While the 2014 Manitoba sunflower crop fell short of expected acres, a drier spring could bring the 2015 crop closer to pre-flooding levels. “April is really going to tell the tale,” said Gregg Fotheringham, president of the National Sunflower Association of Canada. “If we see spring come in April when it’s supposed to come, I
Sunflowers aim for 100,000 acres in 2015
More tools may be available for sunflower growers, but a smaller crop makes bringing in new products more difficult
Pulse Growers adds soybean to name
There is still more research to be done on soybeans at the regional level
What’s in a name? A lot. To that end, the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association will now be known as the Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers. “Since soybeans are not a true pulse, we figured this was a good way to go,” said executive director Francois Labelle as he announced the change at CropConnect in Winnipeg
Treaty rights to farm were not fulfilled
First Nations people embraced agriculture, but were stymied by policies established by European settlers
When James Wilson asks an auditorium of agriculture students how many First Nations farmers they know, only two hands go up. That doesn’t surprise Manitoba’s treaty commissioner. “It’s not by accident,” he said, explaining that for decades policies enacted by the federal government made it impossible for Aboriginal people to farm successfully. But that’s not
Manitoba corn acres sit tight
More corn producers are requesting returns of their checkoff dollars, but so far research remains unaffected
Corn acres in Manitoba aren’t expected to grow this year, partly because of a lack of risk management tools, according to the Manitoba Corn Growers Association. “The coverage that most corn producers have is maybe 50 to 60 per cent of their cost of production,” said association president Myron Krahn. “In a risk management strategy,
CTA review yields early findings
By measuring transportation success by the number of cars delivered, regions farthest from port suffer
The Canada Transportation Act (CTA) review is still 10 months away from completion, but already some things are becoming apparent. Speaking at Keystone Agricultural Producers annual meeting in Winnipeg, Murad Al-Katib said that it’s clear that the federal government’s attempt to ensure smooth rail transportation has resulted in some new complications. “The words ‘unintended consequences’
Move huts off of flood mitigation areas
Without a heavy blanket of snow to insulate it from the cold, ice on Manitoba’s rivers and lakes is actually thicker than it was last year
While it might be warmer this winter than last, higher average temperatures haven’t resulted in less ice on Manitoba waterways. Darrell Kupchik, director of operations for North Red Waterway Maintenance, said areas that only had 14 inches of ice in 2014 now have 24 inches. “Last year is kind of the year that sticks in
Livestock producers must end antimicrobial growth promotants
The risk from antimicrobial-resistant organisms found in meat is statistically low, but of great potential consequence
If producers want to keep antibiotics in their tool boxes, they’re going to have to change the way they use them. And that means voluntarily ending the use of antimicrobials as growth promotants, Leigh Rosengren told those attending the annual Manitoba Swine Seminar in Winnipeg. “I promise you, if we see no change, this will
Hog barn moratorium remains, fine print may change
In certain areas of Manitoba new hog barns may again be constructed, provided they qualify for proposed pilot program
Manitoba’s minister of agriculture has indicated the province may be prepared to ease some restrictions around new hog barn construction in certain circumstances. Speaking to reporters at a Keystone Agricultural Producers meeting in Winnipeg last month, Ron Kostyshyn said that alternative technologies could replace the anaerobic digesters now required for new barns in some phosphorus-deficient
You can save seed, but can you ‘stock’ it?
As UPOV ’91 becomes closer to reality for Canadian farmers and seed breeders, many questions remain to be answered
Planned amendments to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights Act are generating a lot of questions and few answers, as some farmers begin to fear they’ll be left to reap what the federal government sows. Omnibus Bill C-18 — known as the Agricultural Growth Act — will affect a total of nine pieces of legislation including the
A canola disease that still lingers
More than 90 per cent of surveyed canola fields had blackleg
While many canola growers are worrying about new diseases like verticillium wilt or the growing threat of clubroot, it may be an old threat that causes them the most problems in the coming seasons — blackleg. “We’ve seen a continued trend of increased prevalence,” said Angela Brackenreed, speaking at Brandon’s Keystone Centre during Ag Days.
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