Livestock producers were already starting from behind in 2019. Producers were already looking at a feed shortage after drought conditions stuck much of the province in 2018, particularly areas of southwest Manitoba and the Interlake. Most of agricultural Manitoba had qualified for the federal livestock tax deferral program in 2018 — a program that allows
Year in review: Ranchers brace for another short feed winter
It’s a bad case of deja vu for livestock producers facing stressed pastures come 2020
‘Stop that cow!’
An argument for transitional pens
‘Stop that cow!’ Most cattle-handling disasters start with that panic, knee-jerk call, ranch safety consultant Reg Steward says — and it’s usually directed towards those least prepared for it. It’s not uncommon for a small- or medium-size farmer to turn to spouses or children to help guard a gate while moving cattle, he said. Those
Cover crops may buffer bad spring in 2020
This fall had little window for fall-seeded cover crops, but those who already have cover crops in the ground say it’s now their best insurance against a wet spring
Joe Gardiner of Clearwater has an insurance policy against a wet spring next year — and it has nothing to do with MASC. Gardiner is one of a growing number of Manitoba farmers to embrace cover crops, having started the practice several years ago in an effort to increase fall grazing. This year, he jumped
Maple Leaf workers still waiting on agreement as clock counts down
The collective agreement for workers at Maple Leaf Foods’ Brandon plant is set to expire Dec. 31
The clock is ticking for negotiators to come up with a new collective agreement for workers at Brandon’s Maple Leaf Foods plant. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832 has been in negotiations with the company since June. The collective agreement between Maple Leaf Foods and the 1,900 workers represented by the union is
The learning curve of cover crops
Cover crops may have an almost endless number of combinations, but end goals, planting windows and seed costs may help narrow down species selection
It’s not enough to convince producers to give cover crops a shot — there needs to be a game plan. There are plenty of reasons why. Seed can be expensive, especially if there’s no livestock to help recoup that cost through their digestive systems. Many worry the fall seeding window is too narrow to give
Province firm on Crown land changes
Ranchers still hoping for a return to unit transfers or an extended right of renewal for all leases may be disappointed
The province is not backing down on Crown land regulation changes, despite continued pressure from northern ranchers. Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen maintained that ranchers would get right of renewal for existing forage and grazing leases, but stayed firm on the province’s removal of unit transfers. “We’ve said that we’re going to
Province promises emergency communications upgrade
The province says it will foot the bill for setting up a new multimillion-dollar emergency communications network to be in place by 2021
Manitoba’s FleetNet emergency communications network may soon get a long-awaited replacement. Premier Brian Pallister announced $400 million to replace the communications systems used by Manitoba’s emergency services, police and conservation officers Nov. 25. “The new system will give our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, conservation officers and forest fire crews a superior communication tool that will enable
VIDEO: Author examines rural communities’ key to survival
Doug Griffiths tackles 13 ways communities might accidentally be setting themselves up for failure when it comes to economic development
Doug Griffiths, along with Kelly Clemmer, is one of the author’s of 13 Ways to Kill Your Community and one of the most recent speakers at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual convention Nov. 25-27. Griffiths spoke on 13 ways in which he says communities might block their economic development, including encouraging residents to shop
Manitoba rural municipalities put province on notice
They say future changes to forage insurance are meaningless while farmers struggle to survive today
Manitoba’s new agriculture minister found himself in the hot seat at the recent annual meeting of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities in Brandon. Representatives of the 16 rural municipalities who have declared themselves in a state of agriculture emergency chided the province and Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development Blaine Pedersen, for lack of response.
Livestock feed crisis kicks off
Farmers are getting a sense of exactly how much trouble they’re in now that the winter is closing in
The province hopes to revamp forage insurance, but an update to future insurance will not help producers face down their current crisis, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen acknowledged. Feed trucks have become a common sight as producers scramble to overwinter cattle, Ste. Rose du Lac Mayor Robert Brunel said. Brunel says it