Businesses are powered by solar panels on rooftops in downtown Minneapolis while small towns across the state source solar energy from “solar gardens” and farms harness the power of the sun to power up their barns. Minnesota has become a leading U.S. state for its adoption of solar and other renewable energy sources, thanks to
Clean energy can drive rural economy
Speakers call for switching out some of the $4 billion now spent on fossil fuel imports to Manitoba with homegrown renewable energy sources
Getting bugged
Last year was a particularly bad outbreak, but that won’t necessarily carry over
Homeowners were aghast last fall when nightmarish numbers of Asian lady beetles descended on their doorsteps, then made themselves right at home — indoors. These bugs “completely enveloped” their new home one day last September, recalls Susan Mooney, a retired public health nurse who lives with her husband on a rural acreage near Carman. “They
KAP delegates raise flag over biosecurity breaches
Farmers cite incidents of provincial inspectors, hydro meter readers bypassing inspection stations
Anyone entering a restricted area of a livestock farm can increase the risk of spreading diseases farm to farm. It’s why farms have biosecurity measures in place and producers are vigilant to limit those coming and going on it. But as district representatives at Keystone Agriculture Producers’ spring meeting point out, some provincial government personnel
KAP says more supports needed to recycle farm plastic waste
Resolutions at recent meeting ask for inclusion of plastic bag rollers as a BMP and for more collection sites
Everyone knows burning grain bags or any other agricultural plastic in the back forty is a bad idea, but some do it anyway. The matter came up at the April 5 meeting of Keystone Agricultural Producers during resolution debates. “There’s been some concern about burning,” said Justin Jenner, District 7 KAP delegate. “The best way
New era beginning for conservation work, says MCDA chairman
Meetings held to talk over future boundary changes, new programming
It’s a new day for conservation efforts in Manitoba, according to the chair of the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association. Ray Frey, who’s also an executive member of the Little Saskatchewan Conservation District, says there are a number of new and proposed initiatives that are going to create a new paradigm in the province. There’s the
KAP exploring apprenticeship program for farm staff
The farm group has begun early discussions with Apprenticeship Manitoba about the need for training those employed on farms and how training could be offered
With spring seeding around the corner, do you have the people you need on the payroll? Many farmers don’t and know chances of finding someone are next to nil. With the farm labour shortage intensifying, Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) this spring is sitting down with Apprenticeship Manitoba to look further afield for workers. They’re in
Manitoba’s climate plan implementation delayed to fall
Provincial Opposition delays passage of Bill 16, saying Manitobans need more time to push for increased green spending from revenue collected through a carbon tax
The provincial agricultural minister said he’s disappointed about the delays his government now faces implementing its made-in-Manitoba carbon tax. The Opposition on April 5 chose to push Bill 16 forward to fall, saying Manitobans should use the time to push the government to spend the revenues on green programming. Bill 16 will pass but this
Province signs five-year agreement worth $176 million
The cost-shared initiative will be consolidated into one program and called Ag Action Manitoba
Funding will begin to flow right away from the new bilateral five-year $176-million agreement signed between Manitoba and the federal government last week, Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler says. This is the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), part of an overall $3-billion federal program supporting cost-shared initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories, to be consolidated
Eastern Manitoba ice cream maker closes shop
An eastern Manitoba dairy farmer who began producing a specialty ice cream with the farm’s own milk in 2013 has closed shop citing rising production costs. Lisa Dyck, owner of the Cornell Creme ice cream brand, began producing a line of hand-crafted ice cream in 2013, using milk from the family dairy farm northeast of
Rural Manitoba is both good and bad for aging seniors
The people make it work, but the places can be hostile environments, says a Centre on Aging speaker
Small towns can be great places to retire and live out one’s golden years — or not. A community with nearby family and lifelong friends is what draws or keeps people there. It’s more difficult to live there when appropriate and well-located housing, good sidewalks, and alternative modes of travel for non-drivers aren’t. Richard Milgrom,
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
