McDonald Farms is the winner of the 2021 Conservation Award. The honour is presented every year by a Manitoba watershed district — in this case the Pembina Valley Watershed District (PVWD) — to recognize an individual, organization, family or business who actively promotes wise farm management and conservation practices. Wayne and Maria McDonald own and
McDonald Farms honoured with conservation award
The Cartwright-area operation has been longtime advocate of grass-based production
Partnership to expand use of western Canadian plant proteins
Consortium will develop new products for Canadian and Asian markets
A new partnership is aiming to develop new plant-based protein products and ingredients intended for markets in Western Canada and Asia. A recent media release from Protein Industries Canada, the federally funded ‘supercluster’ that’s tasked with growing this sector said Mera Food Group, Mera Developments and Benson Farms are going in together to use oats,
Agricultural Crown Land auctions move online
Digital auctions have been announced for February
Manitoba is going online for its next round of Agricultural Crown Land auctions. The province announced the move Jan. 11. Auctions will take place between Feb. 8-12 and will be hosted by Garton’s Auction Service out of Dauphin. In 2019, the province announced its first auctions under a greatly changed Agricultural Crown Lands system. Among
Canada Summer Jobs Program open to farmers
Some changes made in response to COVID job losses kept from last year
Farmers and agricultural businesses can apply for wage subsidies through the Canada Summer Jobs Program until January 29. The program will pay qualifying businesses up to 75 per cent of the provincial minimum hourly wage to provide summer jobs for people between age 15 and 30. Last year public health order closed businesses and put
Seymour named watersheds builder
Annual award from Manitoba Association of Watersheds recognizes outstanding contributions
Murray Seymour has been awarded the 2020 Watershed District Builder Award. The annual award “… recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals directly associated with the growth and success of watershed districts in Manitoba.” Seymour was named this year’s recipient during the Manitoba Association of Watershed Districts virtual conference, held Dec. 8. “My greatest reward was being chair of
Richardson buys major Winnipeg trucking firm
Bison’s divisions include refrigerated hauling and intermodal trucking
The owner of Canada’s biggest agri-food company has bought full control of one of Canada’s biggest trucking companies. James Richardson and Sons Ltd., the parent firm of agribusiness Richardson International, announced Jan. 5 it has bought 100 per cent of the shares of Winnipeg-based Bison Transport for an undisclosed sum. Bison employs about 3,700 staff
Biofuels mandate increased in Manitoba
GHG reductions come hand in hand with additional grain markets
Manitoba is boosting its blend — ethanol blend in gasoline, that is. Effective Jan. 1, 2021, the amount of ethanol required in gasoline will increase to 9.25 per cent from 8.5 per cent. It will further grow to 10 per cent on Jan. 1, 2022. The biodiesel requirement will increase to 3.5 per cent from
Manitoba Crop Alliance fills corn committee
The new delegates have been voted onto the body by their farming peers
Four farmers have been elected to the Manitoba Crop Alliance’s corn committee. Dean Toews (MacGregor), Carl Bangert (Beausejour), Emile Morin (Otterburne) and Hubert Preun (St. Andrews) were the elected delegates with the highest number of votes. Following the crop committee delegate nominations in September and October five names were put forward for four positions on
New Year sees increase in ethanol blend requirements
The Manitoba government announced plans on Dec. 22 to adopt new blend requirements for ethanol in gasoline and for biodiesel in diesel. “We are taking the steps necessary to meet our GHG reduction targets, and have extensively worked with and consulted stakeholders,” said Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard. “We are leading the nation with
Farmers, ag groups asked for feedback on recycling plan
Cleanfarms is set to transition its Manitoba pilot to a permanent, province wide program
Farmers, producer groups and agricultural suppliers in Manitoba are invited to give feedback on a plan for a province-wide agricultural waste recycling program. Cleanfarms, which recycles ag plastics and waste across the Prairies, is preparing to transition its Manitoba pilot to a permanent, industry-funded recycling program it said in news release on December 16. It’s