains an issue. Until the tax is completely removed, farmers will continue to pay more than their fair share.

This article originally appeared in the March 24, 2021, edition of the Winnipeg Free Press.

As Canadians have learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, diseases that travel rapidly and with little traceability can have devastating and far-reaching implications. Governments and public-health officials have made clear the best way to prevent a virus from spreading is to limit contacts.

We have spent a year physical distancing, limiting contacts, not travelling, and wearing masks with the singular focus of reducing transmission of COVID-19. Similar tools are also applied to prevent, mitigate and control animal-health issues.