CLASSROOM COOKING
Eighth grade students at Ecole Munroe Middle School in Winnipeg were the latest classroom to take part in a cooking demo with MBP. Pictured: Human Ecology teacher Susanne Angus and Chef Anna Hymers. (Photo credit: David Hultin/MBP)
NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
CFIA Update re Livestock Traceability Regulations
June 2 update… the CFIA is planning to move ahead with updated traceability requirements for goats, sheep, and cervids to bring them in line with requirements similar to cattle and bison. The CFIA will also move forward with updated pig traceability requirements supported by the industry. New movement reporting requirements for cattle and bison will not move forward at this time.
MB Senior Rep to US Hosts Trade Meeting With US Trade Reps
Following the release of the Report from Manitoba’s Senior Representative to the United States on the Canadian-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Review, U.S. trade representatives and key Manitoba
Province Provides Hantavirus Update
Public health officials with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care are advising Manitobans that the hantavirus present in Manitoba is a different strain from the one linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship outbreak in early May. There have been no reported cases of Sin Nombre hantavirus infection in Manitoba since 2016 and the overall risk of contracting hantavirus in the province remains low.
USDA Confirms Presence of New World Screwworm in US
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the detection of a New World screwworm (NWS) in a bovine in Zavala County,
Phone: (403) 275-8558
Email: contact@cattle.ca
New World Screwworm Detected in Texas
233-9375
June 5, 2026
On June 3, 2026, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed a single case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Texas. The USDAAPHIS has invested significantly in preparedness and has communicated their plans. They have enacted their response plan and are working to prevent spread to other animals
There is currently minimal risk to animals or people in Canada. Canada has strong safeguards and response plans in place to protect livestock and maintain our animal health status.
At this time, no changes to health requirements for importing cattle from the United States to Canada have been announced. Import health certificates continue to be required. See https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrialanimals/diseases/immediately-notifiable/screwworm for details Should changes be announced, CCA will share updates as they are available.
What is New World Screwworm?
The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly. The larvae infest living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including cattle. Larvae feeding causes severe tissue damage and potentially death if untreated.
In the United States, NWS is classified as a foreign animal disease and is immediately reportable to USDAAPHIS. This detection has triggered a coordinated federal–state response.
What Does This Case of NWS in the USA Mean for Canada?
Canada is free of the New World Screwworm. The screwworm parasite is an immediately notifiable disease in Canada and Canadian laboratories are required to contact CFIA regarding the suspicion or diagnosis of the disease. Canada’s risk of sustained NWS establishment remains low due to climatic limits, particularly intolerance to prolonged cold temperatures, alongside strong import controls and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) oversight.
Information for Canadian Beef Producers
Phone: (403) 275-8558
Email: contact@cattle.ca
Ontario K1R 7S8 Phone: (613) 233-9375
Producers should monitor imported animals for signs of NWS. Symptoms include foul-smelling wounds, visible maggots, irritation, and lesions around the navel, ears, and common management sites such as branding, castration or dehorning. This fly is unique because the maggots feed on living flesh.
Producers are advised to take the following actions:
• maintain accurate records of animal movements (origin, destination, and movement dates)
• quarantine imported animals and monitor closely
• maintain fly control and wound management
• remove hazards that could cause injuries
• immediately report suspected cases to your veterinarian. Suspected cases should be isolated and not moved off premises.
Beef Cattle Research Council has an excellent collection of biosecurity resources at www.beefresearch.ca/topics/biosecurity. Practicing biosecurity and monitoring your cattle are the best ways to protect cattle from disease and infection.
The disease does not pose a risk to food safety, and Canadian food products, including meat and milk, remain safe to eat.
Resources
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) New World Screwworm (Immediately Notifiable Disease)
https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/immediatelynotifiable/screwworm
USDAAPHIS New World Screwworm Response Playbook https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-emergencies/nws
SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT
Big trade questions are front and centre for Canadian beef right nowCUSMA, Mercosur, and what Canada's place in global markets looks like in 2026 and beyond.
That's why we're looking forward to having Gitane De Silva open CBIC as our keynote speaker.
