The days after Halloween were good ones to be an alpaca on 313 Farms near Anola, Man. In a normal year, one without an ongoing pandemic, the 14 alpacas owned by Anne and Dave Patman are the centrepiece of programs like alpaca yoga and Dancing with Alpacas. They would star in family photo shoots. And 
While women are less likely than men to farm in Manitoba, inequality appears to be lower for women in direct marketing or non-conventional farms, according to a recent report from the University of Manitoba. “There is a dynamic that women face that young men don’t face entering farming, but I also think that that’s changing 
For some families in countries without social safety nets, surviving the COVID-19 pandemic has forced them to eat less or sell assets that might have helped them recover, says the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. “The numbers of people who will be experiencing hunger are going up,” said Musu Taylor-Lewis, director of resources and public engagement at
Young farmers’ motivations to farm despite the obstacles they face are striking and important, says an author of a new study from the University of Manitoba. Researcher Annette Desmarais said she was glad, perhaps a bit surprised to see young farmers wanted to farm so they could spend time with family, be closer to nature, and feel
Soil scientist Stephen Crittenden with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada offered a presentation earlier this year on soil health. As producers are likely to face more and new extremes that challenge their crops, identifying management practices that complement the soil and water in their respective growing regions will be essential. It’s a better understanding that has
You may not always see beneficial insects in your field, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t providing you with an important pest control service. Dr. Alejandro Costamagna, associate professor of entomology at the University of Manitoba, spoke earlier this year about how all insects are not created equal and how some insects are a very
Are cover crops something you’re interested in but aren’t quite sure where to begin? Earlier this year, Yvonne Lawley with the University of Manitoba aimed to answer that question for producers in a presentation that looked at the types of cover crops that grow well in Manitoba, how setting a goal can improve the success
Manitoba Co-operator editor Gord Gilmour speaks with agronomist Ken Gross of Ducks Unlimited Canada about winter wheat crops in Manitoba and what he looks for when assessing plants to determine if they’re off to a healthy start.
It began 35 years ago with a quarter-pound of worms sent in the mail from Kentucky. Mike Jacques bought them to help develop soil for his greenhouse and the Northern Sun Farm Co-op, a small, off-grid community near Sarto in southeastern Manitoba. The soil in the area was sandy and needed some organic input. Jacques
Laura and Ryan Plett know all about building something from nothing. Their farm, tucked into the bush near Stead, on the southeastern tip of Lake Winnipeg, is largely forested. Pasture expansions mean pushing farther into the bush. Grazing is marginal. The Pletts’ herds, now hundreds of head strong and combining cattle and sheep, was grown
Sarah Jensen can’t single out one moment that decided her on a career as a large-animal vet, but she has early memories of tagging along with the veterinarian making calls to her home in the Interlake. “I think it was a combination of factors,” she said. “One, growing up on a cattle farm and watching
Teresa Vallotton of FarmFemmes is aiming to pique the interest of kids for future careers in agricultural technology. Vallotten’s “AI in a Day” coding camp sessions recently held at Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon gave kids a quick introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) and allowed them to play around with aspects of the technology. Here,
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Canadian grain farmers will soon have a “first-ever” grain production code of practices, following an announcement by the federal agriculture minister at Crop Connect 2020 in Winnipeg. Marie-Claude Bibeau said the federal government will be providing $800,000 in funding for the program, intended to document the practices for trading partners and consumers. It will demonstrate
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February 11 is Canada’s Agriculture Day, intended to showcase all the amazing things happening in our industry. It’s a time to create a closer connection between consumers, our food and the people who produce it. Sharing what you love about Canadian agriculture can be as simple as posting a photo. For me, a social media
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Freelance photographer Sandy Black is the quintessential shutterbug, and his keen eyes behind the lens this week at Manitoba Ag Days were in full swing. Here, Sandy shares a few of his photos with the Manitoba Co-operator that captured some of the sights at the show. Photos: Sandy Black
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Five days before Christmas, Pilot Mound residents cut the ribbon and cut the carrot cake inside their brand new, community-run theatre. After a decade of work and community fundraising events, the volunteer board that runs the theatre was so happy to open, said Heather Brewster, a board member. On March 19 the Tivoli Community Theatre
November 11, 2020November 11 is fast approaching, but this year’s events may need to be somewhat different. If Remembrance Day programs are cancelled in your area, or if you’re unsure about attending a socially distanced service, consider an outdoors way of remembering and honouring our fallen soldiers. If the weather and roads remain good, one good way
November 10, 2020Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in agriculture continue to grow, driven by the increased demands of precision farming. This growth is due to increasing demand for agriculture produce, real-time livestock monitoring, and the need for enhanced decision-making to optimize farm management. Other factors contributing to the rising interest in precision farming solutions are growing food demand and government assistance to farmers. India, for
November 3, 2020A Manitoba beekeeper has received national recognition for his work advocating for and protecting pollinators. Ian Steppler accepted the 2020 North America Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) Farmer-Rancher Canada award for pollinator conservation during a virtual conference on October 20. “I’m quite flattered and really happy to be able to accept this award,” said Steppler who
November 3, 2020Glacier FarmMedia – The grain transportation system has been ‘pounding it,’ with monthly records falling like flies through spring, summer and even into harvest. So will it continue? That will depend on sales and demand from other sectors that ship by rail, say experts. “We’ve done very well in the aftermath of everything that’s happened
November 3, 2020Sue Clayton, executive director for Manitoba’s Agriculture in the Classroom, says new government funding will help the organization bolster online resources in the age of COVID-19. Why it matters: Agriculture in the Classroom typically offers hands-on ag experience to Manitoba students, but that will look different in the coming year. The federal and provincial governments
October 30, 2020
With roots going back to 1925, each weekly issue of the Manitoba Co-operator contains production, marketing and policy news selected for relevance to crops and livestock producers in Manitoba.
