Agriculture is the major emitter of nitrous oxide, researchers say
The 4Rs of nutrient stewardship can decrease emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) anywhere from 20 to 40 per cent, according to research out of the University of Manitoba. “The vast majority of the nitrous oxide that is emitted is from agriculture,” said Mario Tenuta, professor of soil ecology at the University of
4Rs reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Workers ‘crying for help’ at Brandon Maple Leaf plant
In an open letter, workers say the province and company are discriminating against immigrant workers by shuffling blame onto them
Workers at Brandon’s Maple Leaf Foods plant say the company and provincial government are passing the blame onto them for spreading COVID-19 in the facility. “We workers are crying for help,” they wrote in an open letter, circulated Monday by Migrante Manitoba, an advocacy group for migrants in the province. The province has repeatedly said
Manitoba Pork, stakeholders make contingency plans to relocate hogs
There’s only limited capacity for excess pigs on the Prairies if Maple Leaf’s Brandon plant closes due to COVID-19 cases
Every effort will be made to find space for hogs if Brandon’s Maple Leaf Foods plant shuts down, says the Manitoba Pork Council. As of August 13, the facility remained open as confirmed cases of COVID-19 among workers climbed over two dozen and many more staff were in self-isolation. About 2,000 people work at the plant, which processes up
Safety concerns prompt call for pork plant closure
NDP, union and workers all say a short-term shutdown would be the best plan
NDP Opposition leader, Wab Kinew, continued to call for a short-term shutdown of Brandon’s Maple Leaf Foods, August 13, and for “surveillance testing” of employees against the novel coronavirus. “Manitoba’s agri-food industry is successful only when Maple Leaf workers and the wider Westman community, are safe and healthy,” Kinew said in an emailed statement to
Grain bins have regulatory, safety requirements
Farm safety experts say farms, even small family-run operations, are workplaces and are regulated accordingly
Farm safety experts are reminding producers that grain bins are ‘confined spaces’ — a term that has regulatory and safety implications. “Fatalities occur regularly across the Prairie provinces in agricultural settings specific to confined spaces,” said Marc Watt, a paramedic turned safety adviser at Elite Safety Training in Brandon. Yet, he said, farms often operate
Manitoba ag minister asks for producer engagement ahead of annual ministers’ conference
AgriStability among issues top of mind during Pedersen’s tour of province
The province is asking farmers to give their opinions on several topics ahead of October’s annual meeting of provincial ag ministers. “We are committed to bringing the voices of farmers forward,” said Blaine Pedersen, minister of agriculture and resource development in an Aug. 4 news release. Through an online forum, the province is inviting producers
Contingency plans tentatively in place for Brandon pork plant closure
No plans to close Maple Leaf Foods plant in Brandon despite COVID-19 cases, union calls to do so
“Every effort” will be made to find processing capacity for hogs if Brandon’s Maple Leaf Foods plant closes due to a cluster of COVID-19 cases there says Manitoba Pork. “I want to emphasize there is no plan being put in place to shut down the plant in Brandon,” Manitoba Pork general manager Andrew Dickson told
Keep an eye out for these three ‘new’ insect pests
Entomologists are tracking the progress of cereal leaf beetles,cabbage seedpod weevils and pea leaf weevils across Manitoba
A provincial entomologist is asking farmers and agronomists to keep their eye out for three pests making inroads in Manitoba. Why it matters: Provincial entomologist John Gavloski has a watch list of pests starting to creep their way into Manitoba. The cereal leaf beetle was first spotted in Manitoba in 2009 and has spread from
Self-guided 4R tour brings new research in era of COVID-19
Through video, University of Manitoba researchers presented new research on increasing nitrogen use efficiency in grain corn
Soil fertility specialists from the University of Manitoba brought the latest “4R” research to the public while keeping a healthy distance, thanks to an innovative self-guided field tour July 23-25 near Carman. “The beauty of a self-guided tour is that people can do it at their leisure,” soil ecology professor, Mario Tenuta told the Manitoba
Local honey farm wins big in London
Faces of Ag: The Wendell family pitches their honey on quality, purity and Prairie goodness
A Manitoba-Saskatchewan honey farm has brought home high honours from the 2020 London Honey Awards. Wendell Estate Honey, which practises both conventional and organic production, entered the only Canadian honeys to receive platinum awards in the competition, appearing alongside honey from Greece, Italy, Spain and the U.K. To reach platinum status, the honey must score an
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