Gitane helped negotiate CUSMA. She represented Alberta in Washington during the first Trump Administration. She served as Canada's Consul General in Chicago. She's spent her career at the intersection of trade, energy, and international policy - and she knows how to cut through the complexity and tell it straight.
She won't have all the political answersnobody does right now - but she'll give you the context to understand the landscape Canadian beef is operating in. And that matters.
Farm Credit Canada opens 2026 Sustainability Incentive Program
Monday, June 1, 2026, Calgary, AB. - The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is pleased to announce that applications for Farm Credit Canada (FCC)’s Sustainability Incentive Program open today for the 2026 program year. The 2026 program maintains the eligible maximum annual incentive payment per operation of $4,000 for all eligible participants.
Incentive payments are calculated as a portion of a customer’s FCC lending, up to a maximum of $4,000 in one year. Existing participants can reapply annually throughout the life of the program, and FCC welcomes new applications any time.
Eligibility Requirements for the Beef Sustainability Incentive:
1. Must be CRSB Certified through a CRSB-approved Certification Body
o Verified Beef Production Plus [VBP+]
o Where Food Comes From
2. Must be an FCC customer in good standing with a balance owing on eligible, existing FCC lending
The application is quick and easy. To verify eligibility, FCC simply requires contact information, an FCC customer number, a copy of the active operation’s CRSB Certification and name of the Certification Body that provided the certification. The program is open for applications until January 31 2027. Apply here.
FCC now has a number of Sustainability Incentive Programs - if you participate in more than one program for which FCC has an incentive, you may be eligible to qualify for more than one incentive payment.
“It’s great to see FCC re-opening their incentive payment for another year, providing ongoing recognition for producers for their sustainability practices and supporting them to contribute to a resilient food system in Canada. As a beef producer myself, this incentive payment continues to add value for the CRSB Certified™ program, and I encourage my fellow producers to consider CRSB certification to take advantage of incentives like this.”
Don Badour -Chair, Certified Sustainable Beef Framework Canada
Learn more about FCC’s Sustainability Incentive Program.
Grain Markets Are Changing. Is Your Coverage Keeping
Up?
Grain markets are reacting to global events, and prices can change quickly. While higher prices can create opportunity, they can also introduce risk, especially when contracted prices rise faster than insured values. MASC's Contract Price Option (CPO) is an important tool for Manitoba farmers to help them manage risk.
AgriInsurance dollar values are set before the growing season and determine available coverage for production losses. For contracted crops, the Contract Price Option allows farmers to blend contracted prices with AgriInsurance values to better reflect expected market prices.
To take advantage of the Contract Price Option, be sure to submit your contracted prices to MASC by June 30.
Walk through CPO with insurance specialist, Rachel Jensen, to learn how it works and why it can be a valuable risk management tool. Watch the video on YouTube »
For questions about the Contract Price Option, contact your local MASC insurance specialist.
Beef Cattle Code of Practice Public Comment
Period Passes Halfway Point—Share Your Feedback by June 12, 2026
The public comment period for the Beef Code of Practice update is already halfway complete and producer input is needed in these final weeks.
The Beef Code sets the national on-farm standard of care for beef cattle in Canada and has been around since 1981.
Producers are encouraged to take 20–30 minutes to submit comments before the June 12 deadline to help ensure strong producer input in shaping the direction of onfarm animal welfare in our sector for the next decade.
Click Here to Participate in the Public Comment Period
What Updates are in the Draft Beef Code?
Updated areas in the draft Beef Code, among others, include:
• Enhanced requirements to provide pain control for painful procedures (castrating, disbudding/dehorning, branding) for all ages of cattle and a requirement to provide pain control for assisted difficult calvings, for both cow and calf.
• New requirements to monitor cattle more frequently during heat waves/high humidity and during adverse cold weather to promptly assist cattle not coping, and to provide shelter (natural or man-made) from high winds during cold weather.
• New sections on mud & moisture and nonambulatory cattle, and expanded section on weaning.
The Canadian Cattle Association has prepared a high-level summary of the draft Beef Code. This summary is intended to highlight key areas of change and support initial review; however, it is not exhaustive. Producers are encouraged to review the full draft Code and provide comments.
