The water in Allan Downey’s cavernous dugout should be 10 feet over his head. Instead, it’s just a small pool at his feet. It’s not nearly enough to get his cattle through the coming winter. What Downey prays for is an old-fashioned winter with six-foot snowdrifts and adequate spring run-off to recharge the dugout and
Southwest cattle herds shrivel in prolonged drought
Heart-smart diets receive berry good news
“The take-home message for the consumer would be, eat your fruits and vegetables.” – WILHELMINA KALT, AAFC If the latest cholesterol-lowering medication turns out to be blueberries, you can thank a pig. Feeding blueberries to pigs can lower their cholesterol levels by up to 15 per cent, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientists have found. And
Notice sent in error
The Manitoba government is backpedalling on an apparent demand that farmers get provincial licences before conducting even small drainage projects on their land. A letter this week from Manitoba Water Stewardship says there is no such policy and producers are free to carry out minor drainage work without permits, at least for now. (See Letters
Organic milk finally produced in Manitoba
Homegrown organic milkwill finally be available on grocery shelves in Manitoba before the end of this year. Organic Meadow of Guelph, Ontario plans to commercially launch locally-produced organic milk in either late November or early December, dairy farmers were told last week. The milk will come from farms belonging to a Manitoba organic milk co-operative.
COOL choking off Manitoba hog exports
Manitoba’s hog exports are plummeting and pork producers are scrambling for slaughter space as fallout from the new U. S. country-of-origin labelling (COOL) rule mounts. Slaughter hog shipments to the U. S. are down 75 per cent over the past three months because many American packers are refusing Canadian pigs until confusion over COOL subsides.
Licence exemption for minor drainage works removed
“The letter basically says you must permit all drains even before you do maintenance.” – IAN WISHART, KAP A recent letter from the province has farmers worried that Big Brother is about to swoop down on their drainage projects. The notice from Manitoba Water Stewardship tells landowners “all water control works (i. e. drainage) must
Fall cattle run underway but calf prices discouraging
A late-fall cattle run finally awakened last week as livestock auction markets throughout Manitoba saw significant increases in the number of animals coming to sale. “This week it’s kind of sprung loose a little bit. There’s been lots of big numbers everywhere,” Scott Anderson, a field representative with Winnipeg Livestock Sales, said Friday. “For this
Dairy processors cheesed off at new regulations
“There are other ways to support dairy producers’ incomes in Canada than to destabilize all of the industry.” – Yvan Loubier Canada’s largest dairy processors have gone to court to block new federal cheese regulations from taking effect later this year. Kraft Canada, Parmalat Canada and Saputo last week asked the Federal Court of Canada
Inconclusive results may force parties to co-operate
“They have to at least get something done or a pox on all their houses.” – Peter Phillips, U of S It was an election that few wanted and nobody really won. Besides producing a third consecutive minority government, Canada’s 40th general election last week saw political parties all fail to live up to expectations
COOL blunts U. S. packers’ need for cattle
“They’re going to need cattle but COOL is standing in the way.” – Kevin Grier, George Morris Centre The U. S. is feeding fewer beef cattle but country-of-origin labelling will likely restrict opportunities for Canadian cattle exports. Uncertainty over COOL will override the U. S. industry’s need to make up for a shortfall of cattle
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
