The Belarus advantage

A range of 16 Soviet-built Belarus tractors ranging from 25 to 260 hp was on offer in this ad in our Oct. 3, 1985 issue. Prices ranged from $7,581 to $70,326 ($16,834 to $151,984 in 2019 dollars) with discounts offered for cash. Stories from that issue tell of tough times for farmers that year. A[...]

U.S. declares wheat war

Our main front-page story in the Sept. 10, 1992 issue announced a “wheat war” with the U.S. Speaking while on campaign in South Dakota, President George Bush had announced another $1 billion would be authorized to subsidize 30 million tonnes under the Export Enhancement Program. Canadian Agriculture Minister Charlie Mayer called the move “stupid” and[...]


CN converts cars to handle more livestock

The information under this photo from our Sept. 19, 1974 issue said that Canadian National’s Transcona shop was converting 30 freight cars to double-deck stock cars to handle increasing traffic for cattle, swine and sheep. That year was a difficult one for harvest in Western Canada. An October issue story reported on a shortage of[...]

'Better Farming – Bigger Profits'

In 1954 many farmers were still getting used to the novelty of electricity and the Manitoba Power Commission (later Manitoba Hydro) was promoting its use. This ad in our Sept. 2 issue said that on Hydro’s “third block rate,” 200 lbs. of grain could be ground for only one cent. The year 1954 saw one[...]


Solving storage space problems for farmers

Canadian grain carry-overs were building in the late 1960s, prompting farmers to look for more storage space. This ad in our Aug. 15, 1968 issue said that a shed with whole year’s storage could be purchased for 15 cents per bushel, leaving a machinery storage building for the future. The year turned out to have[...]

Harvest all your grain

One of the earliest combine monitors in Western Canada was advertised by Smith-Roles in our August 17, 1978 issue. Above the ad was a story about the second year of tests of zero tillage at seven farms in northwestern Manitoba. A Manitoba Agriculture representative said it seemed to be working well. “Neighbours were skeptical at[...]


“Non-poisonous” sheep dip and cattle wash

Little’s Sheep Dip And Cattle Wash advertised in the August 1890 issue of the Nor’-West Farmer and Manitoba Miller was simultaneously “non-poisonous” as well as “certain death to lice, mange and all insects,”plus acting as a “chemical food” for the wool. On the same page were several “Pointers about pigs.” Among them were: “The most[...]

Brigden's 'Assiniboine Valley'

This photo of an F.H. Brigden painting titled “Assiniboine Valley” appeared in our May 1944 issue. A story said, “Lads from the Prairies” could view reproductions in the barracks, messes, libraries, hospitals and reading rooms where they were stationed overseas. The idea was sponsored by the National Gallery and the Department of National Defence and[...]


Fight weeds with proven products!

This Manitoba Pool ad in our June 9, 1977 issue illustrates some of the main chemicals available for weed control that year. A story in the previous issue listed new herbicides registered for the year: Stampede, Torch, Sencor, Mataven, Tordon 202C and Treflan Plus Avadex BW. Last week’s history item was from a year earlier[...]

Fly your 'Rapeyield 30' pennant

Some farmers were trying to beat the 100-bushel-per-acre canola challenge last year, but in June 1976 the goal was to beat the 30-bushel mark in Elanco’s Rapeyield 30 contest. The winner that year was 43 bushels. Our June 17 front page reported on a “major discovery” at the Agriculture Canada Research Station in Lethbridge. Two[...]