Farmers and farm families will have access to free, rurally minded counselling services at the beginning of March, thanks to an initiative started by veterans of Manitoba’s ag community. “Through talking about it, people get better,” co-founder Gerry Friesen told the Co-operator. The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program was co-founded by Friesen, a mediation specialist, former
Free counselling to be provided to Manitoba farm families
Program to link farmers with ag-knowledgeable counsellors for ongoing mental health support
Manitoba’s cannabis producers reflect on industry evolution in 2021
More stores, larger market share, falling prices and regulatory burdens seen
Last year saw an increase in small ‘craft’ cannabis growers in Manitoba, expanding retail and growing sales even as wholesale prices struggled, say three producers. “The market’s changing so rapidly that, you know, every day is an adventure,” said Dell Carritt, who co-owns grower and retailer Prairie Trichomes, which is based in western Manitoba. Prairie
PC shuffle sees Johnson in as Manitoba ag minister
Agriculture also split off from resource development in cabinet shuffle
Derek Johnson is Manitoba’s new minister of agriculture following a cabinet shuffle on January 18. He replaces Ralph Eichler, who had been sworn into the post mid-summer. Eichler also served as ag minister from 2016 to 2019. Johnson, who is MLA for Interlake-Gimli, previously served as the minister of municipal relations. He held that chair
Processors, retailers to blame for food prices, not farmers, says NFU
NFU interpretation of price data, call for reduced consolidation is misguided, say analysts
Food processors and retailers have pushed food prices upward even as prices paid to farmers have been largely stagnant, the National Farmers Union said in a statement late last year, which attributed rising food costs to rising corporate power. “Consumers need to know that less and less of the money they spend on food actually
NDP proposes ‘right to repair’ bill for farm equipment, vehicles
Current laws need updating, but extensive research is needed, says industry expert
Editor’s note: This article has been altered from its original form to clarify that Harvey Chorney was speaking as a farmer, rather than in his capacity as strategic advisor at the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI). [UPDATED: Jan. 25, 2022] An NDP private member’s bill proposes to give Manitoba farmers and independent mechanics the right
Let’s court controversy
FIRST PERSON | Animal rights, deconstructing the ‘farm wife,’ and criticizing charity: what could possibly go wrong?
There’s this moment I think sums up my year well. It was October, and in the span of a few hours I, a) booked off time to go deer hunting and b) registered to go to an animal rights conference. It did break my brain a little. This year Co-operator editor Gord Gilmour advised me
Researcher digging up sustainable growing medium for bedding plants
Peat is extracted from sensitive ecosystems that sequester a lot of carbon, so replacing it could have a big impact
A Manitoba researcher is studying how to use local waste materials to make flower beds more environmentally friendly. How? By replacing peat — the fluffy, brown “dirt” in which petunias and marigolds are planted at the greenhouse. “It’s extracted from sensitive ecosystems that sequester considerable amounts of carbon and store excess precipitation,” said researcher Poonam Singh in
Feds fund Hay West to ship another 15 million to 16 million pounds of hay
DROUGHT With far more demand than capacity, the CFA is seeking to mitigate as much damage as possible
Federal funding will allow the Hay West relief initiative to ship another 15 million to 16 million pounds of hay through the winter, says the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). That’s based on an average cost of 15 to 20 cents per pound, a spokesperson told the Co-operator. However, that’s a fraction of the hay
Maple Leaf to require Covid vaccine for entry by March
The mandate extends to barns Maple Leaf owns and operates
Maple Leaf will require all employees, contractors and suppliers to prove they are vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter its facilities after March 31, 2022. “We continue to make the safety of our team members our priority,” said Kristie Syndikus, vice president of procurement, in a letter sent to suppliers and contractors Dec. 13. In the
Feds renew Foodgrains Bank funding for three years
Canada is committed to relieving hunger exacerbated by pandemic, says Sajjan
The federal government has pledged financial support for global aid through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for another three years. “Every child has a gift to offer this world and have an impact, but what they don’t have is the opportunity that we have here,” said Harjit S. Sajjan, minister of international development in an online
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
