E-Newsletter
Our next episode of Great Tastes drops March 6 featuring one of Manitoba's most iconic menu items!
Which foods can Manitoba claim as our own? Red Seal chef Anna Hymers has been asking the same question, and the Fat Boy burger and the Jambuster are her best leads. Click here to watch our latest Great Tastes video!
NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Canada secures renewed market access with China (includes some beef market access)
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, welcomed a significant step in renewing Canada’s ...
Manitoba Launches Public Consultations on Using AI
The Manitoba government is launching provincewide public consultations to confront the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI), strengthen protections for personal data ...
Deadline to Complete CAPI's Agri-Food Risk Survey is March 7
Help identify the most significant threats facing Canada’s agri-food system, shaping CAPI’s next Agri-Food Risk Report. CAPI’s 2026 survey ....
Statistics Canada Farm Product Price Index for December 2025
The total livestock and animal products index was up 8.3% in December 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year-over-year increase in December....
Applications Open for AAFC's Youth Employment and Skills Program
AAFC’s Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) encourages agriculture and agri-food employers to hire youth aged 15 to 30 for work experience and skill development opportunities..,
Under the Official Time Act, daylight time resumes at 2am on Sunday, March 8 when clocks should be moved ahead one hour.
Manitoba Beef Producers Statement on CFIA
Traceability Regulations Proposal
March 3, 2026 - Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) does not support the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) proposed changes to traceability regulations.
MBP supports the use of a livestock traceability system that strengthens animal health, protects market access, and reinforces confidence in Canadian beef. However, MBP’s board and membership have concerns with the proposed changes. MBP welcomes the opportunity for meaningful beef industry consultation with various levels of government related to our current traceability system and areas where adjustments may need to be considered.
MBP is calling for an industry-led, risk-based approach that builds on existing industry systems, reduces duplication, and keeps reporting requirements as streamlined and passive as possible.
“Any traceability system must improve disease response capacity while remaining practical and cost-conscious,” said Arvid Nottveit, President of MBP. “We’re committed to work collaboratively to design a framework that strengthens traceability without compounding red tape for the beef industry. It is also essential there is sectoral trust and confidence in the system.”
Enhanced traceability must improve outcomes without imposing unnecessary regulatory burden. MBP is not approaching this from a position of automatic opposition or automatic endorsement. We are approaching it from a position of practicality, recognizing the many variables involved in traceability across the beef value chain. MBP will continue to advocate for a balanced approach that reflects producer perspectives while achieving national animal health objectives
MBP’s position is informed by:
1. Risk-Based and Outcome-Focused
Enhancements to traceability must address the areas of greatest disease and biosecurity risk. Regulatory measures should be proportionate to risk and be shown to improve Canada’s emergency response capacity. If the traceability system is to be enhanced, it should target the highest disease and biosecurity risks.
The system should focus on improving response to major disease threats — not add reporting for low-risk activities that provide minimal benefit. MBP does not support adding reporting requirements that don’t clearly improve disease response or address the greatest risk.
2. Integration and/or complementarity with existing systems
Canada’s cattle sector has established infrastructure that contributes significantly to traceability and animal movement reporting (e.g. livestock inspection, transport manifests, use of herd management software, premises identification, etc.).
Regulators should work collaboratively with industry to:
• Identify existing systems/mechanisms that contribute to traceability objectives
• Promote integration and compatibility of existing systems/tools
• Avoid duplication in reporting requirements and not add undue costs
• Improve efficiency, simplicity, and data quality
• Engage in meaningful two-way dialogue with value chain members throughout all stages of any proposed regulatory changes to help ensure beef industry insights and concerns are heard and taken into account, helping to address concerns around trust.
3. Protection of competitiveness and commerce
Any traceability framework must not impede the efficient movement of cattle within and between provinces and international trading partners. Maintaining the speed of commerce is essential to industry competitiveness and animal welfare.
4. Practical Implementation
Any requirements must reflect the operational realities of primary producers, including rural connectivity limitations, infrastructure variability, and cost considerations. Administrative burden should be minimized, and reporting mechanisms should be streamlined respecting producer time.
The best traceability system is one that addresses the greatest risk while capturing information automatically/passively where possible and minimizing or eliminating active reporting requirements at the farm level.
5. Cost considerations
Enhanced traceability must be economically realistic. Producers cannot absorb open-ended compliance costs. Implementation must be practical
Manitoba Beef Producers Statement on CFIA
Traceability Regulations Proposal
and economically realistic.
Our commitment to our membership
MBP will:
• Advocate for a risk-based, evidence-driven approach
• Push back against unnecessary duplication
• Defend the speed of commerce
• Ensure producer voices are reflected in discussions.
We will not support a framework that adds burden without measurable benefit.
Producer input is essential as this process continues.
We encourage members to share specific concerns, operational realities, and practical suggestions so we can bring concrete examples to the table.
Any traceability must work on paper — and in real life.
MBP remains committed to ensuring it does both.
