Cell and Internet Survey
In April, KAP released the findings of the cell and internet
connectivity survey that was conducted earlier this year.
Almost two-thirds of Manitobans who responded expressed
dissatisfaction with their mobile phone and internet cover-age.
Many of the comments on the survey reflected an inabil-ity
to be in touch in emergency situations and with farm
employees, a hindered ability to fully participate in business
operations, or incurring additional costs to add a booster that
works sporadically.
There are also broad impacts for education, with respon-dents
noting that they are unable to conduct schoolwork,
access course materials, or participate in distance learning
like webinars. In total, 1,557 Manitobans representing 113
municipalities took the survey from all parts of the province. A
full report will be shared with both the federal and provincial
governments, as well as major service providers later this year.
A full story about this report is available on page 39.
Crop Plan Credit Submission
Following a meeting with Manitoba Agricultural Services
Corporation in March, KAP and its young farmer policy com-mittee
developed a submission on the Crop Plan Credit, a
program that is designed to assist young farmers with costs,
and ensures crop production decisions are based on sound
agronomic practices. Suggestions for improvement included
immediately informing young producers about the program,
increasing the financial incentive of the program, and chang-ing
the marketing of the program to be supplemental to uni-versity
programming.
RE-KAP
Ecological Goods and Services Surveys
KAP partnered with two organizations to develop two sur-veys
for farmers regarding how they are combatting climate
change, and what programming would be most welcomed. The
first survey, in conjunction with the International Institute for
Sustainable Development and other partners, seeks to under-stand
various factors that encourage or discourage the adop-tion
of Beneficial Management Practices on producer lands
and farm operations. The second survey, in conjunction with
the Prairie Climate Centre, is designed to understand the
types of climate services that will be most useful and relevant
to the agricultural sector across the Prairies.
On-Farm Sanitation Fact Sheet
The Manitoba Farm Safety Program and KAP developed a
list of best practices to consider for on-farm sanitation during
the pandemic. The factsheet includes tips and tools for both
on-farm and off-farm sanitation, and links to government
resources. Many of these tips have been shared on KAP’s social
media channels as well.
New KAP Staff
In April, KAP welcomed three new staff to the team.
Derrick Owusu-Kodua joined the team as a policy analyst.
Prior to joining KAP, he was the international research officer
at the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics,
University of Saskatchewan, working on Global Affairs
Canada’s funded agricultural project. Owusu-Kodua previ-ously
held the role of policy and producer relations with the
Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, and before
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Manitoba Farmers’ Voice § Summer 2020 § 17