Country Crossroads & Farming Articles

Some slips finally rooted and produced new plants.

Propagating a polka-dot plant

They do have a short lifespan but it is possible to get new plants from cuttings

By Albert Parsons December 14, 2018

Last spring I bought a lovely pink polka-dot plant, big and bushy and about 20 cm tall. The single plant filled a six-inch pot, and I think it had either been kept over for the winter or else grown from seed planted months earlier. I was fascinated by the speckled leaves and the plant’s tidy

Our History

New durum does it all!

Our History: December 1997

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff December 12, 2018

Melita durum wheat advertised in our Dec. 4, 1997 issue was named for the southwest town in what was once Manitoba’s durum area, but that apparently wasn’t any incentive to keep growing durum in this province. Statistics Canada reported 140,000 acres in 1997 and 200,000 acres the following year, but the crop began a steady

cartoon image of a family seated at a table

Other, The Jacksons

Christmas excitement builds… for the spa

The Jacksons from the December 6, 2018 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator

By Rollin Penner December 11, 2018

“I am so proud of you sweetheart!” Rose Jackson set her coffee cup down on the dining room table across from her husband Andrew, who raised and peered at her over the top of the sports section he was reading. “And well you should be,” he said. “What for though?” “The Christmas lights,” said Rose.

Country Crossroads, Local news, Other

Farm Credit Canada backs industry mental health push

Rooted in Strength — Taking care of our Families and Ourselves booklet is designed to help farmers across the country do just that

By Lorraine Stevenson December 10, 2018

You wouldn’t dream of trying to feed the world on your own, so why carry the weight of the world on your own shoulders?” That’s Cynthia Beck, a suicide intervention responder in Saskatchewan speaking in a series of videos she’s produced for a new Farm Credit Canada resource identifying how to stay mentally healthy when

Climate change appears to be setting Mother Nature up to hit even harder with hot and dry conditions throughout multiple regions.

Did you know?, News

Nature doubles down on climate warming

A new study shows regions are more often simultaneously experiencing hot and dry conditions

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff December 10, 2018

A warming climate is causing weather woes to hit both harder and further. Stanford University scientists say hot and dry conditions are now regularly hitting multiple regions at the same time. These crop yield shrinking, food price destabilizing and environmentally catastrophic conditions are now twice as likely. Climate change has doubled the odds that a

Canned fruits and vegetables can help boost their consumption and the numbers prove that.

Recipe Swap

Can it

Canned goods can help you meet your daily fruit and vegetable requirements

By Julie Garden-Robinson December 7, 2018

We don’t need any more canned green beans,” my husband announced from the kitchen. I was sitting on the couch in the living room writing a grocery list for a holiday meal. I was wondering what had inspired his comment, so I walked into the kitchen. He had lined up 10 cans of green beans

Plants compete for space in front of a sunny window.

Country Crossroads, Other

Don’t forget to check those plants that were brought indoors

Now’s a good time to examine each one and make sure there are no problems developing

By Albert Parsons December 7, 2018

It has been a couple of months since we brought all those plants indoors for the winter. We took slips and cuttings, dug up and repotted some, and simply moved some potted plants inside without doing anything to them. We were also (hopefully) diligent about avoiding bringing unwanted visitors indoors with the plants. We cleaned

Country Crossroads, News, Other

Newborn babies’ first gut bacteria may have effect on ability to fight disease

This could eventually allow doctors to establish beneficial bacteria right after birth

By Bev Betkowski December 5, 2018

New research showing that the first bacteria introduced into the gut have a lasting impact may one day allow science to adjust microbiomes — the one-of-a-kind microbial communities that live in our gastrointestinal tracts — to help ward off serious chronic diseases. Findings by U of A microbial ecologist Jens Walter and his colleagues suggest

Other, Our History

Beef-processing plant closure “devastating”

Our History: November 1990

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff December 5, 2018

The front page of our November 8, 1990 issue carried the news of closure of the last major beef-processing plant in Manitoba. Burns had announced the immediate shutdown of its Brandon plant, meaning the loss of processing capacity for 2,000 cattle per week and 145 jobs. However, the plant had only been running at half

All aspects of riding will be taught at the 4-H club.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Kids plus horses — a winning combination

Harding Horse Club to become part of 4-H Manitoba program

By Darrell Nesbitt December 4, 2018

With horses being social creatures just like humans, companionship is only one benefit that youth have experienced through involvement of first, a riding club, and secondly, the Harding 4-H Horse Club. For the Harding area it’s the first 4-H club of its kind, even though horses have been highlighted at Harding’s summer fair over the

Daily Network News

Selling GMO tomato seeds to Canadian gardeners ‘reckless’ say advocates

U.S. grains: Wheat recovers on short covering, soy continues to fall

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures lower on falling beef prices, selling

Country Crossroads