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Manitoba Farmers Urged to Prepare for Mandatory Inclusion Under Workers Compensation

Farmscape Article 2948  August 30, 2008

 

Manitoba farmers who hire non-family members to work on the farm are being told to brace for increased expense, added paperwork and, in some cases, reduced coverage when mandatory participation in workers compensation is extended to a wider range of employers.

 

Effective January 1, 2009 the province will expand the number of industries required to provide coverage for their employees through the Workers Compensation Board (WCB).

 

The change is the result of a 2005 report, compiled by labour and management representatives of the Labour Management Review Committee (LMRC), who reviewed the Workers Compensation Act and recommended that coverage of work places be extended.

 

No Fault Coverage Benefits Employees and Employers

“The WCB insurance system is historic in Manitoba,” states Nancy Allan, Manitoba’s Labour and Immigration Minister and the minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board. “It provides workers with benefits and salary replacement and, regardless of who is at fault it provides employers with immunity from law suites in the event a worker is injured. It’s no fault insurance.”

 

Allan estimates 7,500 additional employers and 30,000 more workers will come under the WCB umbrella.

 

“One of the largest industry sectors is the agricultural industry,” she says.

 

Although some farm workers are covered under workers compensation, Allan estimates there are about 4,600 employers that don’t have WCB coverage.

 

Many Agricultural Operations Access Coverage Through Private Insurance

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) president Ian Wishart notes that while the program has been available to agricultural employers in Manitoba on an optional basis for some time, and while some farms have been picking it up, it’s difficult to get a really good number.

 

“We did survey some of our members and it would appear that, of those that had non-family members as employees, roughly 15 percent were using workers compensation. And then another relatively small percentage were using private industry programs that provided some coverage as well.”

 

Private Insurance Offers Superior Protection

Manitoba Pork Council chair Karl Kynoch acknowledges that some pork producers are providing protection for their employees through Workers Compensation but, he stresses, most agricultural employees are covered through private insurers.

 

“They get more coverage for less money,” he says.

 

For example, he notes, private insurers provide long term disability coverage, dental plans, plans for glasses and plans to cover other medical expenses.

 

“They’re not just covered when they’re at work. They’re also covered when they are off of work. They could be gone playing hockey and they’re covered,” he points out.

 

Kynoch fears employees will end up losing some of their benefits because the Workers Compensation Board only covers them while they’re at work.

 

Spin off Benefits of Compulsory WCB Coverage Possible

Wishart acknowledges the changes will certainly result in additional costs and extra paperwork. However on the positive side, he suspects the changes will help attract larger numbers of workers into agricultural careers.

 

He believes the changes to Workers Compensation combined with the new farm labour standards will mean agriculture will have much more in common now with non farm labour situations.

 

He explains it’s been a challenge for many farmers to find labour so programs like the WCB can play a role in  encouraging people to look at working on a farm as an option.

 

“If we offer a reasonable package, that might attract more labour back to the farm.”

 

Family Members Exempt from the Requirements

Family members who are hired to work on the farm will be excluded from the new requirements.

 

Wishart notes, that exemption is consistent with the new Labour Standards code introduced in July, which also excludes family members who are employed on a farm.

 

“If you were an employee that wasn’t covered under this new Labour Standards Code, you’re probably not going to be required to be covered under workers compensation.”

 

Kynoch considers that to be fairly significant. “For a lot of the small farms, the family-operated farms, if they’re not bringing in labour, they will still have free choice whether to go through private insurance. That’s fairly positive for those farms.”

 

The definition of “family member” still needs to be clearly outlined. Wishart notes that the definition used in the Labour Standards Code identifies any blood relative as eligible to be classified as a family member. And that there is also a clause that extends the designation to anyone treated as family.

 

“It’s really important, I think, to get this particular piece of the regulation correct,” says Allan.

 

She notes the consensus definition recommended for the employment standards code by the employer and the employee stakeholders on the LMRC will probably be the guideline that will be used.

 

“We’re going to consult with the producers and the commodity groups to look at what the definition of family member means so we know who will be excluded.”

