By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Friday January 29, 2021

Jan 29, 2021 | 11:39 AM

Workers in Alberta’s meat packing sector are asking for vaccinations sooner rather than later.

That conversation will be part of a telephone discussion with a panel of experts for members of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 401.

President Thomas Hesse said the plant employees are essential workers and should move higher on the list for the COVID-19 vaccine.

He said the vaccine should be readily available to essential workers who are not necessarily health care professionals.

The JBS Canada plant in Brooks and Cargill beef plant in High River had outbreaks last spring.

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Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) are again calling on the Manitoba government to support the federal government’s proposed changes to AgriStability.

In a statement, MBP said beef producers face considerable risks, including natural disasters like droughts and excess moisture events, the potential for animal disease outbreaks, trade disruptions, and other unforeseen events.

The group said the beef industry has been advocating for changes to business risk management programs like AgriStability and changes are needed to address shortcomings related to cattle production.

MBP added having access to a more responsive AgriStability program could help instill greater confidence in cattle producers and encourage future investment and growth.

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has asked the provinces to respond to the proposed changes by Sunday.

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Another large farm show was shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) at the Kentucky Exposition Center has officially been postponed until February 2022.

The organizers had changed the show dates to March, but the uncertainty of the pandemic led show management to make the decision to postpone events until next year.

The National Farm Machinery Show is the largest indoor farm show in the United States consisting of 1.2 million square feet of sold-out exhibit space.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF