News & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Pork producers have long been underwhelmed by the available price insurance and their lack of participation reflects that.

Hog price insurance: D.O.A. from the get-go

RISK MANAGEMENT | WLPIP is available in Manitoba but was never a viable option for hog producers. Why?

By Geralyn Wichers June 29, 2020

Since 2014, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have had livestock price insurance for hogs. It’s been used exactly once. “We were pretty excited when they introduced it because I mean we, at that time, didn’t have a lot of risk management options,” said Mark Ferguson, general manager of Sask Pork. In 2014, Alberta-based Western Livestock Price Insurance

Grain delivery declarations will look the same to farmers but they’re now a legal requirement by the Canadian Grain Commission.

News, Other

Grain declarations same, but different

CUSMA compliance means the documents are no longer voluntary contracts between buyer and seller

By Allan Dawson June 26, 2020

On the surface the grain delivery declarations western farmers fill out before being allowed to deliver grain to elevators in the new crop year starting Aug. 1 won’t look much different than those of the past 15 years. However, there is a major change. While the declarations, which have been essentially commercial contracts between grain sellers and buyers, they are

News

How grain delivery declarations came to be

By Allan Dawson June 26, 2020

Grain companies belonging to the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) introduced grain delivery declarations in 2005 and they have worked generally well, says association executive director Wade Sobkowich. Declarations had been debated for at least 25 years before as an alternative to kernel visual distinguishability (KVD) — a system that required new wheat varieties destined

Paige Swain, a 14-year-old student, chalks up barrel racing as her favourite event.

Farmit Manitoba, Local news

Horsemanship brings life lessons to Shoal Lake student

From competition to leisurely trail rides, Paige Swain cherishes cowgirl lifestyle

By Darrell Nesbitt June 26, 2020

The cowgirl lifestyle is building responsibility and dedication for one Shoal Lake student. “As a person the rodeo lifestyle has taught me so much,” said Paige Swain, who will soon graduate Grade 9. “It has taught me how to interact with all types of people, responsibility and dedication to not only my wants but also

Stronger winds than normal contributed to a jump in reseeding claims.

Crops, News

Windiest weather in 30 years adds to farmer woes

High winds have seen farmers make 1,100 reseeding claims

By Allan Dawson June 25, 2020

The windiest spring since 1990, alone and in combination with other perils, has seen a jump in reseeding crop insurance claims this year. As of June 18 there were just under 1,100 reseeding claims representing 264,000 acres, David Koroscil, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation’s (MASC) manager of claim services said in an interview June 18. “Of

Crop Report, Crops, News

Crop staging advancing, reseeding efforts wrap up

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for June 23

By Manitoba Agriculture June 23, 2020

Southwest Region Relatively cold and drier week in the Southwest region as below normal temperatures persisted. Miniota, Shoal Lake, Oakburn and Melita areas got 15 to 17mm rain while other areas received less than 5mm, which is causing some water stress in crops. Growing degree- days are still less than normal in much of Southwest.

Temporary farm workers say they have little ability  to maintain social distancing on Canadian farms.

Farmit Manitoba, News, Other

Advocacy group says migrant workers deserve better

COVID-19 has shown how vulnerable these employees can be, a new report says

By Geralyn Wichers June 23, 2020

COVID-19 has exacerbated the vulnerability of temporary foreign workers, says a report from Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC). “The federal government has given nearly a billion dollars to agri-food businesses, while migrants who actually grow the food are falling sick and dying,” said Sonia Aviles, an MWAC organizer, in a June 8 news release.

Fatigue is a hazard that needs to be addressed for your safety and those around you.

News, Other

Combating farm fatigue

Tips on how to sleep better, feel better and work safer

By Geralyn Wichers June 23, 2020

Farmers probably don’t need a seminar to tell them they don’t sleep enough. Caffeine-induced heart palpitations probably do that for them as spring field work grinds on. However, as a June 9 seminar from Keystone Agricultural Producers reminded, that sleep deprivation is more than an annoyance. “Fatigue is a hazard just like your chemicals on the farm,” said

Markets, News

Argentina jockeys to get its barley into Chinese beer

The Latin American nation hopes to displace Australia during a trade dispute

By Hugh Bronstein, Maximilian Heath June 22, 2020

Argentina is jockeying to get more of its malt barley into Chinese beer, now that Asia’s mega-economy is locked in a trade fight with its top barley supplier Australia, according to industry sources in the South American grains powerhouse. China is the top global importer of malt barley for making pale lagers and other beers, while Saudi Arabia is the top importer

Markets, News

Australian crop production set to skyrocket in 2020-21

By Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm June 22, 2020

After three years of drought, Australia will see its crop production spike in 2020-21, according to the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). In ABARES’s June report, it noted that average to above-average rainfall has greatly assisted Australia’s main winter crops of wheat, barley, canola and chickpeas. However, the report said

Daily Network News

Russian grain ship believed sunk in Ukrainian drone attack found, towed to shore, TASS says

Striking JBS workers to return to Colorado plant on promise of talks

Canadian finance minister talks supply chain integrity, pork tariffs with Chinese vice premier