Consumers are beginning to warm up to butter — again. After years of anti-fat admonishments, diets and fads, butter is regaining popularity, according to Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. “It’s an amazing story, because years ago the medical profession said butter was bad for you,” said Henry Holtman, the organization’s vice-chairman. “Now that whole opinion has
Butter back in consumers’ good books
Once the bad boy of foods, butter is regaining its place at the table as consumers look to richer tastes
VIDEO: Lawrence MacAulay sworn in
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes was on-hand in Ottawa as Canada’s new agriculture minister made his first public remarks on Parliament Hill. Lawrence MacAulay has represented Prince Edward Island in the House of Commons since 1988 was also a cabinet minister under Jean Chretien. He said his first order of business will be to meet
New Zealand’s constant battle with invasive species
Agriculture is considered New Zealand’s primary industry, but the incursion of disease and pests poses a constant threat to farmers on the island nation
Biosecurity doesn’t get much cuter than this, and the Kiwis know it. Floppy-eared beagles, with patches of tan and white fur, greet visitors and returning locals alike as they disembark at any of New Zealand’s international airports. But the friendly and curious canines play a vital role in New Zealand’s intense network of biosecurity measures,
Lawrence MacAulay sworn in as Canada’s new agriculture minister
Ottawa/Manitoba Co-operator – Only hours after being sworn in by Governor General David Johnston and mere minutes after leaving his first cabinet meeting, Canada’s newly minted Minister of Agriculture paused to speak with reporters gathered on Parliament Hill Nov. 3. “I’m certainly pleased,” said Lawrence MacAulay. “Being a dairy farmer and a seed potato farmer
VIDEO: Diverse lessons from New Zealand farms
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes wraps up her visit to New Zealand at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes wraps up her visit to the southern hemisphere by reflecting on what she has seen and learned during her time in New Zealand. From dairy aspirations and the TPP, to the country’s export philosophy and horticulture, Kiwi farmers offer a perspective on agriculture that is both in sync and at
VIDEO: Volcanic soil and coastal conditions make NZ grapes unique
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes is on assignment at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in New Zealand
New Zealand wines are already a staple on the shelves of Manitoba liquor stores, but the New Zealand Winegrowers association would like to see an even greater flow of product to North American markets — like Canada. Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes speaks to Jeffrey Clark in Hamilton, New Zealand about what makes that country’s wine
VIDEO: It’s a bird, it’s a person … No! It’s a fruit
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes is on assignment at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in New Zealand
It’s furry, brown, delicious and nutritious. But the Kiwi fruit isn’t just a part of the New Zealand psyche, it a big part of the country’s export economy. Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes speaks to Shane Max, orchard productivity manager with Zespri about the fruit’s origins and visits Whitehall Fruitpackers, where Mark Gardiner speaks about
VIDEO: Man’s best friend helps maintain biosecurity in New Zealand
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes on assignment at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in New Zealand
One of Brett Hickman’s duties with New Zealand’s border patrol is on maintaining biosecurity, especially important with travellers attempting to bring in fruit, vegetables or animals. Sniffer dogs – in this case, Kelsie, a beagle puppy in training – are one important tool border patrol uses to prohibit people from bringing items such as these into
Selling the Blue Cow logo to consumers
The dairy sector is debating whether focusing on rBST use in the U.S. is the best way to quash consumer interest in imports
The prospect of more imported dairy products flooding into Canadian dairy markets has local dairy farmers debating a tricky conundrum. How do they position themselves to compete on the basis of quality without fearmongering over production practices south of the border? American producers use recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) to boost milk production, which has never
VIDEO: Low milk prices means caution when investing in new dairy technology
Expensive improvements could make it hard for New Zealand's dairy producers to stay competitive
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes speaks with Jenny Jago, a manager at DairyNZ, on the farm of John Fisher. His operation recently expanded to add 4 robotic milkers on the 80 Hectare farm –located on New Zealand’s North Island, in the Waikato region – where 320 cows are milked each day. A recent and significant drop in
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
