Local news & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Dallas Johnston, pictured with grandson Aysen Abey, and the black Angus steer named Profyle who raised $32,250 for his namesake organization with the CancerCare Foundation.

Cattle industry rallies around CancerCare

The sector says it’s going to do all it can to raise the ‘PROFYLE’ of the fight against childhood cancer

By Brenda Hunter April 22, 2019

A recent auction at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair worked overtime — or perhaps more accurately, double time — to raise funds for children’s cancer research. In the end the event raised over $32,000 for this cause, and how that figure was raised is a testament to the charitable generosity of the sector. An Angus

Forages, Local news

Fields wanted for MFGA Green Gold Program

The MFGA is looking for farmers to join up for its annual forage quality monitoring effort

By Alexis Stockford April 22, 2019

The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association is filling out the roster for this year’s Green Gold Program, and it’s looking for producers to add. The program has become a standing tool for producers trying to get the optimal value from their hay cut. Participating producers submit samples from their fields throughout the season every year,

Lateral flow strip technology has made testing for DON faster and less expensive. The newest Raptor machine shown here in the CGC’s Grain Research Laboratory can run three samples simultaneously. The cartridge system also allows three replicates of a single sample to be run in the same well. The test takes three minutes. Once loaded the device operates unattended.

Local news, News

Farmers divided on wheat-grading changes at KAP

Should the grain commission add them as grading factors?

By Allan Dawson April 22, 2019

If falling number and DON (deoxynivalenol) are added as wheat-grading factors will it help or hurt wheat producers? That sums up the discussion after Doug Chorney, assistant chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), spoke at the Keystone Agricultural Producers’ (KAP) advisory council on April 2. KAP didn’t take a position, but its Grain

If and when African swine fever comes calling, Manitoba’s pork sector plans to be ready.

Hogs, Local news

Manitoba prepares for African swine fever

The hog industry is planning ahead and learning from the past

By Alexis Stockford April 18, 2019

The Manitoba pork sector says it won’t be caught flat footed if African swine fever (ASF) makes its way here. The virulent disease is wreaking havoc in China and industry and government both concede it could be just a plane ride away from Manitoba. “In my opinion, I think you can never be prepared enough,”

The 160-acre plot northeast of Virden has never been broken and for the most part, kept completely intact.

Local news, News, Other

Rare native prairie to continue in perpetuity

Galawan land donation ensures that habitat will be protected for some species at risk

By Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation April 16, 2019

The New Oxford Dictionary defines ‘gem’ as a person or thing considered to be outstandingly good or special in some respect. By this definition, the quarter section of native prairie grassland formerly owned by mixed grain and cattle producer Peter Galawan of Lenore can undoubtedly be described as a gem. The 160-acre plot northeast of

Forages, Local news

WANTED: Hay fields for Green Gold testing

MFGA seeking producers with hay fields that are mostly alfalfa

By Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association April 15, 2019

Once again the Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA) is seeking producers interested in participating in our Green Gold program. We believe the MFGA Green Gold Program (Optimum Alfalfa Harvest Date or Hay Day) represents one of MFGA’s longest-standing, most successful services to Manitoba forage producers and we want it to be the best program possible. On

Livestock, Local news, Other

Elkhorn farm named to Bill Lenton Memorial Award

Ken and Sharon Johnson of Elkhorn, Man., took home the top honours when Manitoba’s bison industry met for its annual meeting, sale, show and awards gala this past March

By Alexis Stockford April 15, 2019

The winner of this year’s Bill Lenton Memorial Award can tell a story or two about Manitoba bison. When Ken and Sharon Johnson first introduced a handful of bison to their farm in the late ’90s, the industry was a very different place. Manitoba’s producers were just starting to organize — a national bison group

The halt on canola shipments to China is hitting farmers first and hardest, according to KAP.

Local news, Oilseeds

KAP wants government action on canola spat

While Chinese and Canadian officials are talking, so far China hasn’t agreed to a face-to-face meeting

By Allan Dawson April 12, 2019

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is frustrated the federal government hasn’t done more to restore Canadian canola exports to China a month after the current trade dispute began. At press time Monday the Chinese had not replied to Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s request to send a Canadian delegation to China led by the Canadian Food Inspection

One farmer at the KAP meeting questioned if government aid is warranted since farmers have tools to protect against canola price fluctuations.

Local news, News

KAP grapples with China canola trade dispute

Can science trump politics and what sort of government aid, if any, is needed?

By Allan Dawson April 12, 2019

What, if any, support the federal government should provide canola farmers following the loss of their biggest canola customer China, was discussed at the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) advisory council meeting here April 2. Members also talked about how to get the Chinese government to engage with Canada to try and fix the impasse. China

Crops, Local news

Farmers sticking with canola-seeding plans

If you’re thinking of changing, contact your seed retailer ASAP

By Allan Dawson April 11, 2019

So far it looks like western farmers are sticking to their rotations and not jumping out of canola this spring, despite losing their top market, China. “Farmers are locked and loaded and sticking to it,” Canadian Canola Growers Association CEO Rick White said in an interview April 4. “Yes, some have been pushing their rotations.

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise on first WASDE since September

U.S. export sales include only small soybean business to China

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

Local news