To be eligible for the $400 CRSB Certified Producer Incentive, producers must maintain and update their certification as of June 30, 2026 or have been CRSB-certified between Jan. 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 and have completed all related eligibility requirements, including:

• agreeing to share information with the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) for chain of custody purposes
• submitting cattle birth dates into the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS)
• submitting move-in events on the CLTS
• moved in cattle are to be from CRSB certified operations to maintain chain integrity

Producers can expect the payments in October.

“(The incentive) serves as a thank you from the CRSB and its supply chain partners that the investments beef producers have made to become certified do not go unnoticed,” said CRSB chair Ryan Beierbach in a press release.

In 2023, the CRSB ran a pilot credit program funded by Cargill, which provided a top-up payment to producers who received less than $400 for qualifying cattle in 2022.

“The Cargill Recognition Credit was provided in collaboration with the CRSB, with the intention that this CRSB Certified Producer Incentive would replace it,” said Andrea White, CRSB director of marketing and stakeholder relations in an email to Glacier FarmMedia.

The new incentive will also pay out a full $400, regardless of where cattle were processed, rather than topping up producer payments, White said.

The incentive is also aimed at upholding CRSB sustainability standards in production and processing focused on the principles of natural resources, people and the community, animal health and welfare, food, and efficiency and innovation.

The incentive is set to continue annually with payments determined by amounts of CRSB Certified beef sold by enrolled producers. Funds will be distributed evenly amongst the eligible producers.

There are 1,243 farms and ranches that are CRSB Certified, encompassing 4.8 million acres of grazing land across the country. There are nine companies that source this beef, the CRSB website shows.

To become certified, a producer has to go through a certification body – either Verified Beef Production Plus or Where Food Comes From – which performs a risk assessment based on the findings from an on-site audit of the operation. The operation must meet a minimum level of “Achievement” on the principles of sustainable beef to become certified. Producers may also have to undergo pre-certification training.

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“CCA has launched an online traceability feedback survey to ensure that producers have an opportunity to share their feedback,” the organization said on social media.

It includes 15 questions, including the importance of traceability to the Canadian beef industry, level of support for “enhancing” the current traceability system and the regulations’ importance to producers.

This gathering of information comes nearly one month after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced that it was pausing the publication of proposed amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations, which that was intended to occur this spring.

The move followed weeks of outcry from beef producers across Canada.

The proposed regulations are aligned with the Cattle Implementation Plan, which was established by all sectors of industry at the National Cattle Traceability Summit in August 2011 and adopted in 2016. A summary of the plan can be found on the CCIA website.

Many worry that the regulations will unnecessarily burdensome for those who raise, move, feed, and purchase animals.

Across social media platforms and at meetings, producers expressed concern with “government overreach” and said they would not comply with the regulations.

Many producers and provincial organizations also said there had been insufficient communication on the part of industry leaders, the CFIA and the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency.

“The Canadian Cattle Association has, and will continue, to advocate for traceability systems that work for ranchers and feeders and beef farmers,” CCA president Tyler Fulton said in an X video Jan 9.

“Given the Canadian cattle industry’s reliance on export markets, we need to be prepared and have the tools available to manage animal disease events quickly and efficiently.”

Local cattle associations such as Alberta Beef Producers and the Saskatchewan Cattle Association have scheduled producer meetings, with SCA hosting two traceability information meetings in February, weeks after the annual general meeting where traceability and the CFIA were the hottest topics.

“We encourage Saskatchewan producers to take a few minutes to participate and ensure your experience and concerns are reflected in ongoing discussions around traceability,” said SCA on social media.

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Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has deemed these pigs, developed by U.K.-based Genus PLC and PIC (Pig Improvement Company), safe for use in food and feed.

Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada also ruled that environmental and human health risks were no different than with pigs currently available. The CFIA and Health Canada also found no difference in nutritional value, according to a Jan. 23 news release.

Matt Culbertson, PIC’s Chief Operating Officer, called it a milestone.

“We have spent years conducting extensive research, validating our findings and working with the Canadian government to gain approval,” he said in a Jan. 23 news release.

