Pesticide regulations designed to protect honeybees fail to account for potential health threats posed to other, even more important pollinators, according to a trio of research papers from the University of Guelph. As the global human population grows, and as pollinators continue to suffer declines caused by everything from habitat loss to pathogens, regulators need
Wild bees need stronger pesticide regulation
Pesticide regulations designed to protect honeybees fail to account for potential health threats to the full diversity of bee species that are even more important pollinators
Go malting
Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre issues annual variety list to aid growers
Pondering what barley variety to sow this spring? The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) has released its annual list of malting barley varieties that hold the most promise for producers in terms of performance, quality and marketability. The 2019-20 edition includes varieties that have been pilot-scale tested by the CMBTC and which exhibit good
A holiday message from Eaton’s
Our History: December 1955
What goes around, comes around. Mail order is big business these days, as it was in the 1950s, but the dominant supplier then was Eaton’s, not Amazon. This ad thanking farmers for their business ran in our Dec. 22, 1955 issue. The front page that week carried a report from the Manitoba Agronomists Conference, which
Chickens herald of the Anthropocene era
Consumption of chickens signals new geological epoch, according to research led by the University of Leicester
There’s a proposal to declare a new man-made geological period to be dubbed the “Anthropocene” in recognition of human influence. Research by scientist Carys Bennett of the University of Leicester suggests breeding and consumption of modern broiler chickens signals the shift. “As the most numerous terrestrial vertebrate species on the planet, with a biology shaped
PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: December 2018
The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba
In the 1950s, there were over 700 grain elevators in Manitoba. Today, there are fewer than 200. You can help to preserve the legacy of these disappearing “Prairie sentinels.” The Manitoba Historical Society (MHS) is gathering information about all elevators that ever stood in Manitoba, regardless of their present status. Collaborating with the Manitoba Co-operator it is supplying these
MPSG receives extension awards
Two publications got the nod from the American Society of Agronomy
Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers is celebrating a pair of extension awards from the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). The association’s publication Pulse Beat: The Science Edition won the ASA award in the category of publications: circular, fact sheet, or brochure greater than 16 pages. And the association’s Soybean Staging Guide & Maturity Guide and
PHOTOS: A pioneer Christmas
The Manitoba Agricultural Museum hosts this annual event
The Manitoba Agricultural Museum has been celebrating the Christmas season with its annual Christmas Homesteaders’ Village event at Austin. For more than five years the group celebrates the season with the annual event to give attendees a glimpse into the lives of the early rural pioneers on the weekends leading up to Christmas. For many
Sandison Farm nabs attention of Scotland Yard
Our History: December 1890
The December 1890 issue of the Nor-West Farmer and Miller contained a glowing, two-page-plus report on the success of the Sandison Farm near Brandon, including renderings such as the threshing crew shown here. It had “within the last four years, expanded from a moderate beginning to a size hitherto unapproached in this province.” That year
The irrational consumer
You probably won’t be surprised to learn a lot of decision-making is based on feelings rather than facts
Perceptions are crucial to people’s acceptance of a particular technology and therefore their willingness to become a consumer. While some consumer behaviours may seem irrational, their actions are actually quite predictable based on what’s known about how people solve problems. Prior to the introduction of scientific testing for toxicological risks, individuals relied on their senses
PHOTOS: Holiday train rolls through Manitoba
The CP Holiday Train is celebrating its 20th season this year, and stops in Whitemouth, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Carberry, Brandon and Virden between Dec. 3 and 5. Dec. 4 the rolling party was in Brandon and photographer Sandy Black stopped by to capture a few images. There was a half-hour musical performance and local