In Your Co-operator this Week: May 30

In Your Co-operator this Week: May 30

In this week’s issue of the Co-operator, our Alexis Stockford goes hog wild and delves into the quickly growing issue of wild pigs in Manitoba. She found there’s little in the way of hard data, but many anecdotal reports suggest the population is growing very quickly. Allan Dawson is keeping on top of the canola

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

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


Rain ok, frost less welcome on fields

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

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



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

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

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

Manitoba has several cash advance administrators

While loan limits are consistent some things differ between organizations

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



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

Fifty-eight ag students graduate at U of M

This is the 112th diploma graduating class from the school

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.

Seeding on schedule but dry conditions concern

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

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

Kaminski returns to Manitoba Agriculture

Kaminski returns to Manitoba Agriculture

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

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