It’s too soon to know for sure, but early indications are that Manitoba’s sunflower growers will harvest a higher-yielding crop than they have in recent years. “I think it will still be a strong year for yield and I think the quality will be better this year than last year too,” said Troy Turner, an
Sunny harvest improves
Sunflower growers have been trying innovative blackbird-repelling techniques
TPP not the death of supply management, N.Z. trade chief says
Hamilton, N.Z. | MCO — Canada’s supply-managed sectors should not worry about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, from where New Zealand’s Trade Minister Tim Groser sits. “I can understand why producer groups would wish to perceive this in a different way, but this is not the end of supply management,” he said here Thursday. “I don’t think
VIDEO: What might New Zealand and Manitoba producers have in common?
Manitoba Co-operator reporter Shannon VanRaes is on assignment at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in New Zealand
Shannon VanRaes of the Manitoba Co-operator is at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in Hamilton, New Zealand. Sheep, kiwi, dairy and the Trans-Pacific Partnership are on VanRaes’ agenda as she meets with some of the country’s producers to learn if there’s anything Manitoba producers can learn from New Zealand. Visit the Manitoba Co-operator often as VanRaes’ files videos of
No need to compete on sustainability
Consumers have access to a lot of information, but that information isn’t always helpful
When it comes to sustainability, competition isn’t the name of the game. Speaking at the University of Manitoba during a seminar hosted by the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell of McDonald’s Canada said that efforts to make food production more sustainable need to be “pre-competitive.” “We work very collaboratively, not only
VanRaes: TPP deal seen shrinking supply-managed markets
CORRECTION, Oct. 7: Canada’s supply managed sectors can expect to lose $4.3 billion to foreign interests in the 15 years following the implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. After years of negotiations, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the U.S. and Vietnam reached an agreement Monday morning, which includes granting access
Opinion: How open is Open Farm Day?
Livestock industry is risking its social licence
In many ways, Open Farm Day is an oxymoron. As much as it tries to help the public understand modern farming, it often reinforces just how inaccessible it has become. Lured by the promise of a chicken farmer’s barn and broilers, I headed out early on Sept. 20 to see the only poultry operation on
Genetics tool sought for hogs
Breeding pigs to have better immune responses means using fewer antibiotics and other medications
New research being led by the University of Guelph could help reduce the amount of medical intervention required in swine production. As part of a $9.8-million national research project aimed at enhancing Canada’s pork industry, a team of researchers will work to develop genomics tools that select pigs able to resist multiple diseases, improve animal
Bee swarms cut into honey production
Fear not the swarm! Honeybee swarms don’t pose a risk to humans, but can hamper honey production
Some Manitoba beekeepers have seen honey production drop this summer as hot, humid weather increased the number of hives that split due to swarms. “It’s usually the humidity and the higher temperatures that make the bees and the hives feel hot, the same way that we do,” said Waldemar Damert, president of the Red River
Election changes could affect rural voters
Elections Canada’s online registration system is shutting some rural voters out
Don’t wait until Oct. 19 to find out if you’re registered to vote. That’s the message from rural Manitobans raising concerns about Elections Canada’s online registration system and changes made under the Fair Elections Act passed in 2014. Jen Plas lives on a major road in the RM of Springfield, but said the Elections Canada
McDonald’s to discuss sustainability
Farmers and foodies will have a chance to hear McDonald’s Canada’s approach to sustainability at a seminar Sept. 28
Do you want sustainability with that? Next week the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment is kicking off its annual seminar series at the University of Manitoba with Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, senior manager of sustainability for McDonald’s Canada. “This worked out perfectly, because we do like to bring in people from outside the faculty, people
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
