Discontent with federal and provincial agriculture ministers failed to translate into policy at Keystone Agricultural Producers annual meeting last week. Delegates defeated two separate resolutions criticizing federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Stan Struthers. The first accused Ritz of behaving “in a manner, which is less than mature,
KAP Refuses To Sanction Ag Ministers
KAP Slams Sewage Ejector Ban
“We view this as a very rural-unfriendly piece of legislation.” – IAN WISHART Manitoba farmers want Winnipeg to stop growing until it has fully upgraded its sewage-handling system. A resolution passed at the Keystone Agr icul tural Producers annual meeting said the province should “encourage the City of Winnipeg to suspend all urban expansion” until
Strip Tillage Touted As Beneficial For Row Crops
“To me, it’s a real nice compromise.” – GREG ENDRES, NDSU Row crop farmers who want to switch from conventional tillage but not to zero till may find a middle ground with strip tillage. Strip tillage is a system which allows growers to seed directly into a prepared seedbed while still retaining crop residue on
Possible Burning Ban Concerns KAP
“Is it worth it? Definitely not.” – ANDY NADLER, MAFRI Manitoba Agriculture Minister Stan Struthers is refusing to rule out a total ban on stubble burning, after an unusually late fall forced the province to impose emergency limits on the practice. Struthers says he is waiting for a recommendation from an advisory committee before making
Project To Develop Manure Setback Guidelines
“It’s up to government to take it to the next level.” – QIANG ZHANG, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA How far away from a house should a barn be? For people who live near a pig farm, or any other type of livestock operation, the question isn’t an academic one. It’s very real. Ask rural residents for
Livestock Sector Could Fold, CFA Head Warns
“I think that beef and pork are at risk in this country.” – LAURENT PELLERIN, CFA Canada’s beleaguered livestock producers could go the way of the fishing industry unless Ottawa moves quickly to save it, warns the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s president. The hog and cattle sectors may end up looking like the collapsed East
Ag Days Ties Attendance Record
Manitoba Ag Days has ended its 33rd annual trade show by tying its all-time attendance record. An estimated 36,000 people streamed through the turnstiles at the Keystone Centre Jan. 19-21, about as many as visited the show in 2009. “We’re very happy with that,” said a weary but satisfied Owen Beever, Ag Days general manager.
New Program Insures Pastures For Grazing Days
“This is a good step forward for the industry.” – GREG JOHNSON, MCPA Anew crop insurance program announced Jan. 19 will give Manitoba cattle producers an innovative way to protect their livestock from feed shortages. The program will insure pastures for a guaranteed number of days for grazing. Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation will launch a
Supreme Court Upholds Wheat Board Gag Order
“We think there’s an important principle of farmer control at stake.” – LARRY HILL, CWB The Canadian Wheat Board has lost its final effort to overturn a federally imposed gag order on promoting its sales monopoly. The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear a CWB appeal against a lower court ruling to leave
Economic Downturn Threatens Future For ALUS
“We know that we’re going to be dealing with tough economic times.” – STAN STRUTHERS Hopes for an environmental goods and services program for Manitoba farmers have been dampened by the current recession and a looming provincial deficit. The Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program promoted by Keystone Agricultural Producers may have to wait until
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