A Carman-area canola field offers dramatic proof that agronomists weren’t kidding last spring when they advised farmers not to broadcast seed canola unless they could follow up with harrows. Provincial weed specialist Nasir Shaikh said the field was aerially seeded with a Clearfield herbicide-tolerant variety by air and the producer was able to cover part
Perils Of Broadcast Seeding Outlined At Crop Tour
Federal Funds Diverted From Beef To Hogs
While Manitoba’s hog industry celebrated some rare good news last week, the beef sector was reeling from yet another setback in the bid to re-establish federally inspected beef slaughter capacity here. Citing unspecified problems with the Keystone Processors Ltd. business plan, the federal government has withdrawn $10 million in financing it promised the beef-processing company
Time To Pack It In?
Word was barely out that the federal government was withdrawing $10 million in financing for Keystone Processors Ltd. beef-slaughter facility last week and Manitoba Beef Producers was calling for an end to the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council. The association that is the voice of Manitoba beef producers, and which is supported by its own voluntary
Shhh… Don’t Tell The Canola Council
We want to believe those promises of good things to come Western Canada’s way once the Canadian Wheat Board is outa’ the way. We really do. According to Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz, the CWB monopoly is weakening our clout in world wheat and barley trade. “What was once Canada’s signature crop has fallen behind,”
Happy Trails
TheManitoba Co-operatoris saying farewell this week to veteran farm reporter Ron Friesen, who after 23 years on the farm beat, has decided to pursue other interests. We hesitate to use the word “retire” because it’s hard to imagine a prolific writer and reporter like Ron quitting the keyboard cold turkey. Nevertheless, his resignation presents us
Greig Family Named Farm Family Of The Year
Being summoned to Winnipeg to accept the Red River Exhibition’s 2011 Farm Family of the Year award gave the Greigs of Reston a welcome respite from their watery southwestern Manitoba reality this spring. With only 15 per cent of his land base seeded this spring and little hope of more, Fred Greig quipped he’s had
Truckin’ Around In A New Ford F150 EcoBoost
There are lots of people around for whom that new truck smell is nothing remarkable. After all, trucks are not only a fact of rural life, they are for many, a necessary all-purpose vehicle. You don’t see many farmyards across this province that don’t have at least one light-duty truck parked in the driveway. Compare
The Climate Change Conundrum
ith the June 20 crop insurance past, farmers and their crop insurance agents are pulling on their galoshes to assess the W damages from yet another spring with too much water. Cattle producers are worrying about winter feed supplies as they watch flood waters inundate their hayfields. We are told this year is one for
The Three “R” S Of P
We’ve often heard of the three Rs– reading, writing and reckoning (a term related to mental math dating back to the Victorian era) whenever the subject of keeping the education on track arises. Or the three Rs of garbage– reduce, reuse and recycle. Right now, Manitoba is caught up in the three Rs of phosphorus
Smoking Guns And Testy Waters
We almost expected to hear the hoofbeats of a white horse in the background as Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger rode to Lake Winnipeg’s rescue last week. Armed with a new report by Saskatchewan biologist Peter Leavitt that says changing agricultural practices, specifically increased hog production in Manitoba, are to blame for at least half of