Manitoba Beef Producers E-Newsletter: June 26/2026

E-Newsletter Hello Summer

Highlights

• Disaster Financial Assistance Launched for June Heavy Rainsp. 3

• Alberta Beef Producers and Canadian Cattle Association reach Interim Participation Agreement - p. 5

• Canadian Beef Industry Conference Speaker Spotlight: Communication Across Generations - p. 8

• Research Participants Wanted to Understand Public Views on Prescribed Fire in the Prairiesp. 9

NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

Canada expanding high-speed Internet access in rural and remote areas in Manitoba

The federal government has announced over $96.8 million in federal funding for a project by Valley Fiber Ltd. to bring high-speed Internet access to communities across MB ...

Manitoba Government to Join Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan

The Manitoba government joined the Team Canada trade mission in Tokyo, Japan from June 23 to 26 to strengthen commercial relationships, promote Manitoba’s agricultural ...

Manitoba Government Investing in 24 Highway Construction Projects

The Manitoba government has launched the 2026 summer construction season with more than $585 million in investments across 24 infrastructure projects, strengthening key ...

Improvements to PTH 2 in Westman Region

The Manitoba government is advancing improvements to Provincial Trunk Highway 2, with the project currently in the design phase and an invitation to tender anticipated this fall...

Notice to Industry -- Final Implementation of Feed Regulations

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reminds stakeholders that the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came fully into force on December 17, 2025, including licensing requirements set out in sections 18 to 33 of the Regulations. In most cases, imported livestock feed, including single ingredient feeds (SIFs) listed in Part 1 of the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT), must be: registered, or imported by a licence holder. A temporary transition period was implemented following the coming-into-force date to allow for the entry of shipments that were in transit and to support stakeholder transition to the new regulatory requirements. This transition period will end on July 20, 2026.

Registration For Fall Term of MPI's Driver Z Program Starts July 3

Registration for the fall term of MPI’s popular high school driver education program, Driver Z, begins July 3. With start dates in September, October, and November, available courses for the fall session will be posted on the Driver Z Course Finder on Friday, July 3 to allow parents, guardians and students to plan ahead and determine which course offering works best for them. Students interested in registering must sign up as a new MPI customer and purchase the Driver Education service at a MPI Service Centre or Autopac broker by end of day on Saturday, July 4 to be eligible to receive an invitation for a registration window.

Disaster Financial Assistance Launched for 2026

June Heavy Rains

Manitoba has established a DFA program for the 2026 June Heavy Rains.

• Program Announcement Date: June 11, 2026

• Deadline to request DFA: September 9, 2026

Primary residences, farms, businesses and nonprofit organizations

Primary residences, farms, businesses and nonprofit organizations with impacts related to the heavy rains may apply to the DFA program.

Insurable damages are not eligible for DFA. Secondary properties such as cottages are never eligible for DFA. In addition, DFA does not assist with loss of income, revenue, wages, market share or opportunity.

Refer to the DFA webpage for more details.

Community Engagement Sessions: EMO staff will be available to answer your questions about DFA. View the schedule.

Apply for DFA

• Deadline to submit invoices and event related expenses: June 11, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

AAFC Collecting Agroclimate Impact Reports for June

We are now collecting AIR reports for June.

For much of the country conditions have been cooler and wetter than normal. While this has brought significant drought relief, many areas are now struggling with saturated soils and standing water and flooding. In BC, hot dry conditions have increase the extent and severity of drought.

Help Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada verify the impacts of these conditions in your region. Please respond to one of the links below: English French

As always, please consider sharing these links with your colleagues and networks.

During these extreme weather events knowing the severity and extent of the impacts is vitally important in ensuring producers get the assistance that they need.

To get added to the email reminders, all you need to do is send a quick email to droughtwatch@agr.gc.ca with AIR Reporter in the subject line.

To learn more about AIR, follow this link.

