Allan Derhak doesn’t want to think what his hometown would look like stripped of trees. Neepawa is renowned for its beauty and in large part because its residential streets are lined with mature elm, cottonwood and green ash trees. But Derhak, a public works employee in Neepawa, knows many of those trees’ days may be
Tall timber: Rural communities rally around threatened trees
The spectre of tree-destroying insects like emerald ash borer spreading in rural Manitoba underscores the urgency to begin to see trees as ‘green infrastructure’ and key community assets, say workshop speakers
Province proposes changes to approval process for livestock operations
Bill 19 is ‘a balanced approach’ that will reduce red tape for municipalities, says Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton
A bill introduced in the Manitoba legislature March 19 will make it easier for livestock producers to rebuild or renovate existing barns. Bill 19, The Planning Amendment Act (Improving Efficiency in Planning) proposes changes to how livestock operations are approved by municipalities, and other matters related to zoning bylaws and appeals. Under the bill, owners
Roland reeve recovering from severe West Nile virus
John Hughes spent 13 months in hospital after developing the most serious form of West Nile virus in September 2016
A Roland man who spent 13 months in hospital following a West Nile virus (WNV) infection hopes some normalcy returns to his life this year. “This year my goal is to be able to get up and onto my tractor, and mow my yard and walk around the house,” said John Hughes, husband and father
Funding freeze for municipalities worrisome, AMM president says
Operating grants frozen at 2016 levels in this year’s provincial budget
Municipalities face more fiscal challenges ahead with operating grants frozen at 2016 levels in last week’s provincial budget, the head of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) says. That freeze is worrisome as it doesn’t take the cost of inflation into account, said Chris Goertzen, AMM president. “We do know that this will pose some
Municipalities should get carbon tax revenue: poll
Majority says local communities should get between one-half and all of the funds raised by the province
Most Manitobans say carbon tax revenue should go to municipalities — with rural residents slightly more convinced than Winnipeggers at least half should be returned to them. Those are poll results shared by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) last week. The AMM commissioned Probe Research to ask 1,000 Manitobans how much, if any, of
Community pasture benefits worth over $13 million a year, study says
From forages worth $5.67 million annually to $4.7 million in carbon sequestration services, the benefits from the province’s 350,000 acres of community pastures add up fast
All Manitobans gain from this province’s community pastures, according to a new study that details the broad range of social and environmental benefits derived from them, and assigns a dollar value to them too. Released last week by the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures (AMCP) the study pegs the value of ecosystem services derived from
The Open Kitchen
Manitoba’s only privately owned, rural state-of-the-art processing facility supports new food entrepreneurs
Peter Fehr was looking to expand his sauce-making company when he discovered The Open Kitchen last spring. Now the gourmet chef and entrepreneur attributes the growth spurt of his business Gourmet Inspirations to having come here to bottle his product. “It’s been a valuable stepping stone in growing my business,” said Fehr whose finishing and
Injured on the farm? Farm Safety Program wants to know
Manitoba Farm Safety Program wants to hear about incidents so it can post preventive bulletins
The Manitoba Farm Safety Program (FSP) wants farmers to tell it about the injury-causing incidents and near misses that occur on their farms. That information could help others avoid the same mishaps by helping its program do more preventive programming, said FSP program director Keith Castonguay. The FSP launched in 2017 through Keystone Agricultural Producers
FALLING NUMBER: More wooden grain elevators bite the dust in Manitoba
Just 133 wooden country elevators remain in Manitoba, says a Manitoba historian who also estimates about 40 per cent of these are now abandoned
Rural Manitoba lost one more wooden grain elevator last week with the demolition of a United Grain Growers site at Birch River (above). The building was owned by the RM of Mountain which took possession of it in a tax sale after its private owner passed away. Equipment operators rolled in March 5 after council
2018 farm safety week focuses on senior producers
Canadian Agricultural Safety Week will place special emphasis on keeping older workers safe on the farm
Driving combine or truck into the wee hours of the morning never used to faze Paul Gregory. He knows he can’t put those long hours in anymore. “Evenings are tougher,” admits the Fisher Branch farmer and owner of Interlake Forage Seeds Ltd. He recently turned 60. “I’m definitely not feeling as much energy as I
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
