Beef producers in south-central Manitoba want more police presence in response to rising rural crime. The issue spawned a resolution during the Baldur meeting of the Manitoba Beef Producers. Members at the regular district meeting Oct. 30 overwhelmingly supported a call for more police resources in rural areas. Why it matters: Residents from Somerset to
Rural crime jump has beef producers calling for more police
Beef producers are calling for more police presence after a noted uptick in crime
AMM calls on province to pitch in on disaster funding after storm
Manitoba’s Thanksgiving surprise was an expensive one for municipalities
[UPDATED: Nov. 14, 2019] Municipalities say the winter storm over the Thanksgiving weekend is going to cost them, and they’re looking to the province for help. The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) has formally requested a disaster financial assistance program for its impacted members in light of storm cleanup costs. Why it matters: An early storm last month
A ‘farm-her’ comes home to the family farm
Janelle Gulka is one of a growing number of young female farmers taking a leading role on her family's operation
It’s hard to miss the line of white faces underneath the sign, “Twin View Polled Herefords.” The farm’s stall takes up a full row of the Hereford section at Ag Ex 2019, set up in one of the main barns of Brandon’s Keystone Centre and now a hive of activity as the fair’s registered cattle
Speckle Park cattle on the rise at Ag Ex
Cattle numbers were down at Brandon’s Ag Ex, but you wouldn’t know it by the Speckle Park breeders’ list
Cattle show numbers may have been down at this year’s Ag Ex in Brandon Oct. 23-26, but the show’s newest breed bucked the trend. About 400 cattle entered the ring this year, down from just over 500 in 2018. This year marked the first Ag Ex in several years without a national breed show. Brandon
New title and new faces as Pallister changes up cabinet
Blaine Pedersen takes point on an expanded Agriculture Department
Agriculture is in the hands of a new minister after a provincial cabinet shuffle Oct. 23. Blaine Pedersen will head up the newly expanded Department of Agriculture and Resource Development, the province said, taking over from previous agriculture minister Ralph Eichler. Eichler, meanwhile, has been appointed minister of economic development and training. The new department
Public urged to call ahead for land access
The province will be asking hunters to inform leaseholders before going onto leased Crown lands
Former Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler wants more courtesy when the public accesses leased Crown lands this hunting season. The province will be partnering with the beef industry on an awareness campaign, he said. “It’s a major issue for beef producers but, as a government, that land belongs to all Manitobans, so legally I can’t
STARS flying high after HyLife Foods donation
STARS says the $125,000 received from HyLife Foods will go to an as-yet unannounced innovation
STARS has another $125,000 to work with thanks to HyLife Foods. The pork company announced the six-figure donation Oct. 3 at Steinbach’s Bethesda Regional Health Centre. Grant Lazaruk, HyLife Foods CEO, said the donation reflected their continuing support of STARS, support that the company dates back to 2013. “At HyLife, our mission is, ‘We take
Leaseholders feel ignored over Crown lands consultation
Forage leaseholders say their concerns were never taken seriously
[UPDATE: Oct. 28, 2019] Ranchers say their concerns were ignored while the province drafted its new Crown land lease regulations. Leaseholders at an Oct. 15 meeting in Ste. Rose du Lac criticized the government for what they say was a lack of consultation. Few leaseholders in the room were directly consulted, they said. One rancher,
Storm aftermath, flooding causes headaches
The hits keep coming as producers deal with standing water and pastures disappearing under melt water
The snow may be gone, but farmers are sill fighting the aftermath. A three-day storm over the Thanksgiving weekend dropped over two feet of snow in some parts of the province. Why it matters: The historic snowstorm over Thanksgiving long weekend isn’t done with farmers yet. Andre Steppler of Miami spent the week after the
Crown lands renewal promise fails to quench rancher anger
New forage Crown land regulations have earned near-universal scorn
[UPDATE: Oct. 24, 2019] Ranchers are deriding what they say are half-measures when it comes to fixing new Crown lands regulations. The changes, announced in September 2018, and outlined this fall, drop the old points system in favour of open auction, extend eligibility to Canadian residents outside Manitoba, drop lease length from 50 years to