Country Crossroads & Farming Articles

February is ‘I Love to Read Month’

The idea of dedicating a whole month to reading is gaining popularity across North America

By Donna Gamache February 7, 2017

In many parts of Canada and the United States, February means “I Love to Read Month,” an entire month dedicated to promoting a love of reading and being read to. This idea, started many years ago, has been gaining popularity among schools and libraries throughout North America. Parents, too, have adopted the idea of a

Szilvia Yuja, a research specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center, applies wet distillers grains as part of a study on the use of distillers grains as a source of fertilizer.

Did you know?, News

NDSU scientists study distillers grains as fertilizer

Wet distillers grains and condensed distillers solubles  increased corn and spring wheat yields

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff February 6, 2017

Distillers grains could be a source of fertilizer for some crops, according to research at North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center. Wet distillers grains and condensed distillers solubles (sometimes referred to as “syrup”) are organic byproducts of ethanol production from corn. Scientists at the Carrington centre have been testing whether wet distillers grains

Every artificial sweetener is different, with different properties.

Recipe Swap

What’s in artificial sweetener packets?

Artificial sweeteners can help cut calories but too much can have side-effects

By Julie Garden-Robinson February 3, 2017

What kind of sweetener would you like?” my husband asked me. “I’ll have a blue packet,” I said. He handed me the small packet. I ripped it open and added half of it to my coffee cup. He took a pink packet. We were eating in a restaurant. I’m not sure why we always add

Ernestine Sepke holds up the tiny orange trees she’s started from seed from a Sunkist orange. The retired Glenboro farmer’s bright sunroom has many more tropical fruits growing in it.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Glenboro woman tends tiny tropical garden in her home

A south-facing sunroom on a Glenboro-area farm home sees a tropical plant oasis in rural Manitoba

By Lorraine Stevenson February 3, 2017

Ernestine Sepke doesn’t need to travel south in winter to be surrounded by orange, avocado and banana trees. They’re growing in her sunroom on the side of her Glenboro farm home. Some are so tall they’re brushing the ceiling. All were started from local seed — fruit bought at Glenboro Co-op. “I just stick them

Our History

Act now for discounts on electric generators

Our History: February 1925

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff February 2, 2017

Pool members who wanted power on their farms in 1925 could get a $100 discount on the Lalley Light and Power unit advertised in the February 1925 issue of The Scoop Shovel. The eighth issue of the publication representing Manitoba co-operatives said that in addition to 9,230 farmers who had committed all their wheat to

Climate change-fuelled drought could hit U.S. yields hard this century, researchers say.

Did you know?, News

Climate change is poised to hit U.S. harvests

The latest models suggest many key crops could suffer  significant yield losses in the coming decades

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 30, 2017

Dutch researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Change have published a paper in the journal Nature that says U.S. crop yields could be hard hit as the world warms. To better assess how climate change caused by human greenhouse gas emissions will likely impact wheat, corn and soybean, an international team of scientists ran

A grain elevator at the former CPR railway siding of Cameron (named for Melita implements dealer A. E. Cameron, in the RM of Two Borders, was built by the Lake of the Woods Milling Company sometime between 1902 and 1910. It became part of Ogilvie Milling after the two companies merged in 1954 and was purchased by Manitoba Pool in 1959. The 38,000-bushel elevator was closed around 1970 and sold into private hands. It now stands abandoned, surrounded by cropland.

Country Crossroads

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: January 2017

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

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 27, 2017

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

Orange varieties to try (clockwise from top: navel orange, tangelo, blood orange, cara cara orange).

Recipe Swap

It’s citrus season

Prairie Fare: This fruit family has more to offer than most can imagine

By Getty Stewart January 27, 2017

January to March is citrus season, the time when North American oranges, lemons, grapefruit and limes are at their peak. Take full advantage of the season and explore all the citrus fruit offered in the produce aisle. To help you make the best of the season, here are some tips and recipes for you to

cartoon image of a family seated at a table

The Jacksons

Debating the “new normal”

The Jacksons from the January 26, 2017 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator

By Rollin Penner January 27, 2017

Well, at least it’s dry in here.” Rose Jackson spoke from her chair in the Jackson house sunroom, looking out over a backyard covered in heavy greyish white snow. Rain fell steadily, a small stream of water trickling from the downspout visible at the corner of the the house. She gestured towards the window. “Nobody’s

Our History

Interest rate jumps on overdue farm supply accounts

Our History: February 1980

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 26, 2017

No, not 1.75 per cent per year, more like today, but per month. The interest on overdue farm supply accounts at Manitoba Pool in February, 1980 was 21 per cent a year. Our Feb. 14 issue carried part five of a summary of the Rapeseed ’80 home study course, in which 2,500 producers were participating.

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