Science beat out commerce in one corner of the Brandon Shoppers Mall May 13 as the Assiniboine Hills Conservation District hosted its first home water festival. Conservation district manager Neil Zalluski said the event focused on public awareness of conservation district operations, many of which are largely unknown to the general public. “The kids are
Conservation district holds a water festival
Erosion, water patterns and pollution were among the themes explored at Brandon’s first water festival
PHOTOS: Scenes from the Manitoba Summer Fair
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Alexis Stockford took in the sights and sounds at the Manitoba Summer Fair this past weekend in Brandon, Man. Watch for more in an upcoming issue of the Manitoba Co-operator.
Call-in town hall urges biosecurity in face of PEDv outbreak
The June 2 forum gave producers and industry representatives an update on PEDv
More cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) have been confirmed in Manitoba, despite increasingly strenuous calls for producers to ramp up biosecurity. Thirteen cases of PEDv were confirmed from April 29 to June 7. The most recent cases bring Manitoba’s PEDv record to 23. “It’s all very well having a document or a set
Training critical for new beekeepers to avoid disease woes
Beekeepers stress the need for industry newcomers to be trained in disease and pest management
Manitoba’s honeybee population has recovered from 2013, when a harsh winter saw hives drop almost eight per cent, but commercial apiarists say that growth could have risks if it doesn’t come with disease management training for new beekeepers. “Education is very important in those regards and I think probably one of our largest concerns is
Bringing back flowers to the field
Operation Pollinator is asking producers to set aside two acres for pollinator-attracting plants this summer
An initiative to increase biodiversity and pollinator habitat on golf courses is making its large-scale farm debut this summer. Operation Pollinator, spearheaded by Syngenta, was introduced in Canada in 2012 after first appearing in the United Kingdom over a decade ago. The program first approached golf courses, providing seed for out-of-play areas to be planted
Minimal frost damage on canola after mercury dips
Canola-growing regions in Manitoba will largely recover from any damage suffered during a mid-May period of frost, agronomists say
The third week of May was a frosty one, but so far it seems the canola crop is largely fine. Producers are reporting minimal damage after temperatures dropped below freezing across the province for several successive nights. “Certainly, at this point it’s not a big concern,” David Van Deynze, MASC vice-president of insurance operations, said.
Window opens on first forage cut of 2017
The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association estimated the province’s ‘Hay Day,’ when forage quality begins to hit the cut-off for optimum quality at May 30
Hay Day is on the horizon, according to the first Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association Green Gold reports. Between May 18 and May 23, eastern Manitoba forage stands had dropped 34 points, although growth had slowed due to cooler temperatures, with plants adding only 1.3 inches in height. The east averaged 221 relative feed value
Manitoba hits record numbers of PED virus
Three more were cases confirmed in the fourth week of May
Eight cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) have been confirmed in Manitoba in the last month, making this the worst year on record for the virus. Last year, five cases of the disease were reported. Two of the eight cases were found 20 kilometres away from the initial infection area, whereas the initial cases were
Putting spurge on the menu for research — and cattle
With an incoming learning centre and research ranging from rodent control to grazing systems and leafy spurge, 2017 looks to be busy for Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives
Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives (MBFI) is ramping up for 2017. Preparations are underway for a long list of projects at the collaborative’s three test farms outside of Brandon. “Some of them are continuing projects from last year,” said MBFI president Ramona Blyth. “Research is never just done in one year, so there’s the carry-over
Pork industry nervous as newest PED cases confirmed
Manitoba’s PED record rises to 15 cases total and five this year
Another two barns in southeast Manitoba have tested positive for porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in the fourth and fifth cases of the disease this year. A finisher and sow barn were confirmed PED positive in the space of two days. Manitoba Pork Council general manager Andrew Dickson said finisher barn staff noticed symptoms May 14.