“They are still in a position where their ability to put legislation through on the wheat board is doubtful, but I don’t have any illusions that if they were in a majority situation they would move pretty swiftly on their commitments.” – BILL NICHOLSON Outgoing Canadian Wheat Board director Bill Nicholson predicts that the Conservatives
Outgoing Director Cites Single-Desk Advantages
Global Energy, Food, Water Shortages On The Horizon
By 2015, the world will have arrived at the summit of global crude oil production, according to John Oliver, president of Maple Leaf Bio-Concepts. After that point, depletion rates of roughly four to six per cent per year in the world’s “easy” oilfields will leave an ever-shrinking pool of the precious resource to power the
German Invader Turning Fields Red
By now everyone is familiar with the yellow peril, leafy spurge. Now, the Manitoba Weed Supervisors Association is asking ranchers and forage growers to also be on the lookout for the “red menace.” “Usually, by the time you notice it, it’s already a big issue,” said Fred Paulson, weed supervisor for the Interlake Weed District,
Manitoba Organic Alliance Pitches “Unified” Voice
brandon If conventional farmers have Keystone Agricultural Producers lobbying on their behalf, who speaks for organic producers in Manitoba? According to Priscilla Reimer, chair of the Manitoba Organic Alliance, strong producer support for MOA could create a representative, democratically elected, unified voice for the province’s growing organic sector. “MOA is to the entire organic sector
Canola And Peas “Love” Each Other
Results from intercropping trials are showing that planting two crops together offers higher yields than monocultures. It’s old hat for organic farmers, who have been seeding cover and relay crops since the days when Grandpa seeded peas and oats together, harvested them with a horse-drawn binder, and pitched the sheaves off a hayrack to his
Spraying A Concern For Organic Farmers
If Manitoba Hydro chooses to string its proposed Bipole III high-voltage power line down the west side of Lake Winnipeg, organic producers in its path may be forced to deal with extra headaches. That’s because of the need for vegetation control – spraying – underneath the towers, which is forbidden under the rules of certified
MRAC Board Faces Criticism
Allegations that a former member of the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council’s board was ousted because of her affiliations to the organic sector and the National Farmers Union are unfounded, the outgoing board chair says. Lenore-area farmer Barry Routledge said it was democracy in action that resulted in Kate Storey’s failure to be re-elected at last
Restricted-Feed Intake In Heifers Makes Better Cows
“When you develop a heifer on a restricted-gain program, you change the metabolic efficiency of that heifer and the way it utilizes feed and stores energy reserves.” – JOHN POPP Just as too many cooks can spoil the broth, it seems too much feed makes for less efficient heifers. Using a similar strategy to that
Grade Is Everything With Wool
With a little extra attention to detail to get the higher grades, wool can pay for the $3.50 to $4 cost of shearing a sheep, according to sheep producer Brian Greaves. “Unfortunately, the price of wool has been down for a number of years and a lot of people have become discouraged,” said Greaves. “A
Liver Fluke Cases On The Rise In Manitoba
Liver fluke prevention Keep animals from grazing wet areas. Control snail population by fencing off marshy, or wet areas. Keep deer, elk, moose out of pastures and away from water supplies by keeping a guardian dog with the flock; Rotate pastures. Use a strategic control program, such as early-spring drenching with Ivomec Plus to prevent
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