 

Pork Producers Call for Flexibility

Kynoch says pork producers would like to see government allow producers the option of maintaining the insurance they are using now, especially insurance that is either equal to or  better than what the Workers Compensation Board is offering and for less money.

 

“We would really like to see the government allow those producers to continue to use their private insurance.”

 

Wishart encourages farmers that think they’re going to be part of this new requirement to make themselves familiar with the rules and regulations.

 

He also encourages greater participation in farm safety programs that will help reduce the risk of accidents. “At this time of year when we’re all very busy we all have to be aware of safety and we certainly want to minimize accidents on the farm.”

 

Staff Farmscape.Ca

Manitoba Expands Compulsory Coverage by WCB

Farmscape for August 29, 2008   (Episode 2947)

The Manitoba government has announced it will expand compulsory coverage by Workers Compensation to an addition 30 thousand workers.

Effective January 1, 2009 the Manitoba government will extend mandatory coverage of employees by the Workers Compensation Board to include a wide range of industries from advertising and marketing to veterinary services including farms and farm service industries.

The changes are the result of a public review of the Workers Compensation Act which recommended coverage of workplaces be extended.

Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan, the minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board, says WCB coverage provides advantages for all involved.

Clip-Nancy Allan-Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration

The WCB insurance system is historic here in Manitoba because it provides workers with benefits and salary replacement and it also provides employers immunity from legal suites so it really benefits both employers and workers.

So we will be extending coverage to about 30 thousand more workers and about 7,500 additional employers here in the province of Manitoba.

One of the largest industry sectors is the agricultural industry.

We do have some coverage in the ag sector but we have discovered that there are about 4,600 employers that don't have WCB coverage so that is an important industry sector for us because they are at risk of injuries in that sector.

Family members employed on the farm will be exempt from the requirement but will be eligible for WCB coverage on a voluntary basis.

Allan says the province plans to consult with agricultural producers and their commodity organizations to clarify the definition of family member so we know specifically who will be excluded.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

Cull Program Cuts Saskatchewan Swine Herd by 10 Percent

Farmscape for August 28, 2008   (Episode 2946)

The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board reports just over 40 of the province's pork producers have participated in the federal Cull Breeding Swine Program.

Introduced in April, the cull breeding swine program was developed by the federal government to reduce Canada's breeding herd.

To avoid market disruptions meat from animals culled under program may not enter the commercial food distribution chain but it is allowed to be donated for use by food banks.

Saskatchewan Pork Development Board policy analyst Mark Ferguson says, once the final numbers have been crunched, the cost of processing donated animals will be close to the 440 thousand dollars budgeted by the province.

Clip-Mark Ferguson-Saskatchewan Pork Development Board  
We've used five different provincially inspected abattoirs in the province.

We basically contacted all the provincially inspected plants and asked them they wanted to participate and if they did and if they had sufficient capacity to meet our needs we were able to utilize them.

The five different plants were Western Prime Meat Processors in Weyburn, Superior Meats in Swift Current, Prairieland Meat Packers in Avonlea, Larson's Abattoir at Leross and Drake Meats Processors at Drake.

We processed nearly 23 hundred sows under the food bank program and I think it's been just over 500 thousand pounds of pork delivered.

We're still tallying the final numbers but that's what we believe we've sent there.

I think it's been a success.

We've given the less fortunate people in Saskatchewan a good supply of protein and nutritious meat for the next year and I think we can all feel very good about that.

It's also shown that we a good partnership with the provincial government and with the food banks and hopefully that can carry forward into the future.

Ferguson says just over 40 of the province's pork producers have participated in the cull breeding swine program and, by the time it wraps up, will have reduced the province's total breeding herd by about ten percent.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

Over 500 Thounsand Pounds of Pork Distributed to Saskatchewan Food Banks

Farmscape for August 27, 2008   (Episode 2945)

The Food Banks of Saskatchewan expects pork diverted to the province's food banks as a result of the Federal Cull Breeding Swine Program to help feed Saskatchewan's needy well into next year.

Last April, in an effort to bring the supply of hogs back in balance with demand and improve prices, the federal government introduced a 50 million dollar program to compensate pork producers who agreed to reduce their breeding herds.