The Canadian pork sector attributes $130 million in annual losses to PRRS, which can cause fever, breathing problems, stillborn piglets and death.

No special label required

Genus PLC doesn’t intend to sell the PRRS resistant pigs until further regulatory authorization in other key markets, the federal government said.

“We are committed to the responsible and intentional introduction of the PRRS-resistant pig around the globe. Gaining approval in Canada is an important step in this process, and we are working with additional countries to gain regulatory approval and protect global trade prior to initiating sales and delivery,” said Culbertson.

The pigs have been permitted for food use in the U.S., Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.

The gene edited pigs won’t require special labelling because Health Canada found no health and safety concerns.

“There is a transparency crisis in our food system,” said CBAN co-ordinator Lucy Sharratt. “If the government is going to allow companies to produce genetically engineered animals and plants, these foods have to be labelled for consumers.”

Organic groups and companies have also raised concerns over the lack of mandatory labelling for foods from gene-edited plants and animals.

Health Canada has been working with the Canadian General Standards Board since November on a public review of the National Standard for Labelling and Advertising of Foods.

According to a 2025 study from PIC, consumers will accept gene edited meat so long as they are educated on the reasoning and how it works.

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Glacier FarmMedia – The Moose Jaw Exhibition Company has been placed under quarantine, effective Dec. 22, due to a confirmed case of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) at the grounds.

Quarantine will last 21 days in accordance with standard biosecurity measures for the virus, at the direction of local veterinarian Dr. Laura Baron, who confirmed the case.

Saskatchewan Agriculture has confirmed that EHV-1 has been detected, but at this time, there is no known connection to the EHV detections in the United States or Alberta.

The province’s chief veterinary officer has been in contact with the veterinarian involved and is playing a supporting role in the case.

Second case not confirmed

The announcement of the case was made by the Moose Jaw Exhibition via a Facebook post on Sat. Dec. 20, and halted acceptance of new horses. The confirmed case was a boarding horse at the exhibition grounds, which has since died.

A second potential case has presented in a horse with strong symptoms, but it’s yet to be confirmed by the lab.

EVH-1 is one of the most common strains of equine herpesvirus in Canada, and all horses are susceptible.

According to the University of Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Centre, “the respiratory disease caused by EHV is most common in weanlings and yearlings. Pregnant mares are susceptible to abortion. The neurologic form of disease may occur more commonly in aged horses.”

The neurological disease is also named equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM).

Baron confirmed the case as the respiratory disease, although a severe case of it, despite public speculation of it being the neurological disease.

Infection vector uncertain

Concern for the situation is high, particularly with recent cases of the disease in Alberta and multiple outbreaks throughout the U.S.

Reactions to the social media post, and following posts such as the quarantine, have included questions about the situation as well as shock, disappointment and concern.

From Dec. 20 to the quarantine placement on Dec. 22, boarding tenants were able to remove their horses from the grounds.

At this time, the exhibition association and Baron are unsure how the horse in question came to be infected.

“EHV is endemic in the horse population, which means it’s kind of there all the time,” Baron said.

“And by virtue herpes viruses, lots of times you get them, and then they lay latent in the body, and then at times of stress use, the infections will kind of pop up.

“So we actually don’t know where the infection kind of came from, or who patient zero was, or where it started.”

The exhibition association and Peak Veterinary Health, the practice where Baron is employed, have been working in close contact to ensure disease protocols and guidelines are followed.

“I think it would certainly be causation for concern in the equine community,” exhibition president Mel Burns said in an email.

“Being a horse owner and having horses on the grounds myself, I too have concerns. I have tremendous empathy for everyone, especially for the horse owner.”

Focus now on biosecurity

Each horse at the exhibition grounds has its own individual pen and access to its own box stall. Stalls are solid, so there is no nose to nose contact between animals, though there is with pen fences.

Wash racks and common areas have been properly disinfected.

“Our top priority is to ensure the safety of every horse on our grounds,” added Burns.

