Newest Farms in the Southeast is one of 275 Manitoba producers to have received provincial funding to install equipment aimed at ensuring higher levels of biosecurity, traceability, food safety and quality, and animal welfare practices.

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler says biosecurity is important and ensures diseases cannot be transmitted or carried into areas where it may be able to contaminate animals being cared for by a producer. He notes the $1.2-million of funding for improved farm practices was approved for 255 livestock producers and 20 crop producers.

Newest Farms owner showing Ralph Eichler the electronic control system in one of the barns."This particular operation (Newest Farms), as you saw in there, they control the heat, they control the water, if something comes up and the fans go off, they're able to work with that right away to make sure the birds are safe. No one wants to lose any animals and it's all about the best return on your investment. So, if we don't lose any animals that means we're all that more successful."

Eichler notes, it's important for consumers to know their food is being grown and cared for in a good, sustainable, and safe way. He says the healthier the operation, the healthier the product which is a win-win situation for everyone.

Some of the other projects include purchasing and installing low-stress handling equipment for cows and sheep, adding non-slip flooring and stall enhancements for dairy cows, and improving environmental monitoring inside poultry barns.

Eichler adds they have been working with Manitoba Hydro during their Bipole III project to ensure biosecurity continues to be a priority throughout the duration of the project.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen (left), Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler (middle), and Provencher MP Ted Falk at Friday's funding announcement.