Although the meat from animals culled under the program was not allowed to enter the commercial food distribution chain, use by food banks was considered acceptable.

Food Banks of Saskatchewan executive director Bill Hall says, thanks to the support of the province's pork producers through the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board and with the help of a 440 thousand dollar grant from the provincial government to cover the cost of processing, Saskatchewan food banks will be able to provide their clients with high quality protein for the better part of a year.

Clip-Bill Hall-Food Banks of Saskatchewan  
Approximately two thousand sows were diverted from the cull program and processed and that looks like about 500 thousand pounds of meat in ground and roasts and ribs and it will be going to our member food banks across the province as well as associated agencies.

We have 17 member food banks around the province.

The majority will be staying in the larger urban areas because that's where most of our clients live.

It'll be distributed by various trucking firms that we've contracted.

Certainly we think that if we manage this well this meat will last us at least until next April and it's a real bonus because most of the time we're struggling to just find good sources of protein for our clients.

Hall says it has been wonderful to see how Saskatchewan pork producers, Sask Pork, the province and the association of food banks have been able to partner together to help those in need.

He acknowledges this much needed meat donation has come with a high price to producers, many of whom have gone out of business as a result of the difficulties faced by their industry.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

KAP Launches Consumer Food Cost Awarness Campaign

Farmscape for August 27, 2008   (Episode 2944)

Keystone Agricultural Producers has launched a public awareness campaign aimed at showing consumers what farmers are doing for them in terms of food production and how much they actually receive in return.

Research conducted by Keystone Agricultural Producers this summer shows, on average, only 27 percent of the cost of an entire week's worth or groceries for a family of four goes back to the farm that produced the food.

The percentage returned to the farm ranges from a low of four percent for grain products like bread and bagels to 35 percent for dairy products like yogurt and cheese and the more a product is processed the smaller the farmer's share of its final value.

KAP president Ian Wishart says much of the cost of providing food to the consumer goes into the cost of processing and transportation.

Clip-Ian Wishart-Keystone Agricultural Producers
Certainly we're being asked to do more and more in terms of food safety and getting products ready for the market place in specific identity preserved areas and we need to get a reasonable return for having done all of that so I think the consumer needs to understand what it is we're doing for them and what is the farmer's portion so that when they see something go up 20 percent in their store because of shortfall or because of tight supply they know exactly what the farmers portion of that would be.

It's a lot less in most cases than they're certainly giving us credit for now.

We want to see them ask the tough questions at the retail level and think about the product that they're buying.

If they buy a product that has traveled less distance, that is processed here in Manitoba then they're probably getting a much better deal in terms of supporting agriculture because there's less transportation involved in the process.

Wishart notes Canadians have access to the lowest priced food in the world.

He says, on average, Canadians spend about 10 percent of their annual income on food compared to about 15 to 18 percent in Europe and as high as 40 percent in Asia so Canadians need to realize they are getting a very reasonably priced product.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

Short term Disruptions in Food Marketing Patterns Possible Under M-COOL

Farmscape for August 26, 2008   (Episode 2943)

The U.S. based Food Marketing Institute warns short term disruptions in traditional food marketing patterns are possible as a result of the introduction of Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling.

Effective September 30 Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling will be extended to include muscle cuts and ground beef, veal, lamb, chicken, goat, and pork; perishable agricultural commodities, including fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng; and peanuts.

The Food Marketing Institute represents about 15 hundred food retailers and wholesalers in the U.S. and around the world.

Chief legal officer Deborah White says the main concern has been getting clear direction from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on what is expected of retailers and their suppliers and FMI is working with the agency on interpreting key provisions.

Clip-Deborah White-Food Marketing Institute  
Until we get clear interpretations from USDA on some of the really key regulatory elements it's difficult to tell what the commercial implication will be specifically but I don't think you can rule out that there will be some disruptions possible, at least in the short term, in terms of the supply chain at least until the market sorts itself out and reacts.

U.S. retailers are as varied as the consumer groups that they serve.

Each one is going to have to assess the regulatory impact of the new requirements and figure out how best to continue to provide high quality food products to consumers efficiently.

Some may very well decide to limit sourcing for some items such as produce or particular meat items.

Others will look at the volume of product that they are committed to providing to consumers and decide that single sourcing just isn't an option.

White insists the U.S. retail and distribution industries will do their very best to comply with the law and to serve consumers well.

She suggests, in doing, everyone in the supply chain will need to work together to ensure the law is implemented successfully both in terms of industry needs and consumer needs.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

CPC Calls for Broad Processing Definition Under M-COOL

Farmscape for August 25, 2008   (Episode 2942)

The Canadian Pork Council is encouraging the U. S. Department of Agriculture to allow the broadest possible definition of processing when it begins enforcing new Country of Origin Labelling rules.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its interim final rule for Country of Origin Labelling July 29 and is accepting public comments on the proposal until September 30.

Although Mandatory COOL is scheduled to take effect September 30, USDA has indicated it will conduct education and outreach during the six months following the rule's effective date to allow industry to comply.

Canadian Pork Council executive director Martin Rice says, in its submission, the CPC will be calling for the broadest possible interpretation of processing.

Clip-Martin Rice-Canadian Pork Council  
We're going to be supportive of the flexibility that has been introduced into the Mandatory Country or Origin Labelling regulations.

As a result of changes the made to the U.S. farm bill this year the record keeping requirements are much less onerous than what would have been the case under the 2002 farm bill and there certainly is much more accommodation of existing market chains or value chains.

We'll also be very supportive of allowing this period of education, sensitization, before the regulations become strictly enforced.

And we'll also be encouraging the maximum opportunity for the processing definition to be available for processors.

Pork that goes into processing is not subject to COOL, nor is pork used in food service or pork that is exported from the U.S. so we would be looking at maximizing opportunities to have the pork considered as processed.

Rice suggests that could include pork that has been marinated or has otherwise been enhanced to make it more consumer user friendly.

He says, right now, those may not be considered as constituting processing but CPC will be arguing they should.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

U.S. Processors and Retailers Expected to Determine Impact of COOL on Canadian Pork

Farmscape Article 2941  August 23, 2008

 

North American pork producers, processors and retailers are preparing for the introduction of what is expected to be a complex but far less onerous U.S. food product labelling system than had originally been feared.

 

Mandated in the 2002 U.S. Farm Bill, Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (M-COOL) will be expanded effective September 30, 2008 to  several agricultural commodities. The regulation will compel food retailers in the United States to provide their customers Country of Origin information on a range of products.

 

2008 Version Scheduled for Implementation

Last month the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued its interim final rule for Country of Origin Labelling, as outlined in the 2008 Farm Bill, and the agency is accepting public comments on the proposal until September 30.

Country of Origin Labelling was imposed in October 2004 on the fish and shellfish industry. The 2008 version will also cover muscle cuts and ground meat including beef, veal, lamb, chicken, goat and pork; perishable agricultural commodities, meaning fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng; and peanuts. Although the new rules officially take effect September 30, USDA will focus on education and awareness rather than enforcement for the first six months.

 

Four Labels Outlined for Pork Products

As far as pork, the legislation provides for the use of four labels to define a product's country of origin. Label A, "Product of the United States" will designate meat from animals born, raised and processed exclusively in the U.S. Label B, "Product of the United States and Canada" or "Product of Canada and the United States" designates meat from animals born in Canada and partially raised and slaughtered in the U.S. Label C identifies meat from animals imported for direct slaughter. And Label D identifies meat that arrives from another country. Exempt from the rule are pork products that have been processed, products distributed through food service and products that are exported out of the U.S.

 

Canadian producers have welcome the USDA's latest version of the proposed rule..

"As a result of changes the made to the U.S. farm bill this year the record keeping requirements are much less onerous than what would have been the case under the 2002 farm bill. And there certainly is much more accommodation of existing market chains or value chains," observes Canadian Pork Council (CPC) Executive Director Martin Rice.

 

Commingling of Animals Considered Critical

One of the key change relates to the commingling of animals from different countries.

"They are allowing the Americans to put product from Label A into Label B," says Manitoba Pork Council Chairman Karl Kynoch.

