Readers have noticed a change in the pages of the Manitoba Co-operator recently. Now, that change has hit the web. You can now find our crisp and clean new layout for your reading enjoyment as always at manitobacooperator.ca. But don’t stop there, there’s also our new FarmIt Manitoba section, which is getting its own unique
FarmIt Manitoba goes online
FarmIt Manitoba has become the home of analysis pieces and local Manitoba ag stories, now, those stories will be told online in a more visual and interactive way
Crop insurance: What’s new in 2020?
The organic sector, farmers with extended grazing and high-value crop growers can all expect more insurance options this year
Crop insurance coverage is poised for another increase in 2020, according to Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. (MASC). AgriInsurance coverage will hit $3 billion this year, with similar premiums to 2019. Why it matters: Better production knowledge has yields, and coverage, trending up, while the organic sector and producers with extended grazing will get more safety
KAP pegs carbon tax cost for grain drying at $1.7M
Both Keystone Agricultural Producers and the province are hoping the federal government will give ground on a carbon tax exemption for grain drying
Keystone Agricultural Producers says carbon tax cost corn producers $1.7 million in grain drying last fall. It’s money the provincial government says they shouldn’t have to pay. Both the province and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) are pushing for a carbon tax exemption for grain drying, following 2019’s wet harvest. During his comments at Ag Days
Short feed triggers Hay Disaster Benefit for second year
Until last year, Manitoba had never triggered the Hay Disaster Benefit built into AgriInsurance
Manitoba’s Hay Disaster Benefit has been activated for the second year in a row after forage once again fell short of expectations in 2019. Estimated payments are far in excess of last year. On Jan. 10, the provincial and federal governments said they expected payments to exceed $5 million for losses suffered in 2019, compared
Land deals proceeding despite Lake St. Martin outlet channel pause
The Lake St. Martin outlet channels have hit delays, but the province says it will be business as usual for expropriation deals
The Lake St. Martin outlet channel project may have hit hurdles, but the province says expropriation proceedings north of Lake Manitoba are going ahead as normal. The project, which promises two channels between Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin, and then on from Lake St. Martin to Lake Winnipeg, has been a longtime promise of
Pork quality on the rise in Manitoba
Judges were glad to note improvement in key quality areas during the pork quality competition at the Brandon Hog and Livestock Show
The pork at Hog Days 2019 earned a “much improved” status, and judge Bob McKay couldn’t be happier. McKay praised entrants to this year’s pork quality competition, having noted low scores in several categories during the previous show two years ago. “I’m happy to see the improvement, because if we had gone the reverse and
A cover crop cocktail?
Pre-made mixes promise an easy jumping-off point on cover crops, but some worry that they increase the amount at risk
Joe Gardiner of Clearwater has spent a lot of effort getting ahead of the curve on cover crops. His cover mixes can include up to 15 species in a season-long cover. He does relay cropping. He picks his seed to include a range of cool- and warm-season plants, legumes, forbs, broadleafs and grasses. He thinks
Protecting cattle pregnancies
Experts weigh in as producers look to safeguard next year’s calves in the face of short feed
Open rates are up in areas worst hit by Manitoba’s feed shortage. Now farmers must focus on protecting what they’ve got. Why it matters: Ranchers may already face a smaller calf crop next year after poor forage has yielded higher open rates, but the winter is far from over and short feed now might still
Open cow rates sky high
Some cattle producers in the Interlake will have their calf crop cut by a quarter next year thanks to poor nutrition earlier this season
Cattle vets are seeing their fears on fertility realized as more and more pregnancy checks come back open. Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal, of Ashern, has noted alarmingly consistent open rates between 20 and 30 per cent, four to six times what she would expect in a normal year. Hudson Reykdal estimates a normal open rate
Year in Review: Crown lands saga continues
Crown land changes were a hot-button topic for northern ranchers in 2019, but with promised rule changes still incoming, it's not over yet
The province’s agricultural Crown lands overhaul went from a simmer to a boil in late 2019 — and northern ranchers are still roiling. Crown lands were gridlocked to start off the year. The province froze all new lease agreements or unit transfers as of fall 2018, after changes to the Crown Lands Act got royal