The University of Winnipeg’s new biomass heating system will be a model for other institutions, say proponents of alternative energy sources
When school starts this fall, the University of Winnipeg will flip the switch on a novel way to keep downtown buildings heated — with boilers that burn wood pellets. Last fall the downtown university took delivery of two 100-kilowatt biomass boilers, to provide supplementary heating a steam plant now provides for its Ashdown, Manitoba and
University pioneering urban biomass heating
Tile drainage template will aid municipalities
The goal is to help municipalities better understand the issues for better outcomes
Municipalities in Manitoba now have a document they can use for guidance when integrating tile drainage into drainage bylaws. This is a newly released tile drainage bylaw template, a project led by the Red River Basin Commission and various partners to help local governments better understand this subsurface drainage system used by more and more
What to expect if the safety inspector visits your farm
The Manitoba Farm Safety Association is hosting no-cost sessions to help farmers understand Workplace Safety and Health legislation
What’s a sure sign you don’t know that Workplace Safety and Health legislation applies to your farm? Telling the safety officer who’s just arrived to conduct an inspection to leave — maybe with words your mother wouldn’t like. Workplace Safety and Health laws to ensure safe job sites have applied to all farms in Manitoba
New law aims to protect wetlands, lakes, rivers
The Manitoba government passes its Sustainable Watersheds Act to co-ordinate programs and policy in water management
The Manitoba government has adopted a carrot-and-stick approach to addressing an issue that has divided neighbours and cost the provincial economy billions due to flooding and reduced water quality. Fines for breaking the rules will rise sharply, but incentives for protecting key wetlands are being developed, and the approval process for low-impact drainage projects will be streamlined.
2,000 Hectares That’s how much wetland Manitoba loses every year to drainage. The new law specifies no net loss of “wetland benefits.” Source: Manitoba government $748 Million Protecting key wetlands would prevent 1,000 tonnes of P and 55,000 tonnes of N from entering lakes and waterways annually. The estimated saving on removal using existing technology:
The high tunnel advantage
St. Norbert small-scale vegetable producers tout the benefits of covering a portion of their crop
When Marilyn Firth and Bruce Berry bought 10 acres on the south edge of Winnipeg in 2007 they knew most vegetable farms that once ringed the city were gone. They also knew they’d be starting to farm at the age of most lifelong growers. But they were convinced more customers wanted food delivered across a
Five more cases of PED confirmed as of June 1
CVO and Manitoba Pork working to trace back source of virus
The hog sector remains on high alert following more confirmed cases of the deadly PED in barns in southeastern Manitoba. Six cases of PED have now been confirmed as of June 1. The first case was confirmed in a finisher barn May 15. As of the end of last week, the virus has been found
LAID WASTE: emerald ash borer a looming threat
A concerted effort will be necessary to preserve ash trees that shelter homes and fields
A village council in Manitoba’s Interlake thinks it’s a good idea to prevent an invasive insect from destroying local trees. Dunnottar just doesn’t know what it would do if emerald ash borer (EAB) chews its way into town. “We’ve sort of been aware of it,” said Village of Dunnottar Mayor Rick Gamble. “But we’re not
Beef sector recognized for environmental stewardship
Association of Manitoba Community Pastures receives a 2017 Manitoba Excellence Award for Sustainability in Water and Natural Area Stewardship while Manitoba Beef Producers honoured for its work protecting grassland birds
Manitoba’s cattle sector has received substantial recognition for environmental stewardship this month. Sustainability awards were presented by the province of Manitoba to both Association of Manitoba Community Pastures (AMCP) and Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP). The AMCP received a 2017 Manitoba Excellence Award for Sustainability in Water and Natural Area Stewardship while an honourable mention in
Rural reality — new report cites ways to tackle the challenges
FCM report details the challenges of thinning populations and what’s needed for small-town Canada to grow and prosper
A new report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities hopes to convince Ottawa to revive the Rural Secretariat. The chair of the national municipal lobby group’s rural forum says they hope the federal government can come to better understand the challenges and opportunities of rural Canada. The FCM’s 28-page report Rural Challenges — National Opportunity:
Food history truck ready to roll
Researchers embark on unusual project to capture oral history of how food in Manitoba has been produced, sold, manufactured and consumed
Who developed the recipe for that perogy or pasta? What’s the tale that torte could tell? A small group of history researchers from University of Winnipeg want to know, and will set out this spring to hear Manitobans tell their food-related stories. It’s a team assembled by Janis Thiessen, a history professor at University of
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
