Federal Scientists Muzzled by the Office of the Canadian Prime Minister

Manitoba Co-Operator

Stance on antibiotic issues hard to pin down. Story here.

Larry Powell PinP photo.

Saving the Planet, One Meal at a Time

OpEdNews - Chris Hedges

A feedlot near Dauphin, Manitoba, CA.

PinP photo.

My attitude toward becoming a vegan was similar to Augustine's attitude toward becoming celibate -- "God grant me abstinence, but not yet." But with animal agriculture as the leading cause of species extinction, water pollution, ocean dead zones and habitat destruction, and with the death spiral of the ecosystem ever more pronounced, becoming vegan is the most important and direct change we can immediately make to save the planet and its species. Details here.

Related "Overgrowth."

Livestock Die As The Caribbean Gets Hotter

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Oct 8 2014 (IPS) - Livestock farmers in the Caribbean are finding it increasingly difficult and expensive to rear healthy animals because of climate change, a situation that poses a significant threat to a region that is already too dependent on imports to feed its population. Story here.

A cow skeleton in Canada. PinP photo.

Does Farming Contribute as Many Nutrients to Our Waterways as Sometimes Believed? A Unique Manitoba Project Suggests, Maybe Not!

Manitoba Co-Operator

Ducks in a nutrient-rich river 

in Manitoba. P in P photo.

Ultimately, storing water on the land isn’t just about flood control, it’s about capitalizing on available nutrients as well. Story here.

Coming Clean - Canada to Reduce Unregulated Use of Antibiotics in Farm Animals.

Manitoba Co-Operator. Laura Rance

PLT photo

Canadian health and veterinary authorities have been discussing the virtually unregulated and poorly monitored antibiotic use in farm animals since the late 1990s. Full story here.

They’re Feeding WHAT to Cows?

OnEarth

'Poultry litter' is exactly what it sounds like: the filthy stuff scraped off the floor of a chicken coop. Feeding it to cattle (yes, that happens) risks the spread of mad cow disease—yet the FDA has done nothing to stop it. Full story here.

Could a User Fee Curb Excessive Antibiotics Use?

Summit County Citizens Voice

Cattle on a prairie feed lot. PLT photo.

Massive use of antibiotics for food (livestock) production is only marginally beneficial and poses a huge long-term risk to human health, researchers in Canada say. Details here.

We Need a Mandatory Ban on Sub-Therapeutic Doses of Antibiotics for Livestock—in the US (and Canada! PLT)

Organic Consumers Association 

More than 36 years ago the U.S. Food & Drug Administration acknowledged there was a problem with the overuse of antibiotics on factory farms. In March 2012, the courts forced the FDA's hand. Finally, last week, the  FDA announced a plan to curb the routine use of sub-therapeutic doses of antibiotics to treat and fatten up livestock on factory farms. But the mostly voluntary, loophole-riddled “plan” falls far short of what scientists say is needed to stop the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs that now pose a real and widespread danger to public health. Details here. 

Related: "Food and Drug Administration in the US Moves To Phase Out Widespread Use Of Antibiotics In Meat"

Patrons of Community Pastures on the Eastern Prairies Have Their First Meeting

Trevor Herriot's Blog. 

PLT photo

Manitoba Pasture-Users band together to keep pastures under public ownership. 

Details here.

Please also read: "Pasture News of the Week" for more background.

Three Pillars of a Food Revolution

19 Au '10 by: Anna Lappé, YES Magazine

As marketers learn to fake...

Cattle feedlot
l.p. photo

Canada Tries to Peddle Questionable Beef Overseas

Monday, July 26th, 2010 - Council of Canadians

One of the Harper government’s main...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Once again, Harper-Dearest lets trade trump human health and safety! l.p.

Cattle Pastures in Deforested Amazon Now the Size of Iceland

by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.31.09 - Treehugger

The largest rainforest in the world is being chopped down almost entirely for...

Hog Industry on the Ropes

by Elecia Chrunik - THE SASQUATCH - Dec/Jan '09

The Canadian hog industry is in trouble. Supply is...

Who’s Investigating the CAFO-Swine Flu Link?

Oc 29'09 - by Tom Philpott - Grist

6 months after the outbreak, is anyone?

Manitoba Pork Producers To Benefit From $70 Million More...

Editor's note: If this is "sustainable agriculture," what, pray tell, is not? l.p.

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Manitoba News Release
............................................................
October 26, 2009

In response to increased challenges facing Manitoba's pork industry, pork producers will now be able to access 75 per cent of their estimated 2009 AgriStability payment. This increase to the targeted advance payment will make an additional $70 million available in cash flow assistance to the industry.

"This Government is always willing to adjust programs to make sure they hit the farmgate and that's why we're announcing targeted advances to Manitoba pork producers," said federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "We're working side-by-side with the Government of Manitoba to help pork producers weather the
current storm and get back to profitability."

"The challenges facing our pork producers have neither decreased nor stabilized since June when we announced TAP funding available to help support Manitoba's pork industry," said Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk. "This additional funding will strengthen the current cash flow for producers as they persevere through this extended period of unprecedented market challenges."

Earlier this year eligible producer applications claimed approximately $22 million of the $31 million that was made
available to producers through TAP. With the new funding approximately 290 eligible producers in Manitoba will be
accessing an estimated total of $92 million ($22 M + $70 M). The average advance could now be in the range of $317,000.

The ministers noted this additional funding reflects the commitment made last June to adjust payment rates based on a producer's need for further advances and clearly demonstrates on-going support of an industry that is important to Manitoba and Canada.

Manitoba pork producers will soon be receiving a letter advising them of the advance they will be eligible to receive. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2010.

The AgriStability program is designed to help farmers deal with income reductions by providing assistance when their margins fall below average. The federal government pays 60 per cent of the
cost of the program and the provincial government pays 40 per cent.

- 30 -

Livestock's Contribution to Climate Change Hugely Underestimated - Worldwatch

by Robert Goodland & Jeff Anhang - WWI

Livestock and Climate Change: What if the key actors in climate change are...cows, pigs, and chickens?

Sask. Student's Vaccine Tightens Net Against E. Coli

Anne-Marie Hickey, University of Saskatchewan - 10/16/2009

Food and water around the world could soon become safer for human...

Manitoba Brings in New Rules Governing Livestock Waste

Winnipeg Free Press - By: Staff Writer - 16/10/2009

l.p. Photo

WINNIPEG - The province announced today that it is implementing new rules for livestock waste, in the wake of heated...

H1N1 Arrives in Manitoba Hogs

Manitoba Co-Operator - Staff - 9/3/2009 Sarah Kearney - Wpeg. F.P.

The pandemic flu strain H1N1 has crossed over to hogs in various areas of Manitoba...
Please also read - "Green Party of Manitoba Believes Now is the Time to Put an End to CAFOs"
and "The CAFO Syndrome."

The CAFO Syndrome

An interview with Mia MacDonald on China’s
growing appetite for Western-style meat Posted
on 17 Feb 2009 - by Anna Lappe - Grist

====

Across the planet, old ways of farming are giving way to the environmentally devastating factory farms we’ve pioneered in the West...

Photo by Kichiro Sato