Draft Beef Code English French Producer Summary of Draft Beef Code Content English French
Considerations for Providing Feedback:
Here are some sample questions to guide your feedback as you review the content:
• Are the standards workable on your operation?
• How the Code applies across different production systems
• Are there areas that may need clarification or adjustment
• What is working well and should remain unchanged
Visit the Canadian Cattle Association website at www.cattle.ca/beef-code to explore frequently asked questions, access additional resources, and request a recording of the Public Comment Period webinar for producers.
Why a Tighter Calving Window Matters:
More Calves, More Weight, More Profit
A tighter calving season can make a noticeable difference in calf performance and overall herd profitability. Concentrating births into a defined period increases average weaning weight, improves marketing opportunities, and can simplify herd management. If a tighter calving window could add pounds at weaning and dollars to your bottom line without extra cost, what’s holding your herd back?
It's difficult to change overnight, but if you are persistent and take one step at a time you will see results!
- Jack Lalanne
Tightening the Window: How It Works
The analysis looked at nine benchmark farms and modeled what happens when the calving season is tightened to three defined cycles: 70 percent calving in the first cycle, 20 percent in the second, and 10 percent in the third.
The transition was assumed to take place gradually over five years. Bulls were pulled five days earlier each year, and heifers were bred two to four weeks ahead of the cow herd. Importantly, this strategy did not require additional cash expenses. The primary expected benefit was heavier weaning weights. The goal was to avoid a surge in open cows.
What is the COP Network?
The Canadian Cow-calf Cost of Production Network (COP Network) uses standardized data collection which allows for comparison both within and between provinces, and internationally Since launching in 2021, the COP Network has collected data from over 235 producers contributing to 64 cow-calf benchmark farms that represent various production systems. Each benchmark is based on data from 3-7 producers. Data collection occurs every 5 years with annual indexing of input and output prices, as well as crop and forage yields, in subsequent years. Individual benchmark farm summaries, can be found at: https://canfax.ca/resources/cost-ofproduction/cop-results.html
No extra cash expense is needed just management changes like pulling bulls earlier and frontloading heifers.
Dollars on the Ground
Small changes can produce big results - but the areas of highest leverage are often the least obvious - Peter Senge
Revenue gains from a tighter calving season ranged from $5 per cow to $30 per cow, depending on the farm’s starting point (data was from the 2020 production year - with current prices these values would be higher).
Operations that began with a long calving season saw the largest benefits, while those already close to the 70-20-10 distribution saw only modest improvements.
Calving Distribution (70%-20%-10%)
Increased Revenue (Yr-5 vs. baseline)
For example, farm ON-4 already had more than 85 percent of its herd calve within the first two cycles. By shifting to the 70-20-10 target, revenue was projected to rise by only about $5 per cow. In contrast, farms with more prolonged calving seasons were able to capture much larger gains as heavier average weaning weights improved total revenue.
Chasing a tighter calving window may not pay off if you already have most calves born in the first two cycles; but farms with long calving seasons stand to gain the most from shifting to a shorter window.
What This Means for You
For producers already managing a short calving period, the effort of pushing for even more concentration may not justify the limited gains. However, for those with a longer calving season, the potential to add significant revenue without additional costs makes a strong case for gradually tightening the window.
Management practices like pulling bulls earlier and front-loading heifers are simple adjustments that can help shift calving distribution over time. Tracking calving dates also provides valuable records to measure progress and evaluate the payoff.
Key Takeaways
Learn how to keep records on calving distribution here, and estimate the value of calving distribution here. More information about the economics of calving distribution and how to transition to a shorter calving season can be found here
• Moving toward a 70-20-10 calving distribution can increase revenue by $5 to $30 per cow, depending on the baseline.
• The main benefit of a tighter calving window is heavier weaning weights, without added expenses.
• Farms with already short calving seasons see limited gains, while those that are currently more prolonged can capture much larger benefits.
• Gradual changes such as pulling bulls earlier each year and breeding heifers ahead of the cow herd can successfully transition a herd over five years.
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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.
