Terry O’Reilly, veteran ad man and host of the popular CBC Radio show “Under the Influence” told an Ag Days audience in Brandon, Man., on Jan. 18 that telling an emotional story is a better way to influence opinion than repeating facts and figures. Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson met with O’Reilly after his presentation
VIDEO: A message for Canadian agriculture
Meet misinformation with storytelling, says CBC Radio's Terry O'Reilly
When influencing opinion, heart not head
Adman says farmers should use stories to make an emotional connection with consumers
Ticked off city people don’t get agriculture? Instead of spewing facts, employ emotion, veteran adman and host of CBC Radio’s, “Under the Influence,” Terry O’Reilly, said here at Ag Days Jan. 18. “My industry (advertising) has proven time and time again that information doesn’t necessarily move people,” O’Reilly said. “You have to attach emotion to
Commodity collaboration, mergers discussed at CropConnect
Commodity group leaders are urging their members to weigh in on how much groups should collaborate and their thoughts on merging
Manitoba farmers are being asked if they want their checkoff-funded commodity groups to collaborate more — or even merge. It was one of the main themes at commodity group annual meetings at the fourth annual CropConnect conference in Winnipeg Feb. 15 and 16. And the man credited with planting the seed in 2013 — Halbstadt-farmer
Yield Manitoba 2017 valuable tool for Manitoba farmers
The 18th edition of the annual publication is a supplement in today's issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
Manitoba farmers, on average, reaped a bumper crop in 2016, despite a record number of hail claims and excessive rain in some areas. A few new yield records were set and most major crops, except for field peas, yielded above the 10-year average. This information comes from a breakdown of yields by crop variety provincially
Westman soybean plant proponents not discouraged by North Dakota plant
The Westman Opportunities Leadership Group says a plant proposed for Spiritwood, N.D. shows how fast soybean production is growing on the northern Great Plains
A committee studying the case for building a soybean-crushing plant in western Manitoba is undeterred by plans announced last week for one in Spiritwood, North Dakota, 140 km west of Fargo. “I think this just confirms to us that there is a significant potential here and I am quite sure we will continue to investigate
Corn grower association head has seen lots of change after 29 years on the job
Theresa Bergsma looks back on how agriculture and corn have changed in Manitoba
Farming in Manitoba has changed a lot during the 29 years Theresa Bergsma has been general manager of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA). As her June retirement nears, Bergsma has been reflecting on some of them, including changes to grain corn. A combination of improved hybrids, improved agronomy and longer growing season, especially in
Time right to explore commodity group merger
Corn growers GM Theresa Bergsma says farmer feedback is needed on the next steps
Most Manitoba farm commodity groups have been collaborating for years, now it’s time for farmers to explore merging, says Theresa Bergsma, the soon-to-retire general manager of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA). “I don’t know where it is going to land us but we’ve talked about it enough now as boards and as groups we
Is U.S. grain eating up Canadian rail capacity?
Not according to CP Rail, which on average moves two trains of American grain through Western Canada daily
An Alberta farmer alleges Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) isn’t moving Canadian grain in a timely way because it’s preoccupied shipping American grain through Western Canada — an allegation CP denies. The Carstairs-area farmer asked not to be identified fearing it might reveal his source. The farmer said according to his source every day CP brings
VIDEO: Theresa Bergsma on agriculture in Manitoba, and retirement
Manitoba Corn Growers Association general manager to retire in June 2017
Theresa Bergsma, general manager of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association, will retire in June after 29 years. Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson met with Bergsma and spoke with her about the changes she’s seen to farming and corn production in Manitoba during her long career.
VIDEO: An important planning tool for Manitoba farmers
Yield Manitoba offers real numbers on Manitoba crops and varieties told by producers
The 18th edition of Yield Manitoba, a joint effort of the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) and the Manitoba Co-operator, will be included in an upcoming issue of the Co-operator. Doug Wilcox, MASC’s manager of research, sat down with Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson who begins his interview by asking why Yield Manitoba is an important