Governments have invested more than $365,000 in five new research projects in Manitoba including one intended to help reduce the risk of a common, costly and potentially fatal infection in dairy cattle. Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler and Terry Duguid, member of Parliament, Winnipeg Centre, on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, announced this new funding at a dairy farm near Rosser today.

“An investment in research is an investment in the future of Manitoba’s agriculture industry,” said Eichler. “It’s exciting because these research projects are led by farmers and the broader agricultural industry, the people who are best positioned to identify the problems that need solutions and the opportunities we should pursue.”

The research projects are funded through the Growing Innovation – Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative (ARDI), and focus on a range of issues affecting Manitoba’s agriculture industry.

“The Government of Canada’s support for innovative research projects like these ones helps reduce the risk of harm to our crops and livestock,” said Duguid. “When we invest in research, we’re helping our farmers grow their businesses, while driving our economy and helping to feed a growing world population.”

Funded projects include:

  • $180,000 to XiteBio Technologies Inc. to determine whether bacteria living near the roots of wheat and barley can be used to help control the damage caused by fusarium head blight, a serious fungal disease that affects crop yield and quality;
  • nearly $27,000 to Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers to conduct the fifth general weed survey in Manitoba since the 1970s and the third herbicide-resistant weed survey since the 1990s, as the results will help measure changes in the number and type of weed populations and assess weed management strategies;
  • $50,000 to CanaMaize Seed to develop and perform yield trials on a non-genetically modified soybean that is high-yielding and suitable for Manitoba’s shorter growing season;
  • more than $47,000 to the University of Manitoba to evaluate prairie cordgrass as a potential source of biomass energy as compared to other perennial grasses, with the goal of developing a breeding program in Manitoba; and
  • more than $61,000 to Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM) to identify more effective prevention and control programs for mastitis, a costly disease affecting dairy cattle.

Mastitis is the most costly disease affecting the dairy industry, resulting in decreased milk yields, lower milk quality, higher veterinary treatment costs and the loss of animals. The project will study the micro-organisms in dairy cows’ mammary glands during various points of lactation to determine the most effective times to prevent and control mastitis infections.

“Dairy Farmers of Manitoba is pleased to receive this investment for mastitis research,” said David Wiens, chair, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. “Providing excellent care to animals is a priority for dairy farmers. This research will help to continually improve the level of care we provide our animals.”

In total, industry partners have contributed nearly $374,000 to these five projects.