Country Crossroads & Farming Articles

A global study shows the advancement of women in agriculture worldwide but more work is needed to close the gender gap.

Women in agriculture say barriers to equality persist

A 17-country study conducted by Corteva Agriscience shows most respondents report progress toward gender equality, but cite key actions needed to remove obstacles for full participation in agriculture

By Lorraine Stevenson January 11, 2019

Women farmers worldwide say they’re making progress when it comes to achieving gender equality, but they also don’t expect full equality to come any time soon. In fact, it could be decades away, with widespread gender discrimination persisting that also poses obstacles to their ability to help feed the world, respondents told the Global Women

Other, Our History

Canada puts out call for British agricultural families

Our History: January 1928

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 8, 2019

The Scoop Shovel, which later became the Manitoba Co-operator, carried this ad from the Department of Immigration and Colonization in the January 1928 issue. It said that Canada wanted more British agricultural families, farm workers and house workers, and invited nominees who could have passage paid at different rates to different locations in Canada. A

Wild bees like this aren’t exactly like honeybees when it comes to how they react to pesticides in the environment.

Did you know?, News, Other

Wild bees need stronger pesticide regulation

Pesticide regulations designed to protect honeybees fail to account for potential health threats to the full diversity of bee species that are even more important pollinators

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 8, 2019

Pesticide regulations designed to protect honeybees fail to account for potential health threats posed to other, even more important pollinators, according to a trio of research papers from the University of Guelph. As the global human population grows, and as pollinators continue to suffer declines caused by everything from habitat loss to pathogens, regulators need

Oluwafemi Oluwole compared rural and urban children’s asthma diagnoses.

Country Crossroads, News, Other

Study sheds light on low asthma rates in rural children

Rural children less likely to be diagnosed compared with children in cities

By University of Saskatchewan January 8, 2019

Researchers Oluwafemi Oluwole and Joshua Lawson have shed light on findings from previous studies that indicated rural children are less likely to have asthma. Without investigating diagnostic explanations, those studies suggested that early-life exposure to dust and other environmental allergens may have protected rural children from developing asthma. “This may not be entirely the case,”

Dave and Rhonda Koslowsky have made forage a priority on their farm near Killarney.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Killarney-area producer recognized for forage sector leadership

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association had some kind words and a national award for farmer Dave Koslowsky

By Alexis Stockford January 8, 2019

Killarney’s Dave Koslowsky has been recognized with a national award for leadership in the forage sector. The nod from the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) ties off his time with the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association where he was chair. Why it matters: A Manitoba couple is helping to lead the way on forage,

The leaves of “Copper Spoons” get their colour from a covering of fine cinnamon-coloured hairs.

Country Crossroads, Other

‘Metal’ houseplants with mettle

Here’s some tough plants that will thrive even under less-than-ideal growing conditions

By Albert Parsons January 4, 2019

Some of the most resilient and tough houseplants have a lot of mettle — they can endure inhospitable conditions and will thrive even when somewhat neglected. Is it any wonder that some of these plants have the names of metals in them? I call them “metal plants with mettle!” Aspidistra Elatior (cast iron plant) Probably

Air fryers have been the hot ticket this past holiday season.

Other, Recipe Swap

Have you tried an air fryer?

If you are interested, do your homework and read the appliance reviews from reputable sources

By Julie Garden-Robinson January 4, 2019

The past few weeks have been a flurry of gift giving and receiving. Think back to an earlier time when you were hoping for a particular gift. What was it? How did you know about it? Did you receive it? I really, really wanted an Easy Bake Oven. I saw it in the thick catalogue

Other, Our History

A holiday message from Eaton’s

Our History: December 1955

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 2, 2019

What goes around, comes around. Mail order is big business these days, as it was in the 1950s, but the dominant supplier then was Eaton’s, not Amazon. This ad thanking farmers for their business ran in our Dec. 22, 1955 issue. The front page that week carried a report from the Manitoba Agronomists Conference, which

Broiler chickens are so distinct from earlier chickens they’re an unmistakable signal of man’s effect on nature.

Did you know?, News

Chickens herald of the Anthropocene era

Consumption of chickens signals new geological epoch, according to research led by the University of Leicester

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 2, 2019

There’s a proposal to declare a new man-made geological period to be dubbed the “Anthropocene” in recognition of human influence. Research by scientist Carys Bennett of the University of Leicester suggests breeding and consumption of modern broiler chickens signals the shift. “As the most numerous terrestrial vertebrate species on the planet, with a biology shaped

In 1910, 38-year-old Grover H. Olmstead of Chicago bought nine quarter sections of land in southwestern Manitoba. He and his wife Florence arrived at Pierson in 1911 and hired locals to build a large barn, two-storey farmhouse, and this small elevator. Unlike most elevators, it did not move grain using a leg. Grain dumped into a pit on its south (right) side flowed into a concrete basement beneath the elevator. From there, a motor-driven blower pushed it up a metal pipe to the top then into one of the interior bins. Grain was removed when it flowed by gravity through wooden spouts into a wagon parked in the basement. Olmstead sold the property in 1920 and it passed through several hands over the next 98 years.

Country Crossroads, Other

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: December 2018

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

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff December 31, 2018

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

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: Hogs, cattle fall

U.S. grains: Wheat sets fresh eight-week low as ample global supply continues to weigh

Larger Canadian canola and wheat ending stocks expected

Country Crossroads

Canada puts out call for British agricultural families

Wild bees need stronger pesticide regulation

Study sheds light on low asthma rates in rural children

Killarney-area producer recognized for forage sector leadership

‘Metal’ houseplants with mettle

Have you tried an air fryer?

A holiday message from Eaton’s

Chickens herald of the Anthropocene era

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: December 2018

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