Mai Rana has a vision — to have her delicious Filipino spring rolls become as integral to the Manitoba foodscape as the ubiquitous perogy. “Once people try it they’re addicted to it,” said the entrepreneur, who once sold the pork-filled rolls at farmers’ markets. Now Rana would like to scale up and enter the retail
Local is good, but it’s not good enough when it comes to marketing
Those selling local produce and food products need to promote benefits and features that go beyond where the food was grown
Unlikely floodway will be used this spring
With ice thicker than normal, ice jams could be an issue on some rivers in the province, and localized flooding hasn’t been ruled out
The province’s March 31 outlook for “near-normal” flooding for most of Manitoba had a wrench thrown into it by a snowstorm in the northern U.S. and southern Manitoba last week. “After the last few springs I’m not sure what normal is; it seems like normal is actually when we have major flooding,” Emergency Measures Minister
Landowners want Hydro at table
Transmission line opponents now focused on landowner rights
They’ve accepted that Bipole III is heading their way, but a group of farmers and other landowners in southern Manitoba says they won’t accept how Manitoba Hydro is dealing with them. “This is about dividing and conquering,” said Karen Friesen, who farms with her family near Niverville. “We want Manitoba Hydro to come to the
Consumer demand and farmer needs not always compatible
Those in the business of agricultural advocacy say that consumers who oppose some biotechnologies are ignorant of the facts
Getting your message across about agriculture isn’t about spewing out data — it’s about connecting with people, a Winnipeg seminar organized by the Manitoba Canola Growers Association was told. “We in agriculture have a tendency to always use science, and to always use data, we puke data on people’s shoes frankly, and we wonder why
Tenth annual Ag Awareness Day looks at hemp
Once outlawed, Manitoba hemp is a sought-after food product and is returning to its manufacturing roots
Manitoba is growing good things, in particular, hemp. The fibrous plant — touted as having more than 25,000 uses in a 1913 edition of Popular Mechanics — was lauded last week, during the annual Agriculture Awareness Day at the Manitoba legislature. The all-party event is in its 10th year and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn took
Disasters at home can have worldwide impacts
Not all locations have the same value when it comes to flood mitigation and disaster management — rural municipalities need to evaluate
Municipalities don’t have to wait for a flood to figure out where they are most vulnerable and what they can do to protect key resources, a climate change mapping expert told the recent Disaster Management Conference in Winnipeg. Harvey Hill of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s climate decision support and adaptation unit explained the benefits that
Small communities need to plan for big disasters
The explosion of a fertilizer plant in Texas almost one year ago can offer lessons to other rural communities when it comes to preparing for the worst
You might think you live in a sleepy rural community — one where “nothing ever happens” — but you’ll want to think again when it comes to planning for disaster management. “Just because you’re a small community, it doesn’t mean it’s not gonna happen,” said Frank Patterson, director of the Waco-McLennan County office of emergency
Rural infrastructure to get cash infusion
The numbers look impressive, but the breakdown between provincial and municipal spending needs to be examined when funding is announced
Municipal officials are welcoming the provincial government’s commitment to invest in infrastructure over the next five years. “On the municipal side we were pleased with the announcements that came. It’s nowhere near enough to cover the $11-billion deficit that we have in infrastructure, but this is a pretty good start,” said Doug Dobrowolski, president of
Reading soil tests key for proper nutrient use
The devil is in the details when it comes to nutrient application, meaning there is no silver bullet, just lots of hard work
If you’re planning on going somewhere, it’s best to know where you are starting from before you head out. The same can be said of soil fertility. According to Brian Hefty of Ag PhD, too many producers make assumptions about soil health and nutrients when deciding what inputs to use on their field crops. “Soil
Real-time communication invaluable on-farm resource
The time when managing a farm business meant staying in the office is long gone, with tractor cabs replacing office chairs and desks
Those fancy phones that keep your kids walking into trees and signposts? They could be helping you diagnose your ailing combine, or identify what critter is eating your crop. “It’s really about what works for you,” said Peter Gredig, of Kettle Creek Communications and AgNition Inc. “It’s about communicating as best as you can.” And
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
