University of Manitoba seeks Certificate of Merit nominations

The annual award is for agriculture diploma and degree holders

Do you know a University of Manitoba degree or diploma holder who’s distinguished themselves through leadership of agricultural organizations and outstanding service to the community at large? Then the U of M wants to hear from you. It’s seeking nominations for two certificates of merit, presented annually to a graduate of both programs. Nominations are

Susan Stewart provokes gales of laughter during her Monday keynote on healing stress with humour.

Farm Women’s Conference brings laughs and lessons

After a tough year of farming, Manitoba’s farming women lightened up with funny and empowering speakers

Agricultural women came together for a little levity and learning after a rough year of farming at this year’s Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference. “People are going through tough times all the time, and this year was especially hard,” said conference organizer Jody Jury. “People need a little bit of laughter and they come together for a bit of a good


An elevator fire in Crystal City last year left residents unable to co-ordinate their emergency response due to poor cell service.

Province promises emergency communications upgrade

The province says it will foot the bill for setting up a new multimillion-dollar emergency communications network to be in place by 2021

Manitoba’s FleetNet emergency communications network may soon get a long-awaited replacement. Premier Brian Pallister announced $400 million to replace the communications systems used by Manitoba’s emergency services, police and conservation officers Nov. 25. “The new system will give our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, conservation officers and forest fire crews a superior communication tool that will enable

Dean Harder of Lowe Farm is the third generation of his family to be an active member of the National Farmers Union.

‘Union farmers’ a family affair at Lowe Farm

The Harder family says the NFU is a necessary, and often ahead 
of its time, voice in farm policy debates as the organization turns 50

Lowe Farm seed grower Wilf (Butch) Harder used one of his characteristic quick-witted comebacks last week in answer to a friend’s observation that he doesn’t fit the stereotype of a National Farmers Union member. “Just because you’re a socialist doesn’t mean you have to be poor,” quipped Harder, as he celebrated the farm organization’s 50th


VIDEO: Author examines rural communities’ key to survival

VIDEO: Author examines rural communities’ key to survival

Doug Griffiths tackles 13 ways communities might accidentally be setting themselves up for failure when it comes to economic development

Doug Griffiths, along with Kelly Clemmer, is one of the author’s of 13 Ways to Kill Your Community and one of the most recent speakers at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual convention Nov. 25-27. Griffiths spoke on 13 ways in which he says communities might block their economic development, including encouraging residents to shop

“Maybe as we start rolling into these times of more climactic events, more weather-related events, maybe there’s an onus on MFGA and some of the other producer groups to start showing more leadership so that producers don’t get caught up unawares.” – Duncan Morrison.

Manitoba rural municipalities put province on notice

They say future changes to forage insurance are meaningless while farmers struggle to survive today

Manitoba’s new agriculture minister found himself in the hot seat at the recent annual meeting of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities in Brandon. Representatives of the 16 rural municipalities who have declared themselves in a state of agriculture emergency chided the province and Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development Blaine Pedersen, for lack of response.


As winter bites the scope of the feed shortage — and the size of the cull — is coming into focus.

Livestock feed crisis kicks off

Farmers are getting a sense of exactly how much trouble they’re in now that the winter is closing in

The province hopes to revamp forage insurance, but an update to future insurance will not help producers face down their current crisis, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen acknowledged. Feed trucks have become a common sight as producers scramble to overwinter cattle, Ste. Rose du Lac Mayor Robert Brunel said. Brunel says it

"We are stronger, together,” says Myron Krahn of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association.

Manitoba commodity groups choose name ahead of merger vote

The groups are hosting webinars to educate members of proposed plans

If members vote to amalgamate five Manitoba commodity groups, they’ll go forward under a new name: Manitoba Crop Alliance. “When we looked at the definition of the word alliance, which is an association formed for mutual benefit, we felt that summarized the intent of the amalgamation. We are stronger, together,” said Myron Krahn, Manitoba Corn


Manitoba agriculture minister Blaine Pedersen (l) said Loaf and Honey’s raw milk cheese-making process does not consistently produce a safe product. Dustin Peltier (r), seen here inside his cheese storage room, along with partner Rachel Isaak have decided to forgo any further attempts to comply due to financial burden.

Agriculture minister Pedersen responds to cheese makers

Unvalidated production practices pose a risk to consumers, the minister said

Ag Minister Blaine Pedersen responded to Trappist cheese makers’ allegations that department staff blocked their approval, saying the province’s duty is to protect consumers. “Loaf and Honey has been unable to demonstrate through microbiological testing that the method it is using to produce raw milk cheese consistently produces a safe product,” said Pedersen in an

Curtis Gervin was met with an injured cow after going out to feed cattle soon after hunting season started this year. He and his workers have since concluded that the animal was shot.

Time to tighten enforcement on land access after cow shot

Curtis Gervin says most hunters are responsible but it’s time for a crackdown on the bad apples

Curtis Gervin wants more action on informed land access after he says one of his cows was shot in the head on his southwestern Manitoba farm. Gervin, who farms near Reston, noted blood and swelling on the face of the animal after going out to feed his cattle one morning, soon after the start of