Local news & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Incubating capacity is 250,000 eggs, hatching 70,000 chicks per week at Berg’s Hatchery.

A great place to pick up chicks

Berg’s Hatchery serving Russell area for over 65 years

By Darrell Nesbitt May 28, 2019

Looking for a great place to pick up chicks? Berg’s Hatchery of Russell can help you with that. The family business, currently owned by Kevin and Connie Berg, has been turning eggs into fluffy chicks for over 65 years. “Hatching chicken eggs is an extremely rewarding experience, which requires good planning, dedication, flexibility and observation

Crops, Local news, Weather

Rain ok, frost less welcome on fields

Rainfall has topped up soil moisture, but it's too early to say if there was much frost damage

By Alexis Stockford, Allan Dawson May 28, 2019

Farmers and crop insurance appreciated the rain late last week but not the frost. As of press time Monday farmers and agronomists across much of agro-Manitoba were assessing what, if any damage, below-freezing temperature had on crops early May 27. Manitoba Agriculture weather stations recorded below-freezing temperatures in most regions, with the central region seeing

Crops, Local news, Weather

Manitoba Agriculture offers advice on spring frost damage to crops

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff May 28, 2019

[UPDATED: May 29, 2019] Spring cereals *Spring wheat and barley are very tolerant to temperatures as low as -6 C because their growing points are below the soil surface until the five-leaf stage to jointing, Manitoba Agriculture’s website says. While it’s often thought oats are just as frost-tolerant, barley and oat breeder Brian Rossnagel says

Vivian Bruce, 88, the retired researcher who helped establish the nutritional value of canola, in her Winnipeg apartment on May 16, 2019.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Pioneer canola researcher to get province’s top honour

Vivian Bruce and co-researcher Bruce McDonald helped establish canola oil as safe and nutritious for human consumption

By Geralyn Wichers May 27, 2019

Canola research pioneer Vivian Bruce will receive the province’s highest honour for her work establishing the health benefits of the oilseed. Bruce, a retired nutrition and food science professor, and 11 others will receive the Order of Manitoba, Lt.-Gov. Janice C. Filmon announced on May 12. “I was pretty honoured about it, but I’m not

Crops, Local news

Manitoba has several cash advance administrators

While loan limits are consistent some things differ between organizations

By Allan Dawson May 26, 2019

Farmers seeking cash advances have lots of options. In Manitoba several organizations administer the federal government’s Advance Payments Program and staff are happy to answer questions including on the recently announced changes aimed at helping farmers in the wake of China’s canola seed boycott, says Pam de Rocquigny, general manager of the Manitoba Corn Growers

Myles Masson with his Member of the Year award in Steinbach, May 5.

Livestock, Local news

Ste. Rose auctioneer honoured for innovation

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff May 26, 2019

Auction owner Myles Masson was recognized for his business innovation on May 5 when he received the first “Member of the Year” award from the Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association. Masson owns Ste. Rose Auction Mart in Sainte Rose du Lac, about 270 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. He was selected for the award by his peers

The 112th diploma of agriculture graduating class at the University of Manitoba.

Local news, Other

Fifty-eight ag students graduate at U of M

This is the 112th diploma graduating class from the school

By University of Manitoba May 26, 2019

Fifty-eight students received their diplomas in agriculture at the convocation of the University of Manitoba’s School of Agriculture held May 3. Michelle Pottinger of Neepawa received the Governor General’s Bronze Medal, an award given to the graduate with the highest academic standing in the program. Dawson Sabourin from St. Jean Baptiste received the President’s Medal,

Dust flies behind a farmer’s harrows just east of Winnipeg on May 14, 2019.

Crops, Local news, Other

Seeding on schedule but dry conditions concern

Pasture lands and forage crops are struggling to emerge because of cool, dry conditions

By Geralyn Wichers May 24, 2019

After an early start, followed by weather delays, seeding progression is on par with average, according to Manitoba Agriculture. “Last Saturday I got burned by the weatherman,” said Morris-area farmer Rolf Penner on May 14. He expected a storm, so he stayed parked. When rain barely materialized, he was left feeling behind schedule. Still, Penner

Local news, News

Kaminski returns to Manitoba Agriculture

David Kaminski is once again a field crop pathologist for the province

By Allan Dawson May 22, 2019

David Kaminski, Manitoba Agriculture’s new field crop pathologist, is a familiar face to many of the province’s farmers. That’s because Kaminski had the same position from 2001 until 2007 and worked as a manager with Manitoba Agriculture out of its Carman office until 2013. In May of that year Kaminski started his arborist business. After

The Doerksens’ layer barn the day after the fire. Much of the metal sheeting from the exterior was pulled away to access the fire and is stacked off to the side. The fire is estimated to have caused $2.5 million in damages.

Local news, News, Other

Farm family picking up pieces after devastating fire

Fire wiped out half of the Doerksens’ layer flock and demolished their free-range barn

By Geralyn Wichers May 17, 2019

An egg-farming family is putting the pieces back together after a fire wiped out half their flock and razed their state-of-the-art free-run barn on May 5. “Personally, emotionally, it’s a really hard question to answer, how it affects (us),” said Joel Doerksen. “Our farm will never look the same again.” Doerksen’s farm, near Blumenort in

Daily Network News

U.S. corn and soybean yields revised down by USDA

JBS profit falls amid still-challenging US market environment

U.S. grains: Soy hits 17-month high, corn to four-month top as trade braces for U.S. data

Local news