A new star on the horizon for canola growers

A new star on the horizon for canola growers

Our History: January 1984

Westar was the “new star on the horizon” for canola growers when advertised in our January 1984 issues. But the news in our January 26 edition was not particularly good, other than news that the Soviet Union had agreed to purchase another million tonnes of Canadian wheat that year, which was over and above the

No fireworks at first sheep and goat auction

No fireworks at first sheep and goat auction

It was a quiet and steady parade of animals at the first outing of the new year

It wasn’t the rocket’s red glare and bombs bursting in air at the first sheep and goat sale of the year at Winnipeg Livestock Auction on Jan. 10. With the holiday season behind it, the market saw little buyer excitement and just 62 animals come and go from the sales arena. During the sheep sale


Improper bear baiting is bringing the predators into contact with livestock, leading to losses, producers say.

Producers push for tighter bear-baiting rules

Riding Mountain producer Teren Garlinski says baiting bears on Crown lands has contributed to his herd losses, 
and he wants something done

Beef producer Teren Garlinski wants to see a halt to bear baiting on Crown lands, or at least have meat taken out of the equation. Garlinski, who farms southwest of Grandview near the border of Riding Mountain National Park, says predation is a serious concern on his operation and claims bear baiting contributes to the

Lights out for 2017 sheep and goat sales

Lights out for 2017 sheep and goat sales

There was plenty of selection at the last sale of the season 
at Winnipeg Livestock Auction

More than 600 sheep and goats hit the ring Dec. 6 at the last sale of the year. Quality showed strongly and there was excellent selection of animals suitable for herd replacement and increase, and even some very calm and gentle animals that would have been perfect for 4-H projects. The bidding on ewes remained


Farmer John Sheridan opens a gate on a farm which straddles both borders where the gate marks the exact border between Ireland and Northern Ireland between County Cavan and County Fermanagh near Florencecourt, Northern Ireland on Nov. 30. (Clodagh Kilcoyne photo for Reuters)

Farmers demand invisible Irish border, post-Brexit

Florencecourt, Northern Ireland | Reuters — Northern Irish sheep farmers like John Sheridan collectively transport more than 1,000 lambs a day over the Irish border for slaughter and shipment to shoppers across the European Union. At the moment, the process is seamless. But Sheridan sees a threat to his life’s work, his family’s future and

Working on Plan B

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says American farmers could weather U.S. NAFTA withdrawal

There are more signs the United States could pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said he is “talking with the administration and Congress about some mitigation efforts” if U.S. President Donald Trump withdraws the United States from NAFTA,” Ag Insider, an online, subscription-based publication, said


Manitoba sheep producers hope to make some major inroads in developing value-added for their industry with a proposed new initiative.

Sheep association supports concept of ‘enhancement board’

New initiative to place emphasis on educating producers 
about market needs, says director

The Manitoba Sheep Association (MSA) has taken its first step toward creating an initiative to add more value to Manitoba-raised lambs and help member producers do a better job selling them. Members at its annual meeting Nov. 18 widely supported a resolution calling for the establishment of what is to be called the Manitoba Sheep

The MSA’s Vision 2020 — a five-point strategy for sector development — includes the goal of developing more educational resources for producers to learn how to keep flock health optimal, boost productivity and improve farm profitability.

Sheep producers want more resources for optimizing productivity

Manitoba Sheep Association’s 2017 annual general meeting included multiple speakers 
on flock care and management

Sheri Bieganski and her husband Jeff decided to add sheep to their stock farm five years ago and they’ve never looked back. It’s been a period of remarkable growth of the sheep sector, says the Carberry-area farmer and co-owner of Shereff Stock Farms. Bieganski is also acting chair for the Manitoba Sheep Producers. “There is


Traceability changes to jumpstart enforcement in livestock movement reporting

Traceability changes to jumpstart enforcement in livestock movement reporting

Manitoba producers without a premise 
ID might find it hard to ship livestock once 
the Canadian Food Inspection Agency 
announces traceability changes 
expected next spring

The countdown is on for Manitoba beef producers to get a premise ID or risk being unable to ship cattle to feedlots. The beef industry is one of several (including sheep and poultry) facing changes by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency within the next year. The CFIA has promised tighter controls over livestock traceability and

No one sure what the future holds

No one sure what the future holds

There’s an air of uncertainty around sheep and goat prices as winter takes hold

Freezing rain the night before didn’t stop producers from adventuring out for the Nov. 15 Winnipeg Livestock Auction sheep and goat sale. Farmers delivered 178 animals to this sale, and were greeted with bidding that was not as strong as they’d become accustomed to this past summer and fall. Ewes were mainly represented by wool