In Your Co-operator this Week: May 9

In Your Co-operator this Week: May 9

1. Farmers grow frustrated: Some Canadian farmers, no closer to knowing when they’ll regain access to their biggest canola customer, are going from feelings of uncertainty and anxiety to anger and frustration. “We demand action,” Ian Steppler, who farms near Deerwood, Man., wrote on Facebook last week. The federal government and grain industry are committed

The power of pasture is among the environmental benefits the province wants to see recognized under its protein strategy.

Manitoba protein strategy looks for sustainability

Profits aren’t the only kind of green the province hopes to court with its protein strategy

Manitoba isn’t going to just produce more protein, it’s also going to do it more sustainably. That’s one of the top goals of the provincial government’s much-heralded protein strategy, unveiled for consultation earlier this winter. The question that raises, of course, is what that buzzword is going to mean in practice. Pasture potential Carbon sequestration


canola field in bloom

Manitoba Agriculture predicts near-normal canola acres

The province also expects higher corn and sunflower plantings this spring

Manitoba Agriculture expects Manitoba canola acres to remain flat or decline just slightly this spring, provincial oilseed specialist Dane Froese said in an interview April 26. That’s consistent with what Jason Voogt of Field 2 Field Agronomy Inc. is hearing. “Our clients haven’t changed their plans,” he said, despite China’s boycott of Canadian canola seed.

Ken Heaman of Agassiz Seed Farm was seeding wheat April 24 north of Roland.

Seeding started – and put on pause by snow

Although moisture is rated as adequate in most areas, a little extra won’t hurt

Bob Bartley started seeding hard red spring wheat April 23, and finished the following day after completing two quarters. Now, following a late-spring storm through much of agro-Manitoba, he’s awaiting Mother Nature and the calendar. “Now I’m going to take a holiday,” he said with a laugh April 25 during an interview. “Now that we


Golden wheat field on the background of hot summer sun and blue sky with white clouds.

Manitoba Agriculture’s weekly crop report moves to Tuesdays

The reports are available online, or via email subscription

Manitoba Agriculture’s weekly crop report will be issued Tuesday afternoons around 4 p.m. starting April 30 instead of Mondays as in previous years. As a result the Manitoba Co-operator, which most weeks publishes Monday, will no longer print the reports verbatim but will aim to provide the reports online. However, Manitoba’s weekly farm newspaper will

Choir members were billeted in Rossburn as part of hosting the touring group.

Watoto Children’s Choir presents concert in Rossburn

Group shares passion for music and message of hope for the future

The smiles, exuberance, and the heartfelt message, was an extraordinary experience presented by the Watoto Children’s Choir in Rossburn last month. The choir consisted of 17 youth and three adult singers/message presenters, and three band members. Up against some major events including the Brier, audience numbers were relatively low, but that didn’t bother the choir’s


Seeding begins in most areas of Manitoba

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for April 30

Southwest Region Accumulated moisture over the past week amounting to 1.5 to 10 mm as rain and snow. Areas to the south of Hwy #2 received the most snow. Overnight temperatures below zero, daytime highs reaching high teens. Average soil temperature 5 C. Seeding of cereals and some peas has started south of Hwy #1,

Jim Lane handles the lines of a team at the World Percheron Congress this past fall at Des Moines, Iowa.

Showing horses a family affair

Lone Oak Percherons of Birtle known throughout the world

A love of horses runs deep at Lone Oak Percherons of Birtle. Just how deep? Three generations, to be exact. Jim and Darlene Lane got things started as pregnant mare urine (PMU) producers over 30 years ago, which presented them with a great opportunity to breed and raise their own stock. Since those early days,


VIDEO: Finding solutions to harvest loss

VIDEO: Finding solutions to harvest loss

Feed rate, combine settings often factors for higher losses

Angela Brackenreed with the Canola Council of Canada talks about harvest loss in canola, measuring harvest loss, and what producers can do to minimize the economic impact. Recorded at Manitoba Ag Days 2019 in Brandon. Video editing by Greg Berg.

Ex moves to rebuild heavy horse show

The organization says it remains committed to the iconic event

The Provincial Exhibition is beginning the process of rebuilding the heavy horse show at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair after just two hitches competed this year. A meeting held during the fair in late March saw concerns brought forward by 50 exhibitors and draft horse enthusiasts. The goal of the discussion was to come away