Gravel roads and farm lanes were packed with vehicles last Sunday, as Open Farm Day brought out what might be a record number of visitors in its sixth year. Just south of Winnipeg, Aurora Farm was literally crawling with visitors of all ages, eager for the opportunity to feed a goat, touch a chicken or
Open Farm Day a success
Warm weather and sunny skies drew droves of urbanites to Manitoba farms
PHOTOS: Open Farm Day 2015
Just south of Winnipeg, Aurora Farm was literally crawling with visitors of all ages, eager for the opportunity to feed a goat, touch a chicken or learn exactly how apiarists wrangle honey from their bees.
Pork industry wants next federal government to improve risk management
Manitoba pork producers are urged to speak to local election candidates about their vision for the industry’s future
Canadians have heard all about the economy, and they’ve listened to announcements on terrorism and childcare — although not necessarily at the same time — but those on the campaign trail have said little about agriculture in the leadup to the federal election. Now, the Canadian Pork Council and its provincial counterpart are urging pork
McDonald’s to phase in cage-free eggs
The growing number of companies demanding cage-free eggs won’t ruffle the feathers of provincial producers
McDonald’s has become the latest fast-food giant to make a commitment to end the use of eggs produced by caged birds. The company announced last week it would transition to using 100 per cent free-run eggs in its restaurants over the next 10 years. McDonald’s purchases approximately 120 million eggs from Canadian farmers each year
Northern Quinoa aiming for 100,000 acres
Quinoa growers wanted — with the right location and right rotation
Get ready to see more quinoa waving in the Prairie breeze. Saskatchewan-based Northern Quinoa Corp. is preparing to increase its acres nearly twentyfold over the next three years. The company has about 5,250 acres of the ancient grain under contract this summer, but it would like to see 100,000 acres across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Public more receptive to barn expansion
The Manitoba Pork Council is looking for ways to engage younger audiences
A new survey on public attitudes towards pork production has found Manitobans still have concerns about construction of new hog barns — but public opinion is going in a positive direction. “We see the public as somewhat more sympathetic towards the industry now, I’m not saying they’re 100 per cent supportive, they still have questions,
Heavy horse exhibit comes to Winnipeg zoo
City folk will now have an opportunity to see a piece of Manitoba’s agricultural past at Assiniboine Park Zoo
The times are indeed changing. Once a necessity for every successful farmer, heavy horses have moved out of the fields and into the Assiniboine Park Zoo. The McFeetors Heavy Horse Centre opened to the public Aug. 28, giving people the chance to get close — but not too close — to four Percherons. Zoo officials
Pork producers fear increased disease risk from PEDv
U.S. truck washes are known to harbour a deadly pig virus
A decision by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to end measures intended to keep the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PEDv, out of Manitoba, has producers worried. As of October 1, trucks returning to Canada after dropping swine off in the U.S. will be required to be disinfected and cleaned at American facilities before entering Canada.
Like humans, soybeans can suffer from iron deficiency
Not all soil is created equal, so if your soybeans are turning yellow it might be time to start thinking about iron deficiency chlorosis. Speaking at a recent field day near Carman, Marla Rieckman told producers that wet, poorly drained land is often the culprit. “One of the main causes of iron deficiency chlorosis is
CFIA cuts hurting food safety
With an election looming, now is seen as the time to put food safety and funding cuts on candidates’ agendas
Agroup concerned with food safety says the current government’s refusal to acknowledge a Canada-wide shortage of federal inspectors is putting public safety at risk. Speaking to reporters in Winnipeg, the president of the union representing federal food inspectors said that the Conservative government’s own staff have raised the alarm over cuts to the Canadian FoodCyber-Savvy Farmer
