Manitoba farmers heading out to plant this spring can thank the likes of R.T. Riley for the fact that they have fields to work instead of swamps. Riley, best known today as one of the founders of the Great West Life Assurance company (now Canada Life), was the son of a prominent British businessman who
DOWN THE DRAIN: Manitoba’s wetlands a shadow of their former selves
It’ll take years to reverse the trend, but the effects will be cumulative
Phosphorus boosters and broad-spectrum antifungal found in Prairie soils
Researchers say naturally occurring microbes can make phosphorus more readily available
A group of Manitoba researchers have isolated two naturally occurring micro-organisms they say will help farmers better utilize phosphorus and fight plant diseases. The work of the scientists, from the University of Manitoba and KGS Group, has centred around two novel bacterium dubbed KGS-2 and KGS-3. Stan Lozecznik, senior environmental engineer with KGS Group, said
Editor’s Take: The weakest link
As I sit here, writing this editorial, I’m recovering from the last lingering COVID symptoms. I’m hardly alone in this. One recent study suggested that as many as 50 per cent of Canadians have had an infection now. Based on anecdotal evidence from my circle of friends and family, I’m willing to believe that number,
Editor’s Take: A self-inflicted wound
When it comes to farm labour, the sector is guilty of shooting itself in the foot. It’s long been one of the industry’s stated goals to attract talent and grow the workforce, yet at the same time, it’s dragged its feet on every front when it comes to actually making itself a more attractive employer.
VIDEO: Editor’s Take: Off the rails
We live in an era of the primacy of markets. In particular, regulation of markets has been deemed as undesirable, a long-term trend that began with neo-conservatism in the late 1970s and early 1980s. But Canadians are increasingly being hit in the face with examples where greater regulation is becoming a necessary evil. From price-fixing
Shippers call for essential designation for railways
In a world of uncertainty, grain companies say labour peace necessary
The recent railway labour disruption at Canadian Pacific Railways starkly underlines the transportation-related vulnerability of Canada’s agriculture sector, industry watchers say. An online seminar organized by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) heard March 28 that fertilizer shipments in and out of the country are balanced on a knife edge, and Canada’s global reputation as
Editorial: The world of unknowns
A few years back, the world made a lot of fun of the late Donald Rumsfeld, formerly the defence secretary in the George W. Bush administration, over his comments about the war in Iraq. His statement, albeit delivered in tortured syntax that fired up the emerging mockery machine was, essentially: There are things we know.
Current market picture hangs in the balance
It’s an even murkier picture than usual this spring for farmers
Market analyst Bruce Burnett says he’s officially in uncharted territory. As director of weather and crops information for MarketsFarm (a division of Glacier FarmMedia) and an experienced market analyst, he’s used to seeing the effect of war on grain markets. But this time, things are different, as Ukraine and Russia square off in what is
Rail lockout compounds grain transport woes
A labour dispute was the last thing an already-stressed grain handling system needed
CP’s latest labour dispute is over — but the metaphorical wreckage is going to linger on the tracks for a while. Canadian Pacific Railway and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference agreed March 22 to settle a labour dispute that began March 20, when the railway locked its workers out over a dispute on pensions, pay
Editor’s Take: On rent-seeking
If you’ve already read Allan Dawson’s story featured on the front page of our Mar. 10 issue of the Co-operator, there’s a fairly high likelihood you’re feeling a bit sour. In it he details the work done by agricultural economist Ryan Cardwell on the topic of ‘rent-seeking’ behaviour generally, and how farmers are particularly good
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