That will allow U.S. processors to mix U.S. born, raised and processed hogs with, for example, Canadian origin hogs. In that case the meat could be labeled "Product of the United States and Canada."

Kynoch notes meat from hogs that have been in the U.S. a minimum of 15 days qualify for the Label B designation so any of the isoweans or 50 pounders sourced from Canada will qualify for that label.

The meat from market hogs imported into the U.S. from Canada for direct slaughter, however, will be restricted to Label C.

Rice explains while Label B allows processors the choice of using "Product of Canada and the United States" or "Product of the United States and Canada,” Label C only allows “Product of Canada and the United States.”

 

U.S. Processors and Retailers Expected to Determine Impact on Canadian Pork

Saskatchewan Pork Development Board policy analyst Mark Ferguson believes the impact of the new labelling requirements on Canadian pork producers will ultimately be determined by U.S. processors and retailers.

"Although the rule is apparently a little more flexible than the previous one, it's very similar to what was introduced several years ago. Everything filters down from the retail level."

 

Ferguson fears, if the rules are considered to complex or costly some U.S. pork processing plants could decide not to purchase Canadian hogs or discount the price.

He suggests, there are a few aspects that remain up in the air and we'll just have to wait and see how retailers apply the rule.

"Its effect on the Canadian market place will be decided by retailers and U.S. packing plants and their ability to efficiently comply  with the rule while at the same time utilizing Canadian product."

 

Some Details Still Unclear

"Until we get clear interpretations from USDA on some of the key regulatory elements it's difficult to tell what the commercial implication will be," observes Deborah White the senior vice president and chief legal officer with the U.S. based Food Marketing Institute (FMI).

The FMI is the major trade association for the wholesale and retail food industry in the United states. Its approximately 1,500 food retail and wholesale members in the United States and around the world operate 26,000 retail outlets and generate a combined annual sales volume of 680 billion dollars.

 

Open Access to Foreign Products Identified as Fundamental

"In this day and age being able to access food products from around the world is absolutely essential. We strongly oppose any barriers to trade that prevent us from sourcing the best products possible for consumers," White stresses.

 

She notes, at this point, the FMI is working with the agriculture department for an interpretation of how the rule will be implemented.

"We're looking at issues such as whether USDA is going to require the countries to be identified in a certain order or a certain order for some products and a different order for other types of products. We're looking at the impacts on the distribution system as well.

Whether, for example the warehouses will need to keep products segregated by country of origin or whether they'll be able to mix them in the distribution centre."

 

Until we get definitive answers from USDA on some of these key points it's really difficult to give clear and specific guidance to people or to understand exactly how workable the system will be she says.

 

Disruptions in Marketing Patterns Possible

White concedes you can't rule out the possibility of disruptions in the supply chain, at least in the short term, until the market sorts itself out and reacts.

"U.S. retailers are as varied as the consumer groups that they serve," she says.

"Each one is going to have to assess the regulatory impact of the new requirements and figure out how best to continue to provide high quality food products to consumers efficiently. Some may very well decide to limit sourcing for some items, such as produce or particular meat items. Others will look at the volume of product that they are committed to providing to consumers and decide that single sourcing just isn't an option."

 

CPC Endorses Key Provisions

Rice notes the CPC supports the added flexibility being built into the system through allowing comingling and the six month education period to allow participants to adjust before the regulations are strictly enforced.

He adds the CPC will also be encouraging the maximum opportunity for the processing definition to be made available for processors.

"Pork that goes into processing is not subject to COOL, nor is pork used in food service or pork that is exported from the U.S. so we would be looking at maximizing opportunities to have the pork considered as processed. I think an area there could include pork which is marinated or other enhancements to the product. Right now those may not be considered as constituting processing but we’ll be arguing they should."

 

FMI Calls for Cooperation

White believes working together is going to be essential.

"Retailers have the primary burden under the law. We are the ones who are required to provide country of origin information but we can't look at a hand of bananas or a pork chop and know what the origin of those products are."

 

White insists the retail and food distribution industries in the United States are going to do their very best to comply with the law and to serve consumers well. And, in doing so, will be depending on sound partnerships with suppliers.

