The American humorist could have been referring to Manitoba, judging by the latest report on farmland values by Farm Credit Canada. Manitoba farmland values increased by an average of 5.9 per cent during the second half of 2009, following gains of 5.5 per cent and 4.2 per cent in the two previous reporting periods, FCC
Manitoba Farmland Values Continue Hot
New Heart-Smart Turkey Product Takes Wing
Anew product in grocery stores across Western Canada could mark a long-awaited breakthrough for turkey farmers seeking a market alternative to the traditional roast bird. Granny’s Poultry recently launched a stuffed turkey breast roast that’s smaller, more convenient and easier to cook than a whole turkey. And, as a bonus, it’s more wholesome, too. The
Study Finds Chemicals Threaten Honeybee Health
“It’s one more arrow in the quiver.” – HEATHER CLAY, CHC Anew U. S. study has detected a number of pesticides in North American honeybee colonies at far higher levels than previously known. Scientists have found “unprecedented levels of miticides and agricultural pesticides in honeybee colonies from across the U. S. and one Canadian province,”
Loose Sow Housing No Panacea, Producers Say
“Removing a crate from the barn has a huge ripple effect.” – MARG REMPEL, STE. ANNE PRODUCER Mention activists who oppose sow gestation stalls and Marg Rempel gets so frustrated she can hardly talk. It isn’t just anti-stall people who upset her. It’s their lack of knowledge about what eliminating gestation crates would really mean
Chicken Dispute Offers Cautionary Tale
Ontario and Quebec are embroiled in a chicken war reminiscent of trade squabbles between provinces that led to the creation of supply management more than 40 years ago. Chicken Farmers of Ontario has placed a moratorium on interprovincial movement of chicken to stem a bidding war between processors at home and in next-door Quebec. The
Year-Round Farmers’ Markets Seen At Risk
New provincial regulations for small potato growers will jeopardize the ability of farmers’ markets to operate year round in Manitoba, opponents say. The new rules make it illegal for a farmers’ market to sell seasonally grown local potatoes after Oct. 31. That could threaten plans for a year-round farmers’ market in downtown Winnipeg. It could
Agriculture Budget Feels The Axe
Manitoba Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk has slashed agriculture spending as part of an effort to shore up funding for other key government programs in the year ahead. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives will spend $215.5 million in the coming fiscal year, 4.2 per cent less than in 2009-10, according to provincial spending estimates. Only
New Levy Surprises Supply-Managed Producers
“It simply comes down to an added cost on the farm.” – DAVID WI ENS, DFM Manitoba’s supply management industry has been stunned by a new provincial surcharge on quota transfers. The NDP government has slapped a two per cent levy on the value of successful quota exchanges for dairy, eggs and poultry. The measure
Manitoba Producer Elected CCA Vice-President
It’s been nearly seven years since BSE nearly wrecked the Canadian cattle industry and producers have never fully recovered. But Martin Unrau believes things are finally improving. “I’m very confident we’ve turned the corner,” said Unrau, a cow-calf producer from MacGregor, Man. Of course, producers, who have been down so long it looks like up,
New Potato Rules Rile Small Producers
“We are not a threat to orderly marketing of potatoes in Manitoba.” – ALAN GRAHAM, FMAM Anewly formed coalition of farmers’ markets, small producers and independent grocers will oppose recent provincial regulations for in-season table potatoes. Called COFARM (Coalition of Farmers and Retailers Manitoba), the group plans a lobbying effort to get the new regulations
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
