Reading Time: 2 minutes A wild waterfowl-borne disease creating milk production problems in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico dairy herds has been identified as a strain of bird flu, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says.
General
Disease affecting U.S. dairy cows re-identified as bird flu
U.S. officials say threat to the public is low; cows don't appear to spread infection within herd
Producers welcome change to cash advance program
After much lobbying, federal government increases interest-free portion of program to $250,000
Reading Time: 2 minutes The interest-free portion of the federal Advance Payments Program will be $250,000 this year, much to farmers’ relief. The amount had been set to drop back to $100,000 at the end of this month after sitting at $350,000 for 2023.
Hemp sector disappointed new report ignores deregulation
Reading Time: 3 minutes Leaders in Canada’s hemp industry were hoping an expert committee would recommend significant changes to hemp regulations so it could be treated the same as wheat, canola and other crops. That didn’t happen. Instead, the committee of experts reviewing the Cannabis Act barely mentioned hemp in its 91 page report published March 21.
Dairy farmers urged to be on lookout for U.S. disease
Older, lactating cattle more likely to be severely impacted, effected farmers say
Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. dairy producers are reporting high onset of and high morbidity from Texas Agalactiae Syndrome, with confirmed cases in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico. Lactating cows are considered particularly vulnerable.
Minnesota goat confirmed infected with bird flu
NDSU advises keeping livestock separate from potentially-infected poultry
Reading Time: < 1 minute A juvenile goat in Minnesota has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the first confirmed case of bird flu in U.S. livestock.
Alberta barley breeding centre relaunched
Reading Time: < 1 minute "Western Crop Innovations will carry on the Field Crop Development Centre’s substantial legacy, ensuring its work is addressing the issues farmers are facing in the fields," said RJ Sigurdson, Alberta's minister of agriculture and irrigation in a news release Wednesday.
EU plans to hit Russia, Belarus grain imports with tariffs
Commission aims to curb Russian income, prevent market distortions, placate farmers
Reading Time: 2 minutes The European Commission proposed on Friday imposing tariffs on imports of grain from Russia and Belarus in an attempt to prevent Moscow and its ally from distorting EU markets and placate farmers who have protested for months over cheap imports.
Agriculture workers not mentioned in TFW rule changes
Food processing sees foreign worker limit reduced by ten per cent; construction, healthcare exempted
Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal government announced Thursday that, effective May 1, some sectors would be allowed no more than 20 per cent of their workforces to be made up of temporary foreign workers (TWFs) brought in via the low wage stream—down from 30 per cent since 2022.
Kansas beef plant shuts down after fire
Reading Time: < 1 minute National Beef Packing Company, one of four major U.S. beef processors, said it suspended production at its Liberal, Kansas, plant for a second day on Friday, after a fire.
Funding cut shouldn’t affect local 4-H clubs
AAFC has cut its funding to 4-H Canada by 30 per cent, but group says it has other irons in the fire
Reading Time: < 1 minute A recent federal funding cut shouldn’t affect local 4-H clubs, at least for now, says 4-H Canada. The national organization said its most recent round of funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada totals $1.7 million over three years. In the past, it has received about $1 million per year, said interim CEO Hugh Maynard by email.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