 

"We're all going to have to work together in order to make sure we can implement this law successfully both in terms our industry needs and also for consumers," she says.

 

Staff Farmscape.Ca

Research Shows Low Birth Weight Does Not Affect Final Pork Quality

Farmscape for August 22, 2008   (Episode 2940)

Research conducted by the Prairie Swine Centre shows, while small birth weight piglets will grow slower than their larger litter mates, the quality of the meat they produce will be equal.

As litter size has increased, average birth weight has decreased and the number of small birth weight piglets has been on the rise.

In an effort to assess the impact of litter size and birth weight on the eating quality of the pork scientists at the Prairie Swine Centre recorded the order of birth and the birth weights of approximately 12 hundred piglets, monitored their performance through to slaughter and had the meat from a representative sample tested for eating quality.

Research scientist nutrition Dr. Denise Beaulieu explains work done in Germany has shown that very small birth weight piglets have a different type of muscle fibre at birth and scientists wanted to determine what effect that difference would have on the eating quality of the pork.

Clip-Dr. Denise Beaulieu-Prairie Swine Centre  
We showed that indeed birth weight, as we expected, did have an impact on performance.

Smaller birth weight piglets grew slower throughout the entire study and this we actually expected, however we could not see a correlation with litter size.

That is, just because a piglet is born to a large litter, does not necessarily mean he will grow slower so birth weight but not litter size had an impact on performance.

We did not see any effect of birth weight on eating quality of the meat and that was using very detailed studies that were done at Lacombe and this included chemical studies and sensory studies using a trained taste panel.

They could not detect any effect of birth weight on eating quality of the meat.

Dr. Beaulieu says the research shows producers can continue to select for larger litter size without having to worry about its impact on pork quality.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

Development of Solid Manure Injection Moves Forward

Farmscape for August 21, 2008   (Episode 2939)

The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute reports field tests of its latest field scale prototype solid manure injection system are going well.

The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute at Humboldt, in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan, is in year two of a three year study of a sub-surface solid manure application system.

The two piece system uses a series of discharge screw conveyers to auger solid or semisolid livestock manure to flexible injectors which deliver the material to coulters that open trenches in the ground into which the manure is deposited and the trenches are then closed.

Project Engineer Dr. Hubert Landry says researchers have been working with solid beef cattle manure but the system will handle any type of solid livestock manure as well as other byproducts such as municipal sludge.

Clip-Dr. Hubert Landry-Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute  
Mechanically speaking we still have a number of small issues that we would like to look into but the prototype is functioning fairly well so, from a mechanical point of view, we would be fairly close to being able to go to market.

Now the technology is not proven yet as far as its benefits on the agronomy side of things as well as on the environmental side of things.

So we really need to look into those aspects before we can really foresee a market application.

Also the market uptake is not under our control.

Obviously we have to demonstrate the technology and generate enough interest to make sure that we have a successful marketed option.

Dr. Landry notes the injection system, which is novel, offers uniformity of distribution as well as very good control of the rate of manure application and is a great improvement over what is currently commercially available.

He says the ability to control the rate of application of nutrients will allow the crop producer to take full advantage of a valuable source of crop nutrients while providing the livestock producer an outlet for his manure.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

U.S. Processors and Retailers Expected to Determine Impact of COOL on Canada

Farmscape for August 20, 2008   (Episode 2938)

The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board predicts American pork processors and retailers will ultimately determine the impact of new U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling on Canadian hog producers.

With last month's release of the USDA's interim final rule for Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, pork producers, processors and retailers are preparing for the scheduled September 30 implementation date.

Four labels will identify pork produced exclusively in the U.S., pork produced partially in he U.S. and in another country, pork from animals raised in another country but processed in the U.S. and pork imported from another country.

Sask Pork Policy Analyst Mark Ferguson says, if processors or retailers consider the system to complex or costly they could refuse Canadian sourced pigs or discount the price.

Clip-Mark Ferguson-Saskatchewan Pork Development Board  
Although the rule is apparently a little more flexible than the previous one, it's very similar to what was introduced several years ago.

