Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger’s first agriculture minister plans to exit the provincial political arena. Stan Struthers, the MLA since 1995 for what’s now the Dauphin riding, and agriculture minister from 2009 to 2011, announced Wednesday he won’t seek re-election when the next provincial vote is held in April 2016. Struthers, a high school principal at
Former Man. agriculture minister won’t run again
Co-op Atlantic members approve exit from food, gas
Delegates to Atlantic Canada’s biggest co-operative have approved a proposal to divest its way out of the grocery and fuel business. Co-op Atlantic’s board of directors last month rolled out a proposal in which the organization would make a deal with Nova Scotia-based grocery giant Sobeys for the co-op’s food- and fuel-related wholesale and retail
Eat better, live longer and reduce greenhouse gas
British study says ‘minor’ adjustments would include fewer animal products, especially red meat, fewer savoury snacks and more fruit, vegetables and cereals
Eating a more healthy diet could extend the British lifespan, lower health-care costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to new research led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The findings are based on two papers. The first, published in Climatic Change, estimates the greenhouse gas emissions associated with current U.K.
Wheats in CWRS, CPSR classes up for review
Owners of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat varieties have until month’s end to decide whether to put their products through more trials, or let their varieties be reclassified. The Canadian Grain Commission on Friday announced a review of the CWRS and CPSR wheat classes will start immediately, citing
Clubroots beating all resistant canolas across Alta.
A study of 27 canola fields across Alberta has found 16 infected with clubroot pathotypes able to cause “high levels” of the disease — in canola plants with clubroot-resistant genetics. What’s more, the clubroot pathogen isolated from “many” of the infected fields in the study was virulent on all clubroot-resistant canola cultivars, the Canola Council of Canada
Canada, Philippines to talk about free trade talks
Canada and the Philippines have launched “exploratory discussions” toward a possible free trade agreement, from which Canadian livestock and grain producers could expect to gain. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Philippines’ President Benigno Aquino announced the discussions Friday in Ottawa during Aquino’s state visit, which ends Saturday. A Canada-Philippines free trade agreement “would strengthen
Manitoba New Holland dealers soon all in one chain
Farmer fans of the New Holland brand in Manitoba will soon be dealing with just one company in the province for new and used equipment, service and parts. Brandon-based Mazergroup on Thursday announced it’s signed a letter of intent to buy the assets and operations of Southeastern Farm Equipment — the lone New Holland dealer
Manitoba dust storm of 1999, and a “gang of seven” gears up for a fight
Our History: May 1999
In a scene similar to one April 15 this year, this photo taken near Eden in our May 6, 1999 issue showed dust blowing from the previous week’s windstorm. Winds at times topped 80 km/h. The worst-affected area was around Grosse Isle, where visibility was below one km in blowing dust. In other news, Agriculture
Salford to buy applicator maker Valmar
Prairie manufacturing firm Valmar Airflo, known for its farm-, commercial- and research-grade granular applicator systems, is under new ownership. Valmar, set up in 1977 at Elie, Man. by farm mechanic, crop duster and inventor Charlie Balmer, has been sold to Ontario seeding and tillage equipment firm Salford Group for an undisclosed sum. Valmar will continue
NDP wave pulls down Alta. Tories, ag minister
Alberta’s incumbent agriculture and rural development minister is among the casualties of the provincial New Democrats’ unprecedented majority in Tuesday’s election. Verlyn Olson, the MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose since 2008, the province’s ag and rural development minister since 2012, and its acting justice minister for about a week and a half, was downed by NDP candidate
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