The Nerbas family of Shellmouth, Man., isn’t interested in a whole lot of inputs for their forage-only Angus herd. Arron and Shane Nerbas, along with their wives, Amber and Sacha, their children, and their parents Gene and Cynthia, run a 525-head commercial herd and 75 head of registered breeding stock under a mix of summer
Nerbas Bros. Angus recognized for environmental efforts
Grazing systems and forage are key for the winners of this year’s Manitoba Beef Producers Environmental Stewardship Award
VIDEO: Made in Manitoba vodka spirits – and grains – with a Capital K
Jason Kang of Capital K Distillery in Winnipeg makes locally-sourced grain a selling point. His first product, Tall Grass vodka, hit the shelves in December 2016. Watch for his story in an upcoming issue of the Manitoba Co-operator.
Ground about to break in Killarney on HyLife feed mill
Killarney will be the home of the newest HyLife feed mill after municipal council approved the site for building in mid-April
Farm-to-fork pork producer HyLife has cleared the final hurdle before construction begins on a proposed feed mill in Killarney, Man. this month. The Killarney-Turtle Mountain municipal council unanimously approved a conditional use order April 19, allowing the mill to be built in the northeast end of the community. “We’ve been working with HyLife probably for
Winter wheat takes a beating in the east
The mid-winter melt may have felt good at the time, but winter wheat producers are now getting a first-hand look at its downside
Mid-winter thaws hit hard at overwintering cereals in January and February, and farmers in eastern Manitoba are just now discovering the impact. Jake Davidson, executive manager of Winter Cereals Canada, said winter wheat acres north, south and east of Winnipeg suffered significant crop damage when water-saturated ground later refroze. Other growers who escaped that weather
Investigators tracking PED infections
Another case of PED was confirmed in southeastern Manitoba May 8, bringing the province’s total number of PED cases since 2014 up to 13
Hog producers are on high alert after a third case of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) was confirmed within five kilometres of two initial infections May 8. The root of the infections, centred in southeastern Manitoba, is still unknown. “We wish we knew why this is happening because our producers are exercising very high standards of
Wheat weakness brings seeding uncertainty
Producers aren’t happy when they look at wheat futures forecasts, but their seeding options might be limited
Low prices, high global supply and a near-record high on U.S. wheat carry-over have some Manitoba producers scratching their heads on what to put into the ground. “If you look at almost anything, nothing really looks overly good, in my opinion anyway,” Doug Heaman, a Virden seed grower and board member of the Manitoba Seed
Community group looks to merge food production and conservation
The Assiniboine Food Forest Initiative hopes to break ground on two projects this summer, including an edible tree orchard open to the public
For Dave Barnes, chair and founding member of the Assiniboine Food Forest Initiative, it all started with a desire to protect the stands of oak, ash and maple along the banks of the Assiniboine River east of Brandon. “I saw threats to landscape everywhere,” he said. “I saw these ancient oak trees. I know they’re
Weed rankings shuffle in latest provincial weed survey
Wild oats are down, but experts are warning producers to take a closer look at their foxtail, it might not be the species they think
Green foxtail is still the province’s top weed, yellow foxtail is on the rise and wild oats have declined, according to last year’s Manitoba Weed Survey results. Wild oats, usually the second-most-abundant weed in the province, slipped to fourth in 2016, overtaken by both wild buckwheat and barnyard grass. Dr. Jeanette Gaultier, principal investigator of
Livestock industries eye growth with provincial strategy
Livestock producers are starting to see details of the provincial government’s livestock growth strategy
As details of the provincial livestock growth strategy begin to trickle out, the industry says it likes what it sees. The strategy was unveiled earlier this month along with the 2017-18 provincial budget but at that time there were few details forthcoming. Now producers are finding out it will include ongoing red tape reduction and
MPSG calls for member feedback on future
A new membership dynamic may mean shifting focus and priorities for Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers as it reaches out for membership opinion
Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) is measuring its own vital signs with what will be the second membership survey conducted by the group in the last five years. Francois Labelle, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers executive director, says 2013 results will serve as a baseline for the new survey, which covers crops planted, land