Since its conception 30 years ago, STARS has been a not-for-profit organization and in Manitoba, patients do not receive any request for repayment of the cost of their transport. An average flight runs at approximately, $5,400 and a medically equipped helicopter costs $5 million. Funding for the service comes from donations and fundraising, and the
STARS heavily reliant on donors
Patients are not required to pay for emergency transport
Give roots a chance to do their job, says soil ecologist
Australian soil expert says that by focusing on farming light you can build the biological activity in soil and boost pasture productivity
Christine Jones says if you want to increase pasture productivity, look below the surface. “Our whole production system relies on soil. We take soil tests to determine if the soil is deficient and if it doesn’t have a certain component, we will add it. If our animals have some sort of issue, we will add
Clues to soil health lie in the patties
If you want a quick indicator of pasture soil health, just flip the flops. “When I am in my pastures I will flip the cow patties over and I want to see as many holes as I can because that is a sign of fertility,” Dave Pogson, a grazier from Clearwater told the recent Manitoba
Using sun power to open gates
Neil Dennis could see the advantages of intensively grazing small paddocks by moving his cattle often — but going to the fields every two hours to move the herd was time consuming. Now he gets the sun to open those gates for him with the help of a portable solar-powered automatic gate release timer sold
Staying connected to the farming community
Members of the Killarney Marketing Club see the advantages of choosing collaboration over competition
Collaborating with neighbouring producers has helped a group of Killarney farmers broaden its perspective and gain a competitive edge. For the past 25 years, the Killarney Marketing Club has gathered once a week to share insights and tips of the trade. “Farming is a very complex business and things are always changing,” said Blake Bell,
Potential growers get a look at the ins and outs of growing hemp
The PCDF has been testing 10 varieties and four sites in Manitoba and two in Saskatchewan
A rapidly growing market and attractive payoffs have some producers considering diversifying into industrial hemp production. “Right now hemp is trading at about 85 to 95 cents per pound. Last year, I think the provincial average on yield was around 1,100 to 1,200 pounds. It makes it to be a fairly attractive crop to grow
The original Google — just dial ‘0’
As of January of this year, MTS operators have become non-existent and what was once a lifeline in the community has now become another victim of technology
These days, you can check Facebook or the local website for community information, but before computers there was another source — the local telephone operator. But as of January this year, that job no longer exists in Manitoba. Florence Payne fondly remembers her time as a telephone operator as a position that shaped lifelong friendships
Tornado among several storm events in the southwest
Two rural properties took the brunt of Manitoba's most recent violent weather episode
Displaced bales, crushed crops and chunks of metal scatter fields in the southwest as the area recovers from one of Manitoba’s largest tornadoes in recent years. A low-pressure system that moved in from Montana sparked the extreme weather, which also doused the Virden area with nearly 75 mm of rain. Quarter-sized hail was also reported
PHOTOS: Photo gallery: Aftermath of June 27 Manitoba tornado
The Raynor’s farmland was completely dishevelled and a number of out buildings were destroyed.
Taking flight on crop surveillance
Drones offer farmers a number of options in monitoring fields but it still doesn’t beat boots on the ground
Far more complex than yesterday’s remote-control planes, the modern-day drone has a lot to offer today’s producer. “As far as data collection, these are really useful. We are figuring that we can make use of them for a number of things, including determining crop health and monitoring maturity,” said Jeffery Kostuik, diversification specialist with Parkland
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
