Country Crossroads & Farming Articles

One of the first ‘Fowler’ steel-framed boxcars purchased by the CPR. By the early 1900s, more powerful locomotives could haul longer trains, putting more stress on wooden cars. The CPR designed the Fowler cars in 1908 and by 1914 had ordered some 34,000 cars of this design. The CNR also purchased more than 30,000. They began to leave service in large numbers in the 1950s with the last car leaving in 1980. The number 127340 car in the photo was built in 1912 by the American Car and Foundry Company in Detroit, Michigan.

When you needed a hammer and nails to load a car

Until the 1970s, all grain was shipped in boxcars which needed a wooden door

By Alex Campbell April 3, 2019

Copies of photos donated by the Dickson and Henderson families of Boissevain have proven a treasure trove for the Manitoba Agricultural Museum. This photo depicts a portable elevator filling a CPR wooden boxcar, probably sometime in the 1930s. The man in the photo cannot be identified — it’s believed he is not a member of

Other, Our History

Proven results! with Chipman seed treatments

Our History: March 1964

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff April 3, 2019

Mergamma and Agrosol seed treatment liquid were offered in glass bottles in this ad in our March 12, 1964 issue. A front-page story said attendees at the annual meeting of the Manitoba Branch of the Canadian Seed Growers Association heard that Canadian farmers could seriously hurt their chances in the export market if supplies of

Dr. Cindy Lukianchuk is a practising veterinarian and farrier.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Russell veterinarian also a practising farrier

Dr. Cindy Lukianchuk has passion for podiatry in the horse world from a multi-model approach

By Darrell Nesbitt April 2, 2019

Problem solving and hard work is how Dr. Cindy Lukianchuk, a veterinarian at the Russell & District Veterinary Clinic, sums up what travelling to farms raising cattle, bison or horses within the Parkland region means to her. The 2015 graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine began searching for a job while attending farrier

The pregnancy rate was 61 per cent for the 50-year-old semen against  59 per cent for a recently frozen sample.

Did you know?, News

Still swimming after 50 years on ice

Ram sperm frozen in 1968 successfully used to impregnate 34 ewes

By University Of Sydney Release April 2, 2019

Semen stored since 1968 in a laboratory in Sydney, Australia has been defrosted and successfully used to impregnate 34 Merino ewes, with the resulting live birth rate as high as sperm frozen for just 12 months. “This demonstrates the clear viability of long-term frozen storage of semen. The results show that fertility is maintained despite

An elevator and crib annex at Sanford were built by Manitoba Pool in 1949 to replace ones destroyed by fire in September 1948. Closed in April 1996, it was sold into private hands. Demolition of the annex, seen here in January 2019, was akin to chopping down a tree. After making a large opening on one side, a push on the opposite side brought it down. It took 30 minutes from start to finish then the wood was hauled to the local landfill and burned. Four weeks later, the elevator fell in the same manner.

Country Crossroads, Other

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: March 2019

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff April 1, 2019

In the 1950s, there were over 700 grain elevators in Manitoba. Today, there are fewer than 200. You can help to preserve the legacy of these disappearing “Prairie sentinels.” The Manitoba Historical Society (MHS) is gathering information about all elevators that ever stood in Manitoba, regardless of their present status. Collaborating with the Manitoba Co-operator it is supplying these

Grapes and cheese on skewers. A fun way to serve fruit and cheese while also controlling portion size.

Recipe Swap

Snacks and lunches to go

Spring can be a busy time so try these quick and nutritious food ideas

By Getty Stewart March 29, 2019

Spring break marks the home stretch for school and the start of spring farm work. For us home cooks, this means making more lunches and snacks to go. Keeping your kids and farmers fuelled with good food will help them function at their best and prevent fatigue, constipation, energy crashes and dehydration. For the best

One of my tuberous begonias last summer — covered with bloom.

Country Crossroads, Other

Getting tuberous begonias off to a good start

If the bulbs are potted in March you should have plenty of blooms in June

By Albert Parsons March 29, 2019

We learn from our mistakes — sometimes! Last year I grew a couple of tuberous begonias after not having grown them for a number of years. I don’t like plants that demand a lot of care and tuberous begonias, although not terribly difficult to grow, do demand consistent attention and care. However, I was given

cartoon image of a family seated at a table

Other, The Jacksons

A question of ethics and integrity

The Jacksons from the March 21, 2019 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator

By Rollin Penner March 27, 2019

It’s been a really good winter. I can’t deny it.” Brady Jackson set his beer down on the arm of the chair in his parents’ sunroom as he spoke. His father Andrew raised his eyebrows from across the room. “Not a lot of people gonna agree with you on that,” said Andrew. “The consensus is

Other, Our History

Pure Bred Cattle and Sheep and Swine Breeders

Our History: March 1898

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff March 27, 2019

The March 1898 issue of the Nor’-West Farmer and Miller had this photo of the Pure Bred Cattle and Sheep and Swine Breeders Associations of Manitoba for 1897. Back row (l-r) G.H. Greig, Winnipeg (sec.-treas.); A. Graham, Pomeroy; P.W. Brown, Portage la Prairie; S.A. Bedford, Brandon; R. Waugh, Winnipeg. Seated (l-r) Jas. Dale, Grund; J.G.

University of California researchers say growing cannabis compounds may be supplanted by producing them using yeast.

Did you know?, News, Other

Yeast produces low-cost, high-quality cannabinoids

The development isn’t commercially ready yet, but it could change the budding cannabis and hemp industries

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff March 26, 2019

Before Canadian hemp and cannabis growers have even begun to capitalize on new markets, they could have new and novel competition. University of California synthetic biologists have engineered brewer’s yeast to produce marijuana’s main ingredients — mind-altering THC and non-psychoactive CBD — as well as novel cannabinoids not found in the plant itself. Feeding only

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures end lower, hogs mostly lower

CFIA adds controls for imports of Spanish feed ingredients after African swine fever outbreak

FCC forecasts rocky financial year, points to waning confidence, vCOOL, interest rates

Country Crossroads