Country Crossroads & Farming Articles

The Canadian agriculture sector needs a few more hands to share the workload.

Helping hands: pilot immigration program targets rural Canada

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program matches immigrants to jobs and could help agricultural recruiters fill vacancies

By Lorraine Stevenson February 13, 2019

It’s no secret — finding employees to work on the farm isn’t getting any easier. Rural populations are dwindling, fewer have skills or aptitudes for farm work, or even any interest in finding out about jobs in agriculture. But a new initiative announced in late January could potentially send experienced farm managers, equipment operators, meat

Our History

Wheat variety selections in 1898

Our History: January 1898

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff February 13, 2019

Manitoba farmers planning their wheat variety selection for 1898 could consult these results from the Indian Head Experimental Farm published in the January issue of The Nor-West Farmer. Two full pages of tables also had results for wheat seeding at different dates, rates and depths; on hoe drills versus press drills, and on the effect

Prairie strips, seen here across a hill slope, slow down water and allow it to soak into the soil, reducing erosion. The plants also provide important wildlife habitat.

Did you know?, News

Prairie strips pack big benefit

Carefully siting natural habitat on a farm can more than offset the small losses from setting land aside

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff February 12, 2019

Modern agriculture’s large monoculture fields grow a lot of grain. The outputs can be measured both in dollars paid in the market and also in non-market costs, known as externalities. Soil, nutrients, groundwater, pollinators, wildlife diversity, and habitat (among other things) can be lost when crop yields are maximized. Now it appears that prairie strips

A food recall is designed to prevent an outbreak of foodborne illness.

Other, Recipe Swap

The difference between a food recall and a food outbreak

Prairie Fare: An outbreak means at least two people have the same foodborne illness from the same contaminated food or drink

By Julie Garden-Robinson February 8, 2019

As I pushed a cart through a retail store, my husband motioned for me to join him. He was looking at something and grinning. When I reached the kitchen towel display, I laughed. I perused the funny sayings printed on the towels. He pointed at a towel that said, “Many have eaten here. Few have

Big Betony, an AAS winner, is a hardy, dependable perennial for a Prairie garden.

Country Crossroads, Other

Dreaming of gardens to come

Now is a good time to plan and dream about the 2019 garden

By Albert Parsons February 8, 2019

At this time of year we begin to dream about the summer gardens, and as seed catalogues arrive in the mail, we study them, looking with interest at the new varieties. Many horticultural organizations publish annual plant pick lists, the Perennial Plant Association being one of them. For 2019 it has chosen a perennial commonly

Some members of the K-12 School Choir: back row (l to r) Taddeus Waldner, Tamar Waldner, Robert Waldner, and Carrie Waldner; front row (l to r) Jacoby Waldner, Sadie Waldner, Miriam Waldner, Nicolas Waldner and Jedeah Waldner.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Decker Colony celebrates after overcoming challenges

Friends and neighbours once again met together with colony for annual get-together

By Darrell Nesbitt February 6, 2019

Decker Colony’s annual holiday get-together in December 2018 had special meaning and was a time of thanks for the Hutterite community for hardships overcome. In May of 2017 fire destroyed two-thirds of its large equipment shed and a number of vehicles within it. The building not only served as a main cog in the farming

Other, Our History

Drive away wireworms with Pandrinox

Our History: January 1960

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff February 6, 2019

Pandrinox seed treatment advertised in our January 1960 issues offered control of both insects and fungal diseases, and came with a “handy Pandri-meter” to measure the proper amount. The Jan. 28 issue reported the release of the one-man “Manitoba Margarine Inquiry Commission” headed by W.J. Waines, dean of arts and science at the University of

A new algorithm can help tell pork producers a PEDv outbreak may be imminent.

Did you know?, Hogs, News

Researchers create algorithm to predict PEDv outbreaks

The high-tech approach already has an 80 per cent accuracy rate

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff February 6, 2019

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed an algorithm that could give pig producers advance notice of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) outbreaks. The proof-of-concept algorithm has potential for use in real-time prediction of other disease outbreaks in food animals. PEDv is a virus that causes high mortality rates in preweaned piglets. The virus

Members of the RM of Rosser volunteer fire department help guide STAR-7 in for a landing.

Country Crossroads, Local news, Other

New ‘heliport’ site begins operations at Portage la Prairie

This is the first site approved by Transport Canada outside Winnipeg. Ste. Anne’s Hospital is also awaiting approval of a newly constructed site

By Lorraine Stevenson February 5, 2019

Every minute matters when a life is in danger, and with a new ‘heliport’ becoming operational this month at the Portage la Prairie District General Hospital, critical time will be saved during emergency response efforts. Why it matters: Cutting down transport times of critically ill or injured patients can save a life. The hospital’s newly

Choosing seasonal vegetables can keep your diet healthy and grocery bill lower.

Recipe Swap

Eat more vegetables despite rising prices

You can take steps to eat a better diet while keeping costs down

By Getty Stewart February 4, 2019

Eat more vegetables. If you’re looking for one piece of advice for improving your eating habits in 2019, this is it. Look at any food guide across the globe, including the just-released Canadian one, ask any health professional, research recommendations from any chronic disease organization and you’ll find they all recommend eating more vegetables for

Daily Network News

U.S. grains: Soybeans hit six-week low as Brazilian harvest looms; corn, wheat sag

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

Country Crossroads