Agriculture and food has a role to play in rural development in Manitoba. That’s the conclusion of researcher Gillian Richards, of Brandon University’s Rural Development Institute, presenting at the Southwest Regional Development Corporation last week in Brandon. Richards’ study, “Rural Innovation in Manitoba: Reducing Barriers to commercialization and Growing Capacity in the Agri-Food Sector,” included
Research hopes to bolster rural agri-food business
The study by the Rural Development Institute mixed in-depth case studies with public opinion
Waters rise in the west as Red River subsides
Attention turned back to southwestern Manitoba as the Souris and Assiniboine rivers were expected to crest simultaneously
Flooding was on the decline in parts of Manitoba late last week, but the Assiniboine River was on the rise. Simultaneous peaks of the Souris and Assiniboine rivers raised concern downstream. Flow into the Portage Reservoir was expected to reach 41,000 to 44,000 cubic feet per second April 12-14. The region between Portage la Prairie
Carbon taxes should be like income taxes — with credits
Diverse management systems are the key to putting more carbon back into the soil, and possibly more money into farmers’ wallets
Blain Hjertaas says that if you tax use, you should reward storage. “I believe that if we, as a society, are going to value carbon and tax carbon as a bad behaviour… then we need to reward those who solve the problem and take the carbon from up here and put it back into the
Cattle show clinic reveals tricks of the trade
Kirk Stierwalt returned to Brandon for a three-day chute clinic March 27-29 before the start of the annual winter fair cattle show
Young cattle showers were looking to jump-start their skills with a three-day chute clinic March 27-29, before hitting the ring at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Shannon Carvey, cattle show committee co-chair, said 2017 was the latest in a line of Brandon winter fairs to host clinician Kirk Stierwalt. The clinic launched the cattle portion
Twice the beef at Brandon winter fair
The youth-focused show drew a record number of competitors from both Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Cattle show numbers doubled in 2017 at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Shannon Carvey, cattle show committee co-chair, says about 100 head entered the ring from March 27 to April 1, up from the 50-60 head and 20-30 entrants the show normally claims. “We are about twice our numbers that we have been for the
Police still searching in animal mutilation case
Six animals have been found with their ears removed in the same rural area south of Brandon
The discovery of six mutilated animals, including a goat and miniature pony, south of Brandon has raised concern with residents and outrage among animal advocates. “It’s awful. Honestly, it just makes us sick,” Tracy Munn, shelter manager with the Brandon Humane Society, said. All six animals were found dead along the same stretch of rural
No answers on $20K canola theft near Glenboro
The brazen thieves brought their own auger to siphon seed from a bin in a producer’s farmyard
A Manitoba farm calculates it lost around $20,000 in a grain theft after a substantial amount of canola disappeared from a bin late Mar. 19. Carberry RCMP are investigating the theft, which took place in the RM of Glenboro-South Cypress, about 10 kilometres west of Glenboro. Police report that an unknown number of suspects removed
Ice-clogged culverts, ditches and tributaries latest flood headaches
Plugged drainage outlets have led to overland flooding, even if most major rivers have yet to spill their banks
Multiple municipalities are fighting overland flooding, even as flood outlooks in many areas have decreased from initial projections. The problem is widespread, with five states of local emergency declared. Swan River declared an emergency when ice jamming caused the river to rise, threatening the town. The municipalities of Dufferin, Grey, La Broquerie and Two Borders
Sector asked to weigh in on Growing Forward 2 successor
The province is looking for feedback as development of the national policy framework continues
With just over a year to go before the successor to Growing Forward 2 takes effect, Manitoba farmers are being asked for their two cents. Canada’s next agriculture policy framework will take effect in April 2018, and the federal-provincial negotiations are getting down to the nitty-gritty now. Manitoba’s commodity groups are setting out priorities and
Shining a light on the creepy crawly side of agriculture
Entomologist John Gavloski is warning producers to maintain beneficial bugs found in crops
Not all bugs are made equal and entomologist John Gavloski is warning producers of “collateral damage” in their beneficial insects. “Certainly we’ve got insects that feed on the crops, but we’ve also got a lot of beneficial insects that feed on those insects that feed on the crops and when those are numerous, often the