The focus now is on biosecurity: ensuring no contact between quarantined horses, no new horses coming in, handlers thoroughly washing hands and thorough washing and disinfecting anything that horses come in contact with, including tack, water buckets and feed buckets.

“Thankfully, the virus is kind of wimpy, and so the cold will help kill it, but it can survive, up to two to five days on surfaces and up to 14 days in water,” Baron said.

Some tenants and clients were allowed to remove their horses to quarantine them at their own facilities. Baron spoke with them extensively about proper quarantine and biosecurity protocols.

Baron said he made that decision based on her knowledge and trust of the clients and their ability to diligently follow biosecurity. She knows where each of the horse went.

Owners required to monitor

Owners are required to monitor their horse’s temperature one to two times daily for spikes in fever, as well as look for clinical signs such as coughing, nasal discharge and lethargy.

“If they do note a fever, obviously they should contact their veterinarian right away,” she said.

“And then we should do nasal swabs and send away for testing. And, again, just keeping really good hygiene and keeping the biosecurity standards high.”

If horses begin to present signs, they will be isolated for 21 days following their last day of fever and other clinical signs to ensure they are done shedding the virus.

Once the virus is present, the only treatment is pain medications, NSAIDs and occasionally additional supportive measures until the virus has run its course.

Vaccinations for EVH-1 are available, though they don’t provide 100 per cent protection, much like the human flu vaccine. The vaccines do not protect against EHM.

An information session is being hosted Dec. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Centre in Moose Jaw with Baron and Dr. Tyra Dickson, Saskatchewan’s animal health and welfare veterinarian.

There is also a Teams meeting link available for virtual attendance posted on the MJ Ex Co.’s Facebook page.

For additional support or information, horse owners should contact their local veterinarian. Baron also recommends information on the American Association of Equine Practitioners website.

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The fleece and conformation of Canadian alpacas impressed an American judge at the Canadian Western Agribition Alpaca Halter Show and Fleece competitions.

Beverly Brehm has been a certified judge since 2019 and was particularly appreciative of the care that Canadians show for conformation, such as legs, ears, mouth, and bite, noting she didn’t see a single incorrect bite.

Read: More Canadian Western Agribition coverage.

“It means that they’re placing a lot of value on the things that are very important,” Brehm said.

“Like the eating aspect, being able to graze correctly, get the food in the alpaca’s mouth so that it can grow, and that’s where that correct bite is really, really important.”

Cathy Merkley, an alpaca owner and judge for more than 20 years, chalks this up to the seriousness of alpaca breeders, who she said are keen to continue educating themselves.

“We know good conformation, and so we fixed that early on in our breeding programs,” she said.

“Everybody breeds for correct conformation. If he doesn’t have correct confirmation, he’s out. Like, it’s just simple. So we have that fixed in our herd, really.”

While judging the fleece competition, Brehm engaged in a discussion about breeding capabilities with some of the volunteers. One area that particularly fascinated her is Canadians’ ability to rapidly improve fleece length and continue to produce a very long stapling length.

“In the ‘A’ fleeces that I was looking at, which is the juvenile fleeces, their first fleece after birth, they have a massive stapling, which is not something that we normally see in that age group in the U.S.,” she said.

“And so some of the conversations that we were having was, is it something that they’re trait selecting for or are they doing it out of necessity? Because it is quite a bit colder here, and in order for that animal to survive in the winter months, it needs to have enough fibre for it to stay warm and survive outside.”

Environmental influences may be the most unique difference between Canadian and American alpaca trait selection.

Another difference has been the judging system. Canada weighs fleece as 60 per cent and conformation for 40 per cent, while the United States weighs it 50-50.

Fleece is judged on traits important for processing, such as uniformity of microns (the fineness across the fleece), crimp definition and uniformity and uniformity of colour and length. Points can be lost due to management issues such as improper skirting, weathered fleece and vegetation or dirt.

The 60-40 weighting approach affected placing decisions because when deciding on first place and weighing two animals, the choice comes down to fleece traits.

”I think it probably happened in about three or four of the classes where I really had to make sure that I was focusing on the fleece trait specifically,” Brehm said.

