A lygus bug prepares to wreak havoc on a canola plant.

Manitoba crop insects seen in 2017

Manitoba Agriculture entomologist offers his yearly summary of bugs

From aphids to wheat midge, a wide variety of insects made their presence known in Manitoba crops in 2017. John Gavloski, entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, has compiled a summary entitled ‘Summary of Insects on Crops in Manitoba in 2017‘ of the insects observed in fields across the province. Much of the crop insects identified in

John Jones, director of the Medical Transportation Coordination Centre in Brandon, speaks Nov. 28 on what will change when 23 rural EMS stations close, replaced by five regional stations and two station upgrades.

Municipalities not convinced on rural EMS changes

The province says closing 23 low-call stations and replacing them with more regional stations will enhance service, but local governments have concerns

Municipalities have serious concerns about proposed changes to rural EMS, and western Manitoba is at the head of the pack. The western region is expected to take the greatest hit if the province moves ahead with its plan to close 23 community ambulance bays, replacing them with five larger centres and two more enhanced stations


Bullying message hits Manitoba municipalities

Resolution brought forward at convention sees overwhelming support

Municipal leaders have sent a strong message that rude, belligerent and bullying behaviour by council members will no longer be tolerated. Delegates at last week’s Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention overwhelmingly supported two resolutions which would give municipal leaders recourse if they’re subject to harassment or other forms of misconduct by fellow councillors. Read more: No

Manitoba Agriculture filling two specialist positions

Manitoba Agriculture has a new oilseed specialist and its new weed specialist is expected to be on the job in January. Dane Froese, who grew up farming in the Winkler area, started work as the province’s oilseed specialist Nov. 6, Anastasia Kubinec, his boss and former oilseed specialist, said in an interview Dec. 1. Kubinec,


Winnipeg Beach-area farmer David Reykdal, Bruce Dalgarno from Newdale and Keenan Wiebe of Starbuck display bottles of the Northern Lights, Big Prairie Sky and Heartland canola oils produced from seed from their respective farms.

Premium canola oil offers distinct flavours

Three new cold-pressed canola oils each have unique flavour and fragrance characteristics particular to the farm where the seed was grown

When they say ‘taste the difference’ they really mean it with this canola oil. Three newly released cold-pressed canola oil products from Manitoba actually do taste like the individual farms the seed producing them came from. Big Prairie Sky, Heartland and Northern Lights oils hit store shelves earlier this fall. Owners of farms at Newdale,

Scott Stothers (l to r), Loic Perrot, Tabitha Langel, and Doug Cattani with bread made from Kernza.

Making bread — and maybe history too

The first loaves of bread made from Kernza have been gobbled up in Manitoba

You won’t be buying Kernza bread in a Manitoba bakery or grocery store any time soon, but a small group of proponents see it as a sign of things to come. Guests at a small reception at the Tall Grass Prairie Bakery in downtown Winnipeg Nov. 23 were treated to loaves of freshly baked sourdough


Local governments direct questions, including questions about legal marijuana, to provincial ministers during the Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention in Brandon.

Municipalities have questions on cannabis rollout

Municipalities have less than a month to say ‘yea or nay’

Municipalities are scrambling after news that the province expects them to make a decision on cannabis by Dec. 22. Blaine Pedersen, minister of growth, enterprise, and trade, announced Nov. 28 that municipalities must decide if they will allow marijuana sales by the December deadline. “It’s tight timelines and we sort of apologize for that, but

Manitoba is getting new legislation aimed at protecting watersheds in the province.

Province tables Sustainable Watersheds Act

Incentives would be offered landowners who protect wetlands 
and adopt other beneficial land management practices

New water legislation tabled last week lays the foundation for an ecological goods and services program for Manitoba, say provincial ministers. The Growing Outcomes in Water­sheds (GROW) program would offer farmers and other landowners incentives for farm practices that protect wetlands and promote better land management. It is based on the Alternative Land Use Services


Shaelyn Beswitherick (l to r), Megan Beswitherick, Shalyssa Sawatzky and Adrienne Driedger, all of the Sidney 4-H Beef Club, gave their view on the future of beef during one of three Manitoba Beef Producers Emerging Beef Leaders Forums Nov. 3 in Austin.

Beef industry speaks to the sector’s future

Manitoba Beef Producers and Manitoba 4-H Council are making the rounds through the province with three youth-focused forums

It’s time for the next generation of beef producers to speak up. Manitoba Beef Producers, which has been engaged in its annual membership meeting circuit this fall, has handed them the microphone at a series of three emerging beef leaders’ forums, as a joint project with the Manitoba 4-H Council. Brian Lemon, MBP general manager,

Community leaders, agriculture representatives and researchers discuss whether a southwestern soybean-processing plant is viable and what it might look like during a Nov. 16 conference at Brandon University.

Southwest boosters continue to pitch soy plant

A local development group continues to hope it can draw a global soy processor to southwestern Manitoba

The Western Opportunities Leadership Group (WOLG) says Manitoba’s explosive soybean-acre growth makes a processing plant viable. The crop has spread rapidly west and north over the last 10 years, into regions traditionally considered too cold. The potential facility drew industry, university researchers, local farmers and community leaders to Brandon University Nov. 16 for a day-long