A feed shortage this year has cattle producers mulling tough decisions come cull time. A recent tax deferral could make those decisions simpler for many.

Manitoba livestock producers get tax deferral

After a season-long struggle, most of agro-Manitoba is eligible for the national livestock tax deferral this year

Manitoba livestock producers may be in line for federal aid if they have to cull. Much of agro-Manitoba will be eligible for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s livestock tax deferral program this year. AAFC released its initial eligibility list Sept. 14, stretching from the Municipality of Grahamdale near Lake St. Martin to the Canada-U.S. border and

VIDEO: Dome Building grand opening in Brandon

VIDEO: Dome Building grand opening in Brandon

The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba held the grand opening of the refurbished Dome Building on the Keystone Centre fairgrounds in Brandon Sept. 12. The building, properly named the Dominion Display Building II, was built in 1913 for the nationwide Dominion Exhibition, but had fallen into disrepair before the community spearheaded a fundraising campaign to save


The house in Neepawa where Margaret Laurence lived from 1935 to 1944.

Author Margaret Laurence commemorated in Neepawa

Plaque was unveiled which stands in front of the house in which she once lived

August 10 was a big day for the literary community of Neepawa, Manitoba. On that day, the community held the Manawaka Festival, billed as “a celebration of stories” and, in particular, a celebration of esteemed author, Margaret Laurence, who grew up in Neepawa, and used the town as her basis for stories set in the

Canola swathed and waiting for harvest in the Interlake on August 8.

Bringing in the bread

Cereal and canola growers are smiling after pleasantly surprising yields

Cool-season crops once again dodged the drought bullet this year, according to the first harvest reports from Manitoba Agriculture, but soybeans may not be as lucky. Dry, hot weather has been among the big conversation starters in agro-Manitoba this year. Despite that, according to farm production adviser Rejean Picard, cool-season crop yields have impressed and


Local ALUS co-ordinator and conservation district manager, Colleen Cuvelier, explains one of several perennial forage projects ALUS is funding in the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District during a July 2018 field tour.

ALUS gains steam in western Manitoba

ALUS returned to its roots in the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District in 2014, and producers are buying in

A multi-province program that promises to pay landowners for conservation practices is attracting so much interest in the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District that providers say they can’t meet the demand. District manager and local ALUS co-ordinator, Colleen Cuvelier said program co-ordinators couldn’t accommodate all the proposals this year, estimating another 100-200 acres could have

Rainfall, cool temps stall harvest, crop yields seen variable

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for September 17

Southwest Region Cool, wet weather throughout the week, hindered harvest operations.  Rainfall amounts were very variable, but higher accumulation in southern part of region. Daytime temperatures also cooler, which did not help in drying crops. Harvest in region is 75 per cent complete overall. Cereal harvest is 90 to 95 per cent complete and canola


Open Farm Day participants shear a sheep during a visit to Hunter Family Farm 
near Rapid City on September 17, 2017.

Ticking down to Open Farm Day 2018

Open Farm Day has become one of Manitoba’s largest agricultural outreach efforts, with locations across Manitoba and thousands of visitors, including many who would ordinarily never set foot on a farm

Rural Manitoba has once again been getting ready for its close-up. The occasion is the annual Open Farm Day slated for this Sunday, Sept. 16. Forty-two sites are preparing to open their doors to the public this weekend, slightly down from last year’s 46, although co-ordinator Wendy Bulloch says she is still happy with the

KAP is urging farmers from to attend one of the Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission’s public hearings to oppose the commission’s position that rural Manitoba lose one seat in the Legislative Assembly, while Winnipeg gets another one, says KAP general manager James Battershill.

KAP calls on farmers to defend Manitoba democracy

The farm group says a plan to remove a rural seat in the legislature and add one in Winnipeg is unjustified and needs to be overturned

[UPDATED: Sept. 26, 2018] The Keystone Agriculture Producers (KAP) is urging farmers to defend their interests and democracy. They’re hoping farmers will tell the Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission not to strip rural Manitoba of one of its seats in the Legislative Assembly and give Winnipeg an additional seat, furthering its political power. “We know


KAP GM questions whether boundaries commission members have an open mind

James Battershill says the chair interrupted him while he tried to present the farm group’s position during a public hearing

[UPDATED: Sept. 17, 2018] James Battershill already had concerns about the Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission. According to the general manager of the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) it ignored rural concerns by recommending there be one less rural seat in the Legislative Assembly. And then it held public consultations during harvest — farmers busiest time

Locations for Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission public hearings

Seven of the Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission’s 13 public hearings have already taken place. The remaining six are as follows: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 – BEAUSEJOUR Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm Sun-Gro Centre, Sunova Room 360 Veterans Lane, Beausejour TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 – STEINBACH Time: 5:00 pm-7:00 pm Mennonite Heritage Village, Multipurpose Room Highway