Everything filters down from the retail level.

The rule specifies that the retailers have to ensure that the products are labelled so the requirements get filtered down all the way back to a producer and so some pork processing plants in the U.S. could decide to not purchase Canadian hogs or to purchase them at a lower price.

The rule is going to be decided, its effect on the Canadian market place, it'll be decided by retailers and U.S. packing plants and their ability to efficiently comply  with the rule while at the same time utilizing Canadian product.

It looks like the wording of the rule is going to give them some options and it'll be up to retailers to decide what type of labels they're willing to accept and how it'll filter back to producers.

Ferguson encourages producers to watch the situation closely, document any adverse effect on price or ability to market into the U.S. and advise Sask Pork of the situation.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

Movement of Canadian Slaughter Hogs Expected to be Impacted by M-COOL

Farmscape for August 19, 2008   (Episode 2937)

Manitoba Pork Council says the biggest outstanding concern with U.S. Country of Origin Labelling is the impact it could have on the movement of Canadian slaughter hogs into U.S. packing plants.

On July 30 the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its interim final rule for Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling and it is now accepting public comment.

The bill calls for four labels.

Label A would designate meat from animals produced and killed in the U.S.

Label B would be meat from animals produced in the U.S. and another country and killed in the U.S.

Label C would be for meat from animals imported for direct slaughter.

And label D would be meat from animals produced and processed in another country.

Manitoba Pork Council Chair Karl Kynoch says the main outstanding concern is with the label for meat from animals imported for direct slaughter.

Clip-Karl Kynoch-Manitoba Pork Council
Back awhile ago we had a lot of concerns that it was pretty much going cut all livestock going south, cut it all off or it would be discounted.

But one thing they have done is they are allowing the Americans to put the product from label A into label B and mix it with label B so, even if they're killing hogs that have been born, raised and processed in the U.S., those can be mixed with, for example, Canadian hogs and be called product of U.S. and Canada.

So that's a real positive.

So any of the isoweans going down or the 50 pounders, they will be able to stay in that category because, as long as the product is there for more than 15 days, it can go into that category.

However we do have some major concerns with the label C which is imported for immediate slaughter.

If animals are shipped out of here at 250 pounds and go for direct slaughter, those animals have to be listed as product of which ever country they've come from.

That is a huge concern right now that we're going to have to deal with and hopefully maybe find some small packers that can deal with that.

Kynoch notes, now that producers have a clearer idea of what the final rule will look like, he is confident they will be able to take the necessary steps to adjust.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

Swine Producers Advised to Avoid Fusarium Infected Feed Grains

Farmscape for August 18, 2008 (Episode 2936)

Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives is advising swine producers to be aware of the risks associated with feeding grains that may have been contaminated by fusarium head blight.
Fusarium head blight is a fungal infection that mainly affects cereals and there have wide spread reports of infection in Manitoba's red spring wheat crops this year.
Business development specialist swine Robyn Harte notes the species common in Manitoba produces several mycotoxins that are of concern to swine producers including Zearalenone, which primarily affects reproductive performance.

Clip-Robyn Harte-Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives
In the case of gilts you're looking at quite low levels of three to five parts per million sometimes, causing things like the onset of an early estrus without any actual estrus.
In sows it can be as low as five to ten parts per million and you'll see reduced litter sizes, you'll see pseudo-pregnancies, so they won't actually be pregnant.
Abortions, you'll see a reduction the number of piglets but you'll also see a reduction in the weight of each piglet so therefore your whole litter rates are going to be lower.
Weak pigs are often born and you see a definite increase in the weaned to mating interval.
When the levels get over 30 to 60 parts per million you'll actually see far more in the way of abortions.
Boars are also negatively affected and that again is in that 30 to 60 parts per million range.
And you'll see a reduction the quality of the sperm, you'll see more abnormal sperm, you'll also see that they're not as aggressive or as eager to breed.
They just sort of lose their libido so there's a number of negative reproductive issues.

Harte recommends feed testing and avoiding contaminated grain or, in cases where toxins might be present, to mix the infected grain with clean grain to lower the toxin levels.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

   *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council