News & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Golden wheat field on the background of hot summer sun and blue sky with white clouds.

Manitoba Agriculture’s weekly crop report moves to Tuesdays

The reports are available online, or via email subscription

By Allan Dawson May 2, 2019

Manitoba Agriculture’s weekly crop report will be issued Tuesday afternoons around 4 p.m. starting April 30 instead of Mondays as in previous years. As a result the Manitoba Co-operator, which most weeks publishes Monday, will no longer print the reports verbatim but will aim to provide the reports online. However, Manitoba’s weekly farm newspaper will

Choir members were billeted in Rossburn as part of hosting the touring group.

Country Crossroads, Local news, Other

Watoto Children’s Choir presents concert in Rossburn

Group shares passion for music and message of hope for the future

By Darrell Nesbitt May 1, 2019

The smiles, exuberance, and the heartfelt message, was an extraordinary experience presented by the Watoto Children’s Choir in Rossburn last month. The choir consisted of 17 youth and three adult singers/message presenters, and three band members. Up against some major events including the Brier, audience numbers were relatively low, but that didn’t bother the choir’s

Poultry producers say they’re bracing for a big hit from trade deals and they need clarity from government.

News, Poultry

Poultry farmers say trade response for the birds

They want the federal government to take a bigger-picture view of helping them to adjust to market losses

By Alex Binkley May 1, 2019

Chicken, turkey and egg producers say a big hit is coming and the federal government needs to help them adapt. They’re facing increased imports allowed under a series of trade deals negotiated by the federal government and say a big-picture approach is needed. That was the message Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC), Turkey Farmers of

Crop Report, Local news, Weather

Seeding begins in most areas of Manitoba

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for April 30

By Manitoba Agriculture May 1, 2019

Southwest Region Accumulated moisture over the past week amounting to 1.5 to 10 mm as rain and snow. Areas to the south of Hwy #2 received the most snow. Overnight temperatures below zero, daytime highs reaching high teens. Average soil temperature 5 C. Seeding of cereals and some peas has started south of Hwy #1,

Jim Lane handles the lines of a team at the World Percheron Congress this past fall at Des Moines, Iowa.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Showing horses a family affair

Lone Oak Percherons of Birtle known throughout the world

By Darrell Nesbitt April 30, 2019

A love of horses runs deep at Lone Oak Percherons of Birtle. Just how deep? Three generations, to be exact. Jim and Darlene Lane got things started as pregnant mare urine (PMU) producers over 30 years ago, which presented them with a great opportunity to breed and raise their own stock. Since those early days,

Dr. Alex Wu performing research in the field.

Did you know?, News

University researchers model photosynthesis

They say it’s an important window into this crucial biological process and how it affects crop yields

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff April 30, 2019

In the next two decades, crop yields need to increase dramatically to feed the growing global population. Wouldn’t it be incredibly useful if we had a crystal ball to show us what are the best strategies available to increase crop yields? A team of scientists have just developed exactly that: a dynamic model that predicts

News, Oilseeds

Why so much Canadian canola has gone to China

The economic superpower is the biggest buyer of many agricultural products

By Allan Dawson April 29, 2019

China has been buying about 40 per cent of the canola seed Canada exports, so losing that market, even temporarily, is a blow. That’s a lot of eggs in one basket. But it shouldn’t be a surprise, says Brian Innes, the Canola Council of Canada’s (CCC) vice-president of public affairs and president of the Canadian

Local news, Oilseeds

VIDEO: Finding solutions to harvest loss

Feed rate, combine settings often factors for higher losses

By Greg Berg April 29, 2019

Angela Brackenreed with the Canola Council of Canada talks about harvest loss in canola, measuring harvest loss, and what producers can do to minimize the economic impact. Recorded at Manitoba Ag Days 2019 in Brandon. Video editing by Greg Berg.

Producers were reporting storage concerns this winter as they struggled with frost-damaged potatoes and extreme cold.

Crops, News

Potato sector not stressing on seed, despite tight supplies

Last year’s tough harvest means tight seed supplies in the run-up to the Simplot expansion opening

By Alexis Stockford April 26, 2019

Manitoba’s potato sector is gearing up to supply an expanding industry but seed supplies will be tight after a tough harvest last season. J.R. Simplot’s $460-million expansion of its Portage la Prairie plant is expected to double the operation’s need for tubers when it comes online this fall. Why it matters: Manitoba’s potato sector is

HyLife Foods staff work in the recently expanded integrated pork-processing plant in Neepawa.

Hogs, News

HyLife to hand over to Thai conglomerate

Over half of HyLife Foods stock will belong to Thai-based conglomerate CPF once the deal closes

By Alexis Stockford April 26, 2019

Manitoba pork giant HyLife Foods will soon have someone else calling the shots. The company announced a deal with Thailand-based exporter Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) for 50.1 of the company’s stock April 22. The $498-million deal adds HyLife to the conglomerate’s list of companies, which span 17 countries and include hogs, chickens,

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise on first WASDE since September

U.S. export sales include only small soybean business to China

U.S. corn and soybean yields revised down by USDA

News