To view previous Agroclimate Impact maps, follow this link. Or see some of the other resources we produce on the AAFC Weather and Drought home page. Thank you for your participation!

Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) and Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) reach Interim Participation Agreement

June 17, 2026

Calgary, AB — The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) have reached an interim participation agreement following motions passed in principle by the CCA at its Annual General Meeting.

Under the agreement, ABP will provide gap funding to support the CCA from July 1 to August 31, 2026. During this period, ABP’s elected representatives to the CCA will participate in meetings and discussions as non-members.

The agreement follows CCA’s agreement-in-principle to bylaw reforms recommended by the Provincial Working Group, which includes representatives from each of CCA’s provincial member organizations. These recommendations will be presented again for approval at CCA’s Semi-Annual Meeting in August.

“The interim participation agreement is important to maintain Alberta’s voice in national advocacy and policy discussions,” says CCA President Tyler Fulton. “The proposed bylaw revisions represent necessary evolution for our 94-year-old organization, and the board and provincial member associations are confident that we are positioning our organization for continued and improved success advocating on behalf of all Canadian cattle producers.”

“Alberta Beef Producers appreciates the dedication of the Provincial Working Group in developing thoughtful recommendations to the CCA,” says ABP Chair Doug Roxburgh. “The interim participation agreement gives Alberta a voice as the conversations around organizational evolution continue at the national level. We look forward to the results of the CCA’s Semi-Annual Meeting in August, and the conversations that follow at ABP through our Producer Meetings in the fall and Annual General Meeting in December.”

CCA and ABP are committed to clear communication with their respective stakeholders throughout the interim participation agreement.

Media Contacts:

Tina Zakowsky

Communications Manager

Canadian Cattle Association

Debra Murphy

Stakeholder Relations Manager

Alberta Beef Producers 403-451-0931 | zakowskyt@cattle.ca 403-451-1176 | debram@albertabeef.org

PUBLIC STATEMENT

For Immediate Release

June 24, 2026

BCRC and CCA Statement on Funding for Federal Scientists at University of Guelph

The Beef Cattle Research Council and Canadian Cattle Association are pleased with the recent announcement that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will fund the salaries of Dr. Óscar López-Campos and Dr. Nuria Prieto at the University of Guelph for a two-year period. This funding will help reinvigorate the University’s meat science program, maintain ongoing industry research and provide valuable training opportunities for students and future beef researchers.

This was one of the key requests made by the CCA and BCRC when the AAFC cuts were announced in late January, and we acknowledge the efforts made by the University, AAFC and Drs. López-Campos and Prieto to achieve this result.

Dr. Óscar López-Campos has led industry efforts to continuously improve beef carcass grading technology, as well as the recent harmonization of the Canadian and U.S. yield grades. He is also well-known and respected for engaging young producers with the importance of carcass merit through annual 4-H club competitions in Alberta.

Dr. Nuria Prieto’s expertise in evaluating beef tenderness, flavour and juiciness is critical in evaluating how changes to beef cattle diets and production systems impact consumer acceptability, as well as in comparing the eating quality of Canadian beef to those of our international competitors.

“While the funding announcement is positive for the Canadian beef industry, it is important to note that AAFC’s salary support is for a two-year period,” says CCA President Tyler Fulton. “We strongly support the University’s ongoing efforts to build the case to make these permanent faculty positions within the Ontario Agriculture College.”

This move follows the closure of AAFC’s Lacombe Research and Development Centre this past January. That closure was part of government-wide agriculture research closures and cuts. The work done at Lacombe by Drs. López-Campos and Prieto was the only beef carcass quality and meat science research program in Canada.

The Lacombe Research Centre compiled an immense amount of carcass composition and beef quality data and technologies over its history. Transitioning this crucial data and equipment from Lacombe to Guelph would ensure past expenditures by industry and taxpayers to Lacombe are not lost and would continue to deliver value while simultaneously building on and benefitting from past research at the University of Guelph. The loss of either resource would be detrimental to Canadian beef and cattle competitiveness.