“Versus, ‘yeah, this guy looks great in conformation, but he just doesn’t have everything packed in it.’ So that was a little bit of a difference, besides Canadians having red for the first place ribbons.”

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“This package of regulatory changes is about building a regulatory environment that reflects and responds to the realities of today’s agriculture sector,” said federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald in a Wednesday press release.

The changes to the Health of Animals Regulations and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations fall into three categories: removing overly prescriptive requirements; increasing flexibility and speed; and levelling the playing field for the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

Industries of greatest impact are fruit and vegetable, and livestock — mainly poultry and veal.

For fruit and vegetable producers, the changes include:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables will no longer require prescriptive label.

• Produce intended for further processing, manufacturing, or preserving is exempt from mandatory grading requirements.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables grade standards will be managed by the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation to more effectively meet industry needs.

Changes for the poultry industry include:

• Reduction of traceability labelling requirements for hatching eggs and chicks to align with current industry practices.

• Required testing for Salmonella Enteritidis on hatching eggs imported from the United States to licensed Canadian hatcheries.

Changes to livestock regulation are:

• Increased efficiency and ease in updating animal import rules to align with international standards or new science.

• Updated import requirements for veal to give more flexibility.

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Standing in the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport on Monday morning, he spoke about his recent trip to China, implications of the electric vehicle (EV) tariffs, and the “new world order” of global trade and his upcoming discussions in Ottawa.

Opportunity to move forward

While abroad, Kody Blois, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, and the premier had meetings with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), which is responsible for the canola and pulse tariffs.

“There is a real opportunity for us to move forward in engagement with a number of different organizations and government agencies in China,” said Moe.

“To recalibrate the trade relationship that we have, not to look back, but to look forward in that recalibration and to move forward in a pragmatic and constructive way.”

He hopes that this path will offer good opportunity for the Canadian agricultural community, as well as for the importers of trade partners.

“Look for signals”

As the discussion on canola and other tariffs continues, Moe tells producers and others in the ag industry to “look for signals” of progress.

“Look for signals on both sides that we are finding our way to, ultimately, a conversation between our prime minister and the president of China in finding a path forward on market access for some of our products, and likely market access for some of their products as well.”

Some signals have already been seen, such as Moe and Blois opening discussions in China and the reactivation of the Joint Economic Trade Commission by Prime Minister Carney after six dormant years.

Other signals include Li Chenggang, Chinese vice-minister of commerce, engaging in trade discussions in Ottawa and the review of the EV mandate.

No immediate changes

Moe promised to continue to work alongside the federal government to represent Saskatchewan and Canada’s agriculture interests and to engage in discussions at any level he can.

He said that in all trade discussions, “we need to represent Canada boldly and without apology.”

The premier’s trip to China is a stepping stone in negotiations to come between Canada and China at the federal level, and there will be additional steps. Moe hopes those steps will be taken with federal ministers engaging at the upcoming G20 summit this fall or the APEC summit.

Moe and Blois’ trip didn’t bring about any actionable or immediate changes, but the engagement with China is a promising move in the right direction. The tone of the meetings and discussions were “more positive” than Moe expected, seeming to provide a confirmation that China is indeed interested in negotiating, which was previously unclear.

The premier’s word to producers is to continue doing what they do best, while governments do what they can.

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The 75.8 per cent anti-dumping tariff is the most recent addition to the retaliatory measures China has been taking after Canada enacted tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Standing in the bin yard of the Sixteen Grains farm just outside of Saskatoon, Poilievre said the Liberal government is inadequately addressing the current trade situation by not standing up for Canadian farmers.

He said funds collected from the EV tariff should be used to provide compensation to Canadian canola producers, and also called for a halt of the loan the federal government provided to British Columbia Ferries to purchase new vessels from China.

“I think we should look at ways we can penalize the regime in Beijing for targeting our farmers,” Poilievre said.

“And so far, Mark Carney has said nothing about the canola producers.”

