a room of schoolchildren

Breakfast an important meal: survey

Many favour offering school breakfast programs funded by parents

Most Manitobans start their day with a morning meal, and most favour schools offering students the same option. Those observations come from the latest summary reports released this month by the Manitoba Consumer Monitor Food Panel (MCMFP), an ongoing study of consumer opinion and behaviour in Manitoba. The MCMFP began in February 2011, posing questions

Ralph Martin

Increasing food production not the answer to population growth

In developed countries people waste food by eating too much of it, causing health problems and additional social costs

It rots in fridges, in fields, on trucks and in stores — food. A lot of it. Enough to feed one billion people, according to Ralph Martin, Loblaw chair of the Sustainable Food Production program at the University of Guelph. Speaking at the University of Manitoba last week, Martin made the case that oft-repeated mantras


threshing machines

Wanted: technicians who know how to operate a pitchfork

Volunteers sought for biggest-ever threshing bee in 2016

If you think the days of the threshing bee are long past, you’re mistaken. And if you know what a threshing bee is, the Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) may need your help. In August 2013 a group at Langenburg, Sask. set a world record by having 41 machines

The Manitoba Canola Growers Association hosted the third annual CanoLAB at Brandon Assiniboine Community College last week. Area producers and agronomists worked through a number of hands-on workshops to sharpen their canola production proficiencies.  
photo:

Exploring canola diagnostics, diseases and deficiencies

CanoLAB participants get a hands-on demonstration 
of the most recent production practices

Canola and crop production experts provided area producers and agronomists with a one-day, hands-on workshop last week, providing an opportunity to sharpen their production practices for the coming growing season. “We hope that workshops like this will assist the province’s producers and agronomists as they look for ways to innovate and meet market demands. A


youth farmer conference

Young farmers discuss taking the farm to the next generation

Fourth- and fifth-generation farmers discuss the challenges of developing 
a succession plan and taking over the family business

More than 100 young producers gathered here for the Manitoba Young Farmers conference late last month. Succession planning, connecting with consumers and financial risk management were among the topics for the fifth annual conference organized by the Keystone Agricultural Producers young farmers’ committee and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD). “We have had a

father and daughter farmers wearing safety vests

Safety a top priority for Fannystelle farm family

Culture of safety includes detailed policies for different equipment and monthly meetings with employees

The Nadeau farm has been in the family for over 75 years, and its current safety policies reflect the family focus. Making safe practices second nature, they’ve become champions of safety in the agricultural industry. Nadeau Farm was founded in Fannystelle by Celestin Nadeau in 1938, and in 1966 his son Gilbert expanded the business


wild boar

Wild boars continue on the increase

Manitoba Conservation reports the last known boar sighting was in late November of 2014

Wild boars continue to be a pest in parts of western Manitoba, and some producers at Ag Days this year told Manitoba Conservation officials that the critters have developed a particular liking for corn. Manitoba Conservation estimates that there are currently about 50 wild boars active in the province. “The last recorded kill was near

Harpinder S. Randhawa, current soft white breeder at AAFC, received the 
Seed of the Year award on behalf of Sadash Sadasivaiah, who passed away in 2005. It was presented by award co-chair Todd Hyra.

AC Andrew receives Seed of the Year West award

Award includes a $4,000 scholarship to a student in plant breeding or genetics

AC Andrew, a soft white spring wheat variety developed by the late Sadash Sadasivaiah at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre, has been selected as the 2014-15 winner of the Seed of the Year West award. “AC Andrew was a major breakthrough in terms of grain yield in the soft white spring wheat,” Harpinder


Workshop participants will learn how to put this diagram of pork cuts into practice.

Food Matters goes for a whole-hog event

Consumers get the chance to butcher a pig and visit farms, as demand for in-depth, hands-on knowledge grows

If enthusiasts of local food felt their social calendars were a little light this spring, they were right. After seven successful years, the annual Growing Local conference has been put on ice as Food Matters Manitoba moves in new directions. “Growing local is on hiatus,” explained executive director Kreesta Doucette, adding that a decrease in

grain bags on a farm

Pilot program for recycling ag plastic kicks off this month

Farmers use more plastic than ever as a lower-cost method of storing grain and feed, but increased use means more plastic waste in the environment

Hay is wrapped in it. Grain is stored in it. Twine holds it together. Plastic saves farmers time and money by reducing their storage costs, but the increasing amount used raises the question — what to do with it after you’ve used it? Municipalities don’t want large volumes of discarded agricultural plastic taking up space