Canada’s beef industry will continue to support and work to strengthen research at AAFC’s remaining facilities as well as universities in the interests of strengthening the continued competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian cattle and beef.

For further information, contact: Tina Zakowsky

Communications Manager Canadian Cattle Association 403-451-0931 | zakowskyt@cattle.ca

Laura Monchuk Communications Specialist Beef Cattle Research Council monchukl@beefresearch.ca

Additional news

MPI Urges Customers to Report StormRelated Claims

MPI has received approximately 24,000 claims since the severe weather in southern Manitoba on June 9. MPI is reminding customers to open their claims as soon as possible to help us fully understand the total number of claims and the overall impact of this event.

Take Precautions Against Lyme Disease, West Nile Virus

Public health officials with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care are reminding Manitobans to take precautions against Lyme disease and West Nile virus (WNV). To learn more about tick-borne disease, prevention and treatment, visit https://gov.mb.ca/ health/publichealth/cdc/tickborne/. For more information about West Nile virus, including prevention, symptoms, weekly average trap counts of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, fact sheets, posters and information for municipalities and health-care providers, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv/.

Every ranch family has a future.

Not every ranch family has a plan.

Succession planning is one of the most important conversations a ranch family can have, yet it is often the one that gets pushed to "after calving," "after haying," or "when the time is right."

At CBIC 2026, join Trevor MacLean of MNP for a practical discussion on ranch succession planning and the realities facing farm and ranch families today.

Whether you are planning your own retirement, working alongside the next generation, or waiting for clarity on what comes next, this session will provide practical insights and a framework for moving the conversation forward. Because succession planning isn't just about land, cattle, or paperwork.

It's about people.

Help Us Understand Public Views on Prescribed Fire in the Prairies

(Alberta • Saskatchewan • Manitoba)

Interested in land, conservation, or prairie ecosystems?

Curious about prescribed fire (controlled burning)?

Are you:

18 years or older?

Take our survey (30 minutes) and share your views on prescribed fire in the Prairies. Participants may choose to enter a prize draw for Amazon gift cards after completing the survey. The draw includes one $500 prize, three $100 prizes, and four $50 prizes.

For More Information, Contact: Jeremy Mumford Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba mumfordj@myumanitoba.ca

Living in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba? Take the Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2ZCWDRW

Applications for The Environmental Stewardship Award

Due to MBP by December 18, 2026

Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is accepting applications until Friday, December 18, 2026 for consideration for the local awarding of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA).

Since 1996, TESA has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices and set positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public. As stewards of a vast portion of the Canadian landscape, Canada’s beef cattle producers play a significant role in protecting and enhancing the environment. They continuously strive to improve existing stewardship conservation practices to create a sustainable future – always farming for tomorrow.

At the local level, a producer receives provincial recognition for their outstanding environmental contributions. In Manitoba, this occurs in conjunction with MBP’s annual general meeting in February. All provincial award recipients then move forward to compete for national recognition from the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). The national TESA recipient is announced during the CCA’s semi-annual meeting held in mid-summer or early fall.

Each nominee exemplifies significant innovation and attention to a wide range of environmental stewardship aspects in their farm or ranch operation. Such innovations extend beneficially to areas far beyond their land, including water, wildlife and air.

How to Nominate

All beef cattle operations in Canada are eligible to apply for consideration for TESA. Interested producers can either nominate themselves, or be nominated by another individual or an organization. All methods are equally encouraged. More details and the application form can be found at: TESA Information

Note: If you are a producer who is considering self-nomination, MBP can provide you with guidance and suggestions on completing the application process.

The completed application form, along with all supporting documentation (such as letters of support, photos and/or videos), is to be submitted to Manitoba Beef Producers by email to info@mbbeef.ca no later than Friday, December 18, 2026. If you have questions, please contact the MBP office at 204-772-4542.