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Ag disasters declared in Manitoba

Ag disasters declared in Manitoba

The 12 rural municipalities are in the Interlake and Parkland regions

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A dozen rural communities in Manitoba have declared a state of agricultural disaster because of severe drought.

The lack of rain in municipalities like Alonsa, Coldwell, Grahamdale, McCreary and Ste. Rose forced the group to make the statement on Thursday.

“Due to the extremely dry conditions, grain, hay and straw producers have faced severely reduced crop yields and pastures have also been adversely affected throughout the growing season,” the statement says.

Livestock producers are worried about having enough feed and some farmers may have to sell part of their herds.

"That's definitely a reality for me," Tom Teichroeb, president of Manitoba Beef Producers, told Farms.com. "Some operations have been able to cope better than others but there's no doubt that there will be some culling."

The rural communities are calling on the provincial and federal governments for support.

The disaster declarations have been made at the local level, but assessments under the AgriRecovery Framework could give farmers immediate assistance, Teichroeb said.

"We certainly are hoping that a government official will go out there and quantify what's going on as a disaster," he said. "A large number of (rural municipalities) have declared that state and I would imagine there will be more to come."

The provincial government has contacted with the federal government.

But nothing can be announced until after Manitoba's Sept. 10 provincial election.

"I can't announce anything at this time," Ralph Eichler, Manitoba's ag minister, told Farms.com. "We'll be working hand in hand with the federal government to make sure we find every available dollar that we can get our hands on in order to make sure our beef herds are sustained."


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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