Local news & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Angela Fox shares her story and advice on planning for the future with this year’s crop of Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference attendees.

Because I love you: Preparing for the worst

Angela Fox found herself running the family beef farm on her own after losing her husband in 2011.  Now, she’s sharing some of those hard lessons

By Alexis Stockford December 21, 2017

Angela and Jay Fox thought they were well prepared for a worst-case scenario. They had braved the uncomfortable talk about last wishes — Jay wanted no part of a regular hearse. Instead, he wanted his coffin and family brought to the graveyard in an old farm truck. They had wills and life insurance. They knew

It takes many pairs of hands to keep the bustling Carman MCC Thrift Shop operating. The non-profit enterprise’s success is due as much from generous time put in by volunteers as the plentiful donations and customers supporting it, says the organization’s president Frank Elias (front right).

Local news, Other

Blessings from bargains

Sales of donated items at the MCC Thrift Shop in Carman this year generate $240,000 for Mennonite Central Committee’s international relief, development and peace work

By Lorraine Stevenson December 21, 2017

Stella Wiebe has cut up about 4,000 pairs of blue jeans for quilt blocks over the years. But that’s certainly not the only thing she’s done during her long stint volunteering with Carman Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Thrift Shop. She’s been volunteering with the non-profit enterprise since its start, and today is still among its

Looming hydro rate increases have municipal leaders worried about the rising costs to operate community infrastructure.

Country Crossroads, Local news, Other

Carbon tax revenue use options pitched at AMM

Rural and small-town government leaders pass resolutions, propose ideas for recycling carbon taxes at 2017 fall convention

By Lorraine Stevenson December 20, 2017

Municipal leaders in Manitoba bracing for future hydro rate increases want the province to use carbon tax revenues to offset the higher costs to their energy bills. It’s costing a small fortune now to heat spaces like public arenas and curling clubs, said Al Abraham, deputy mayor of the LGD of Pinawa. Read more: AMM

Manitoba Pork swine health programs manager Jenelle Hamblin.

Hogs, Local news

Pork sector learns biosecurity lessons from PEDv

2017 was by far the worst PEDv year on record, but it also forced a hard look at biosecurity and those lessons may lay the groundwork against future pig diseases

By Alexis Stockford December 19, 2017

The summer’s PEDv outbreak has been a hard teacher on biosecurity issues, but the Manitoba Pork Council says those lessons will help fight future diseases like PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome). The pork sector was rocked in the east this year, with 80 barns testing positive for PEDv, including the first cases west of

Dr. Egan Brockhoff, veterinary counsellor for the Canadian Pork Council,  gives Manitoba pork producers the basics on high-path PRRS during a November membership meeting.

Hogs, Local news

Pork industry watching PRRS in wake of PEDv

PEDv has been on every pork producer’s mind this summer, but the sector hasn’t forgotten about PRRS

By Alexis Stockford December 19, 2017

Manitoba’s worst PEDv year on record may be drawing to a close, but the pork sector already has a wary eye on what might be the next big disease threat. In 2016, veterinarians identified a new, aggressive strain of PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) in Manitoba. A total 15 sites have been impacted so far,

Municipal leaders support resolution asking the province to agree to a 40-40-12 cost-sharing formula as the new Investing in Canada infrastructure program rolls out. Cheryl Kingdon-Chartier, deputy mayor of Russell-Binscarth Municipality spoke to the matter during the convention in Brandon.

Local news, Other

AMM wants province to pony up

A stable funding formula would ensure local communities could access federal dollars

By Lorraine Stevenson December 18, 2017

Manitoba’s municipal leaders want to see the province commit to a 40 per cent contribution level under a proposed funding formula for major infrastructure projects. That formula is under discussion as the federal government rolls out its new Investing in Canada infrastructure program. Budget 2017 announced a second phase for federal infrastructure spending with the

Crops, Local news

VIDEO: Precision ag workshop comes to Southport

By Alexis Stockford December 18, 2017

Alexis Stockford, reporter for the Manitoba Co-operator, visited Southport on Dec. 12 for a precision agriculture workshop, an event attended by industry representatives, agricultural consultants and producers.

Local news

Manitoba’s cannabis homegrow ban a mistake

Consumer’s group compares the restriction to outdated home-brewing regulations that were phased out

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff December 15, 2017

A consumer’s group says the Manitoba government is wrong to ban growing recreational marijuana for personal consumption. The Consumers Choice Centre notes medical cannabis patients have the right to grow plants at home and calls restrictions for recreational users “incredibly silly.” “Having different rules for different residents of Manitoba makes the law significantly more difficult

Beef cattle, Local news

Town hall speakers talk about where the money goes

Manitoba Beef Producers hosted one of a series of cross-Canada information meetings on the national checkoff

By Lorraine Stevenson December 14, 2017

A pound of beef takes about 17 per cent less water to produce than it once did, new research being released by the beef industry this week will show. The findings are part of ongoing efforts to measure how the Canadian beef industry has been lightening its environmental footprint as it improves productivity efficiencies since

Country Crossroads, Local news, Other

CN Police Services encourages people to use caution this winter

By CN Release December 13, 2017

As part of its ongoing commitment to rail safety, CN is encouraging drivers to use caution around railway crossings and reminding winter outdoor enthusiasts to stay away from railway tracks. “Icy roads, reduced visibility and storms are a potentially dangerous combination and we encourage people to drive safely and use caution around railway crossings,” said

Daily Network News

Prairie forecast: Cold weather settles in after snowy start

As U.S. agriculture flails, farmers see big corn acres as best bet to break even

Pulse Weekly: Lentil prices currently lacking direction