Province promises emergency communications upgrade

Manitoba’s FleetNet emergency communications network may soon get a long-awaited replacement. Premier Brian Pallister announced $400 million to replace the communications systems used by Manitoba’s emergency services, police and conservation officers Nov. 25. “The new system will give our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, conservation officers and forest fire crews a superior communication tool that will enable[...]

Manitoba rural municipalities put province on notice

Manitoba’s new agriculture minister found himself in the hot seat at the recent annual meeting of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities in Brandon. Representatives of the 16 rural municipalities who have declared themselves in a state of agriculture emergency chided the province and Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development Blaine Pedersen, for lack of response.[...]



Regenerative agriculture event to return to Brandon

The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association isn’t resting on its laurels after last year’s two-day dive into regenerative agriculture. The production philosophy believes farm practices should build the environment and soil health rather than just maintain them, and will once again be the topic this fall when the MFGA launches its second regenerative agriculture forum.[...]



Used grain dryers face battle for certification

Farmers in the market for a used grain dryer say they are frustrated by a quagmire of red tape during a year when crops are already buried under snow and wetted by weeks of rain. It’s a potentially hard hit for Andrew Dalgarno of Newdale, who said only about 15 per cent of his crop[...]


Province introduces Crown land sales legislation

The Manitoba government is introducing new legislation that would streamline and improve government oversight for Crown land sales. The announcement came in a Dec. 3 media release on behalf of Central Services Minister Reg Helwer. Helwer touted the Crown Land Dispositions Act as the path to a system that would be “... more efficient, effective[...]

Ex moves to rebuild heavy horse show

The Provincial Exhibition is beginning the process of rebuilding the heavy horse show at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair after just two hitches competed this year. A meeting held during the fair in late March saw concerns brought forward by 50 exhibitors and draft horse enthusiasts. The goal of the discussion was to come away[...]


Organic processing sector study underway

The organic food-processing sector is on solid ground in Canada, according to a broad-based report showing most firms experiencing year-over-year growth in excess of 10 per cent. But that growth continues to create its own set of challenges, most significantly an ongoing shortage of raw ingredient supply. Sourcing ingredients remains this sector’s key challenge, says[...]

Livestock feed crisis kicks off

The province hopes to revamp forage insurance, but an update to future insurance will not help producers face down their current crisis, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen acknowledged. Feed trucks have become a common sight as producers scramble to overwinter cattle, Ste. Rose du Lac Mayor Robert Brunel said. Brunel says it[...]