The Conservative leader also made promises for action against the effective banning of gasoline-powered vehicles that is to be phased in starting Jan. 1, 2026.

The first phase includes a requirement that 20 per cent of dealership sales will be EVs, and any car sold above that quota will pay a $20,000 tax. Poilievre added that the phasing in would cost $300 billion for infrastructure and result in thousands of dollars in higher taxes.

“It (the ban) will kill jobs, balloon costs and grind rural communities to a halt,” he said.

“Farmers, ranchers, resource workers would not be able to do their jobs because EVs don’t work over long distances and in cold weather. It would literally erase many small towns from the map.”

Electric vehicles work in cold weather, but battery life can be reduced.

He equated the ban of gas vehicles with a ban on the way of rural life across Canada, calling it an “utter disaster” that would cripple the Prairies.

The Conservative party is planning to introduce motions in Parliament, launch pressure campaigns in Liberal MP ridings, hold press conferences and events at Canadian car dealerships, organize petitions and other activities.

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The four organizations include Venlaw Manufacturing, the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre (Food Centre) and Ag-West Bio.

The announcement was made at the GIFS facility in Saskatoon Aug. 12 by Eleanor Olszewski, federal minister of emergency management and community resilience and the minister responsible for PrairiesCan.

“As you know, our country’s really dealing with a shift in the global economic and political landscapes,” said the minister.

“And that makes us have to rethink, really, how we do our business. And things like food security and economic resilience for our country have become more important than ever.”

Venlaw Manufacturing will receive $2.1 million under the Business Scale-up and Productivity program. Venlaw is based in Watson, Sask., and has been importing and outfitting custom grain bins since 2020.

“Moving our business from importing and retailing grain bins to manufacturing our own product in Watson, Sask., is an extremely capital-intensive venture,” Venlaw co-owners Rebecca Paszt and Tom Dooley said in the press release.

The funding will enable the business to make the move from import to manufacturing. It will be used to purchase equipment for scaled-up production of a roof roll forming and sidewall line, material handling for finished goods preparation and a finished cold storage building. It also assists with the development of the company’s export market.

For PrairiesCan, the goal of this portion is to reduce imports of manufactured products, focus on Canadian-made and increase use of Canadian steel and local supply chains.

Meanwhile, GIFS will receive $1.6 million to develop a genomic selection-based accelerated breeding program. It’s aim will be to advance breeding capabilities for livestock and crops to increase yield and quality and bring product to market quicker.

For GIFS, this funding builds on the previous $2.5 million it received from PrairiesCan in 2022 for the establishment of Canada’s engineering biology platform focused on food and agriculture.

The Food Centre will receive $420,000 for renovations and equipment to increase capacity for co-packing and incubation space.

Ag-West Bio will receive $20,000 for the 2025 and 2026 Agri-Value Forums to hold the conference, workshops and tours to promote Saskatchewan’s value adding industry.

GIFS, the Food Centre and Ag-West Bio’s funding is part of the Regional Innovation Ecosystems program.

“Agriculture is fundamental and vital to us as human beings, but it’s also an essential economic activity for the Prairies and so for Canada, too,” said Olszewski.

The investments are estimated to create more than 30 new jobs, $7 million in export revenue and $51 million in new commercial revenue growth.

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The facility, designed by Mallot Creek Group, will be 53,000 sq. feet and include technology advancements such as a state-of-the-art tempering room, an automated bacon line, an automated injection system and natural gas smokehouses.

To support construction of the facility, the company will be use senior debt financing with Farm Credit Canada and equity proceeds from an investment group led by the Golden Opportunities Fund.

“The construction of our new facility is a tremendous milestone in the growth story of Drake,” chief executive officer Kelly Ediger said in the May 20 announcement.

Ediger and her family have owned and operated the company for four generations since it was was founded in 1949.

With the facility, Drake Meats will increase its annual production capacity by approximately eight million kilograms and increase the company’s demand and purchases of Canadian pork and beef, the primary ingredients in its products of sausage, jerky, and deli meats.

These meat products and others, such as bacon and ham, can be found in grocery stores across Western Canada.

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