EQUALITY | Access to land, social capital and difference in interests, skills may account for the trend
While women are less likely than men to farm in Manitoba, inequality appears to be lower for women in direct marketing or non-conventional farms, according to a recent report from the University of Manitoba. “There is a dynamic that women face that young men don’t face entering farming, but I also think that that’s changing
Women more likely to run non-conventional farms: report
Young farmers spurred by fundamental human reasons: study
Land access the No. 1 obstacle to starting or continuing farming
Land access the No. 1 obstacle to starting or continuing farming
Young farmers’ motivations to farm despite the obstacles they face are striking and important, says an author of a new study from the University of Manitoba. Researcher Annette Desmarais said she was glad, perhaps a bit surprised to see young farmers wanted to farm so they could spend time with family, be closer to nature, and feel
KAP, fruit growers backed for COVID-related costs
Online infrastructure, work-from-home setups led to unexpected costs in 2020
Federal funding for organizations supporting small businesses will help Keystone Agricultural Producers and Prairie Fruit Growers Association pay for unexpected expenses brought on by COVID-19. For KAP, this includes setting up staff to work from home and hosting webinars. “All these things have additional costs, which for a small organization was unexpected,” said Patty Rosher,
Manomin Project restoring wild ‘rice’
FOOD | Elders maintain that hydroelectric dams along the Winnipeg River devastated the crop Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation had nurtured and relied on for generations
Knowledge keepers at Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation estimate their ancestors harvested 500,000 pounds of manomin (wild rice) every year from the shallow bays along the Winnipeg River. The nutrient-rich food — not a rice, but a cereal — historically helped families make it through harsh winters, writes Samantha Mehltretter, a researcher on the Manomin Project. Beginning in the
Province pledges $1 million to 4-H scholarships
YOUTH | Interest from endowment to provide post-secondary scholarships, bursaries
youth Interest from endowment to provide post-secondary scholarships and bursaries to past and present club members
A provincial endowment of $1 million will provide post-secondary scholarships to 4-H members, past and present, Ag Minister Blaine Pedersen announced November 4. “4-H is near and dear to my heart, the premier’s heart, and many of my colleagues in the legislature have been through the 4-H program,” Pedersen said on a call with media.
Anti-bullying law for municipal councils takes effect
The new rules lay out badly needed protections against workplace harassment, says one municipal mayor
New regulations to combat bullying within municipal governments have exceeded her expectations, says one of the original lobbyers for the law. “We raised so many concerns with the government to ask for protection, and it did,” said Cheryl Christian, mayor of the RM of West St. Paul. “It doesn’t mean that there’s not going to
Concerted effort needed to make winter what you want it to be
With events cancelled, travel on hold and entertainment scant, winter threatens to be long and lonely
Five days before Christmas, Pilot Mound residents cut the ribbon and cut the carrot cake inside their brand new, community-run theatre. After a decade of work and community fundraising events, the volunteer board that runs the theatre was so happy to open, said Heather Brewster, a board member. On March 19 the Tivoli Community Theatre
Study looks at economics of wheatgrass as dual-purpose crop
University of Manitoba researchers will look at the economics of intermediate wheatgrass and its environmental footprint
A new study is looking at intermediate wheatgrass’s potential to be both cash crop and quality forage in the same year. Intermediate wheatgrass is a perennial grain sometimes known by the trade name ‘Kernza.’ It has historically been used as forage in North America, but in its recent years has been pegged as the most
Roquette puts out call for organic peas
The Portage la Prairie processor ‘very confident’ growers can supply enough organic peas
Manitoba organic producers will be able to sell peas to processing giant Roquette in the 2021 season, the company announced on Oct. 28. Interest among growers has already been high, said Glen Last, grain buyer at Roquette during a call with media. “We’re very confident that the grower base is there,” he said. Roquette continues
Manitoba beekeeper receives recognition for protecting pollinators
Ian Steppler uses a thriving YouTube channel and speaking engagements to share his philosophy
A Manitoba beekeeper has received national recognition for his work advocating for and protecting pollinators. Ian Steppler accepted the 2020 North America Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) Farmer-Rancher Canada award for pollinator conservation during a virtual conference on October 20. “I’m quite flattered and really happy to be able to accept this award,” said Steppler who
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