(Staff photo)

Federal food policy consultations underway

The long-discussed-and-debated notion of a public pan-Canadian food policy has taken a move forward with a new online survey from the federal government. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday announced an initial round of consultations and called on the public to “share their input to help shape a food policy that will cover the entire

Waterloo Champion thresher, available in seven sizes

Waterloo Champion thresher, available in seven sizes

Our History: June 1928

The Waterloo Champion thresher advertised in the June 1928 issue of The Scoop Shovel was offered in seven sizes, and could be seen at that year’s Provincial Exhibition in Brandon, also advertised in that issue. It featured a monster midway, new dog show building, a new nursery and rest room for women and children, and






Researchers at the University of Delaware found that when a plant has its leaf nicked, it sends out an alert to neighbouring plants, which begin beefing up their defences.

Injured plants can warn their neighbours

That smell of fresh-cut hay may be organic compounds 
from the damaged leaves

A high school student working on a research project at the University of Delaware has discovered that damaged plants can send a warning to their neighbours, which grow larger to compensate. Working in the lab on weekends and during summer breaks, Connor Sweeney cultured an estimated 1,000 arabidopsis plants — also known as mustard weed


(CN.ca)

CN’s conductors serve strike notice

The unit of the Teamsters representing Canadian National Railway’s (CN) conductors and yard operations staff has served notice that its members may be walking the line come Tuesday morning. Montreal-based CN said Saturday it had received 72-hour strike notice from the conductors’ unit of the Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference (TCRC), putting the unit in strike



In July 1972, a Manitoba Pool elevator at Rounthwaite, on the CNR Wawanesa Subdivision in what is now the Municipality of Oakland-Wawanesa, was destroyed by fire. It had been purchased from Federal Grain shortly before the fire and was to have been repainted in the new corporate colours a few days later. A new elevator was constructed between 1974 and 1975 and designated as Pool B, joining a Pool elevator dating back to 1928, seen in this photo from October 1978. When the railway line was abandoned in December 1983, the old elevator was demolished and the new one was moved to Nesbitt. It operated there until it was sold into private ownership. The railway line at Nesbitt was removed in mid-2016.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: May 2017

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