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Environment Canada sees cool summer for Manitoba

MarketsFarm — Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan could be in for a cooler-than-normal summer, according to the latest long-range outlook from Environment Canada. The latest seasonal forecast from the government agency, released Tuesday, calls for a 40 to 80 per cent chance of below normal temperatures from June through August across all of the agricultural regions

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Shwetz: The equine weekend warrior

Overdoing it on the weekend is not only applicable to humans

“Weekend warrior syndrome” is a modern-day term used to describe what happens when a person is too busy during the work week to exercise, leading them to physically overextend themselves on the weekend. Humans aren’t the only ones to experience the phenomena. While most human weekend warriors expect to pay for their exercise spurt with achy muscles,


Spring runoff on April 27, 2022 at the Pembina Escarpment near Miami, Man., about 40 km northwest of Winkler. (Manitoba Co-operator/Allan Dawson video screengrab)

Flood warnings raised in Manitoba, southeastern Saskatchewan

Flows could reach 2009 levels in Manitoba

MarketsFarm — Spring flooding in Manitoba’s Red River Valley could approach levels last seen in 2009, the highest water level since 1997’s “Flood of the Century,” according to the latest update from the provincial Hydrologic Forecast Centre. The centre is monitoring a precipitation system forecast for the April 29-May 1 weekend that is expected to

File photo of a rooster being swabbed in testing for avian influenza. (Merrimon/iStock/Getty Images)

China reports first human case of H3N8 bird flu

Beijing | Reuters — China has recorded the first human infection with the H3N8 strain of bird flu, the country’s health authority said on Tuesday, but said the risk of it spreading among people was low. A four-year-old boy from central Henan province was found to have been infected with the variant after developing a


Spring grazing needs to be managed to acclimatize the horse and prevent health issues.

Care required when introducing the horse to spring pastures

Horse Health: Too-rich forage before acclimation can lead to discomfort and health issues

It is tempting to allow horses unlimited access to springtime pastures as soon as the grass turns green, particularly after a long winter. Yet mindful management of this transition in a domestic environment is crucial to the well-being of the horse. In natural rangeland conditions the new spring grasses are covered with a dry forage



A donkey is closely related to a horse, but has some unique needs that must be met.

Donkeys have unique needs

Horse Health: These long-eared characters were built for harsh environments

The long-eared donkey is enjoying a popularity as the equine of choice, either as a pet, a companion for recreation or perhaps even as a performance animal. Aside from their characteristic long ears, the donkey does share many commonalities with their close brethren, the horse, however, there are some unique considerations for the health and



File photo of a Saskatchewan grid road in winter. (Daxus/iStock/Getty Images)

Environment Canada calls for colder-than-normal Prairie spring

MarketsFarm — Colder-than-normal temperatures are in the long-range forecast across most of the Canadian Prairies, according to the latest long-range outlook from Environment Canada. The latest seasonal forecast from the government agency, released Monday, calls for a 40-50 per cent chance of below-normal temperatures from March through May for most of the three Prairie provinces,

A horse that feels safe will be generally better adjusted emotionally, easier to work with, and overall healthier.

Emotional health an important issue for horses

Horse Health: These complex emotional creatures have a subtle language of their own to express their feelings

The emotional state of the horse is deeply involved in all matters of the equine’s world. When investigated, the emotional health of the horse exists in strong relationship to outcomes of their physical health, their behaviour, and their performance. Most equine owners, caretakers and professionals would readily acknowledge the rich emotional world of the horse,