Local news & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Farmers get a better idea of their personal protective equipment options during a Manitoba Farm Safety Program workshop in Brandon Nov. 26.

Gearing up on the farm: the right equipment makes you safer

Make sure your personal protective gear is in place, fits properly and works

By Alexis Stockford December 6, 2018

How would your farm fare if a workplace safety inspector suddenly showed up? If you have a sneaking suspicion you might flunk that test, you’re not alone, according to the Manitoba Farm Safety Program. Morag Marjerison, farm safety consultant with the program, says she expects farms will see more safety inspectors in the future, something

Hogs, Livestock, Local news

RMs near halfway mark on hog barn rule revisit

The clock is ticking for municipalities to set their own size limits when it comes to conditional use for hog barns

By Alexis Stockford December 5, 2018

Municipalities have a little over half a year left to review their policy on how big a new hog barn has to be before it sparks a conditional use hearing. The province rolled back its own conditional use requirements in June, part of a list of changes made to the Planning Act around large-scale livestock

After a tough summer, cattle producers didn't move to cull as quickly as expected this fall.

Livestock, Local news

Time to pull the pin on the cull?

No one wants to cull, but it seems when you do, sooner is always going to be better

By Alexis Stockford December 5, 2018

Manitoba’s cattle auction marts were ready for a glut that didn’t come early this fall. Feed was short, pastures had dwindled and experts were warning that a heavy cow cull was on the way. By most reports, however, that wasn’t what happened. Instead, auction marts say those volumes were later than expected and cull cows

Many communities say transitioning to the federal government’s ’Investing in Canada’ infrastructure plan will feature more red tape and fewer road repairs.

Local news, News, Other

Rural municipalities decry infrastructure program end

The Municipal Road and Bridge Program will be sorely missed by local governments

By Lorraine Stevenson December 4, 2018

Municipal leaders are up in arms over unexpected provincial cuts to a crucial program that helps pay for road and bridge repairs. A record number of councils backed a resolution condemning the end of the Municipal Road and Bridge Program at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual convention last week. The often-spirited discussion could have

All aspects of riding will be taught at the 4-H club.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Kids plus horses — a winning combination

Harding Horse Club to become part of 4-H Manitoba program

By Darrell Nesbitt December 4, 2018

With horses being social creatures just like humans, companionship is only one benefit that youth have experienced through involvement of first, a riding club, and secondly, the Harding 4-H Horse Club. For the Harding area it’s the first 4-H club of its kind, even though horses have been highlighted at Harding’s summer fair over the

Manitoba Crown land grazing leases are going to be subject to new rules but the details are still vague.

Livestock, Local news

Livestock producers worried as grazing leases head to auction

Farmers say too many details are still undetermined as the new system gets closer to reality

By Alexis Stockford December 4, 2018

Producers are looking for details as the province hashes out its new Crown lands auction system. Bill 35, which introduced open auctions to allocate agricultural Crown lands and gave the province power to designate Crown lands and community pastures, received royal assent Nov. 8. Although approved on proclamation it has not yet come into effect.

The decline in wheat acres compared to the increase in canola acres reflects their supply and demand, Stonewall farmer Bill Matheson told the first consultation meeting on proposed new royalties for cereal crops.

Crops, Local news

Why is canola beating wheat?

The prevailing wisdom could have it all wrong

By Allan Dawson December 3, 2018

Wheat needs more research money to compete with crops like canola. That’s the message organizers delivered at the first consultation meeting on two new proposed royalty options in Winnipeg Nov. 16. “Cereals are necessary in crop rotations to prevent pest and disease pressures from emerging,” a government slide presentation said. “However, due to declining profitability

Panelists Laura Lazo of Manitoba Women in Agriculture, Pam Bailey, chair of Ag Women Manitoba and Arenda Vanderdeen of the Manitoba Women’s Institute told the recentManitoba Farm Women’s Conference that technology can trump geographic isolation.

Country Crossroads, Local news, Other

Linked by technology

Manitoba Farm Women’s conference panel says technology can connect women in agriculture into powerful networks

By Lorraine Stevenson December 3, 2018

Women who farm and live in rural Manitoba need relationships with each other, not merely ‘connections,” — not easy to establish or maintain given provincial geography. But organizations well established and new are working hard to change that, and with a high-tech twist. Why it matters: Manitoba women in the agriculture sector can be geographically

Farmers say they understand research costs money, they just want to know that’s where their dollars will go.

Crops, Local news

Farmers say no to ‘blank cheque’ on seed royalties

If seed companies don’t reinvest they risk going out of business, said Plant Breeders’ Rights Commissioner Anthony Parker

By Allan Dawson November 30, 2018

Some farmers are willing to pay more in royalties to encourage cereal crop breeding — but they don’t want to sign a blank cheque. “We’re not really clear on how much money this is going to generate for plant breeders and the industry as a whole, and there are a lot of concerns that it’s

The hemp sector is experiencing a few growing pains lately.

Local news, News, Other

Hemp market woes launch contract conflicts

Fresh Hemp Foods says market pressures forced it to ask producers to voluntarily dock contract prices, but producers aren’t happy with the cut

By Alexis Stockford November 30, 2018

Hemp growers say they are getting a raw deal on contracts after being asked to accept a lower price than initially agreed. In late 2017, growers contracted by Fresh Hemp Foods (an umbrella company including Manitoba Harvest) received a letter asking them to adjust contract prices. The letter blamed market pressures for the move, including

Daily Network News

Agriculture department officials address research cuts; to hold emergency study

FCC platform to tell story of Canadian agriculture, food brand

Prairie forecast: Mild pattern holds across the Prairies

Local news