What we’re hearing from our members
We hear and understand concerns about:
• More paperwork and reporting
• Slower cattle movement through auction marts and direct sales
• Technology requirements that don’t work in rural Manitoba
• Increased costs
• Government duplicating information already captured elsewhere
• How data is collected and managed, including privacy considerations
• The prospect of steep fines or other penalties for not meeting reporting deadlines
• The lack of trust in government processes and the need to rebuild confidence in this area.
Those concerns are legitimate — and they are guiding our advocacy.
Have Your Say: Veterinary Services District Model
Minister Kostyshyn has announced the formation of the Veterinary Services District Working Group. The working group will evaluate the current Veterinary Services Districts and Veterinary Services Commission model in Manitoba and provide an Options Report to the Minister of Agriculture.
The working group invites public input on the current model and proposed changes to it.
How You Can Participate
Your input is essential to this process. You can participate in the following ways:
• Submit Written Feedback
o Written submissions can be sent to: vetdistricts2026@gov.mb.ca
• Attend an In-Person Meeting (all scheduled 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
• Fisher Branch: Wednesday, March 11
o Ukrainian Hall, 33 Provencher Street (233 Highway)
• Souris: Wednesday, March 18
o Souris Glennwood Memorial Centre, 39 - 3rd Avenue
• Dauphin: Wednesday, March 25
o Aspen Lodge in Credit Union Place, 200 -1st Street SE
• Morden: Wednesday, April 8
o MCC Room, Morden Access Centre, 111- D Gilmour Street
• Neepawa: Wednesday, April 15
o CE Room United - Anglican Church, 475 Mountain Avenue
• Online Survey: Engagement on Rural Veterinary Medical Services
The deadline to share your feedback through the EngageMB survey is May 1, 2026. Your input will help shape future improvements to the program.
Questions? Email vetdistricts2026@gov.mb.ca
Contract Part-Time Project Manager
Livestock Inspection Services
Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is the exclusive voice of the beef industry in Manitoba. It represents roughly 6,000 beef producers across the province. Based in Winnipeg, MBP is a non-profit organization with four staff and a producer-elected board consisting of 14 district directors, each representing cattle producers in a specific region of Manitoba.
MBP’s mission is to represent all Manitoba beef producers through communication, advocacy, research, and education within the industry to governments, consumers and others; to improve prosperity; and to ensure a sustainable future. Funded by producers through the collection of a cattle check-off, MBP is committed to ensuring a sustainable future for the province’s beef industry for the benefit of our beef producer members and all Manitobans.
THE ROLE:
Manitoba Beef Producers’ membership has given direction to see an expanded livestock inspection service implemented in the province. The contract Project Manager will lead the coordination of this effort with direction provided by the multi-stakeholder Manitoba Livestock Inspection Services Working Group (MLISWG). The development and implementation of a mandatory identification inspection system for cattle in Manitoba will help facilitate livestock tracking and help mitigate potential financial losses to producers and other stakeholders related to theft and fraud.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES:
• Lead in the development and coordination of the Strategic Plan for implementation.
• Responsible for the planning, implementation, and tracking of specific short-term and long-term goals for the project, which have a beginning, an end and specified deliverables.
• Working with the proponents, provide input into the development of modernized legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks to support expanded inspection services.
• Assist in the creation and provision of tools needed to support expanded inspection, such as information management systems like digital manifests, communications strategies to inform producers and other stakeholders about the implementation of expanded inspection (including its value to the beef industry), etc.
• Liaise with other stakeholders on matters such as the creation of a Manitoba-based RCMP Livestock Investigation Unit, the modernization of the provincial brand registry system, etc
• Coordinate meetings for the MLISWG to ensure the project remains on track.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION:
• Postsecondary education in agriculture, preferably animal science, or a suitable combination of education and experience;
• Strong understanding of the agriculture/agri-food sector, including beef production;
• Understanding of beef industry supply chain;
• Knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes, including the ability to review and analyze legislation and regulations is a definite asset;
• Experience in writing documents for government and industry an asset;
• Strong oral and written communication skills and attention to detail are essential;
• Skilled in writing and editing research or project reports, including financial reporting;
• High comfort level for public speaking and giving presentations;
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment;
• Experience with organizing and participating in trade shows, extension events, etc.;
• Experience in dealing with producers and the general public;
• Strong technical abilities, i.e. experience with Microsoft Office suite, virtual meeting platforms, etc.;
• Able to build solid relationships with teammates, project partners and other specialists by fostering teamwork, partnership and collaboration in virtual or face-to-face settings.
• A highly motivated self-starter able to work both in a self-directed manner, and as part of a small team.
• Valid driver’s license.
Note: Some occasional travel is required, mostly within Manitoba. Occasional evening work may be required.
COMPENSATION:
This position will be a contracted, part-time term position for 24 months. Compensation will be determined in the interview process.
REPORTING STRUCTURE:
The term position of Project Manager-Livestock Inspection reports to MBP’s Chief Executive Officer.
