News & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Our family farm is across that golden field of blooming canola, within the bluff of trees. My husband’s great-grandparents and their family came from Scotland and settled here more than 90 years ago. June 2019 marked 30 years of it being my home. Thirty years of farm life, and learning and adapting to challenges and rewards. I fell in love with my farmer and this vast, beautiful prairie landscape. We raised our two children here, cultivating values that have enabled them to follow their dreams. One day last summer on my way home I pulled over to take this photo. I’ve taken many in and around our yard, but never from this distance or perspective. This photo evokes many memories and emotions. Among them are gratitude and pride in being part of a family farm, caring for the land entrusted to us by our ancestors, growing food for Canadians and people around the world, all while making a living on the land we love.

PHOTOS: Celebrate Canada’s Agriculture Day with farm photos

A way to share the joys and challenges of farm life with other Canadians

By Sandi Knight February 7, 2020

February 11 is Canada’s Agriculture Day, intended to showcase all the amazing things happening in our industry. It’s a time to create a closer connection between consumers, our food and the people who produce it. Sharing what you love about Canadian agriculture can be as simple as posting a photo. For me, a social media

“It is conceivable that the directors representing corn will not be able to convince the majority of the new board to initiate trade action when these unfair subsidies happen again... “ – Bob Bartley.

Crops, News

Commodity groups prepare to cast deciding vote

Leaders in the five crop groups say merging will make them stronger, but members have the ultimate say

By Geralyn Wichers February 7, 2020

After years of consultation, meetings and webinars, five Manitoba commodity groups are preparing to vote on whether they will merge to form the Manitoba Crop Alliance. As the vote nears, producers have gone “relatively quiet,” said Pam de Rocquigny, general manager of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association. “I think there’s been lots of communication out to our members,”

News, Oilseeds

Canola council: Widen the scope on clubroot management

The Canola Council of Canada wants producers to layer their clubroot management strategies

By Alexis Stockford February 6, 2020

The Canola Council of Canada wants you to take a shotgun to your field — at least when it comes to clubroot. [AUDIO: ‘Are we taking clubroot seriously enough?’ – Justine Cornelsen and Dan Orchard] Council agronomists are urging farmers to avoid building a clubroot plan around a single silver bullet. Instead, agronomists Justine Cornelsen

China’s recently signed trade deal with the U.S. promised to buy at least an additional US$12.5 billion worth of U.S. farm products in 2020 and at least US$19.5 billion in 2021.

Markets, News

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue uncertain on coronavirus effects

U.S. ag secretary unsure if coronavirus will slow China’s farm imports

By Tom Polansek February 6, 2020

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said January 29 he does not know whether China’s coronavirus outbreak will upset Beijing’s pledge to radically increase purchases of American farm goods as part of the countries’ recent trade deal. The virus has cast further doubt on China’s ability to buy US$36.5 billion of U.S. agricultural goods in 2020.

This cow herd at NDSU’s Dickinson Research Extension Center is in the last trimester of gestation.

Beef cattle, News

Body condition vital to calving success

Proper feed, good water and a reasonable space with wind protection will keep a cow content

By NDSU Release February 5, 2020

During the last trimester of pregnancy in beef cows, the fetus grows rapidly, placing increasing nutrient demands on the cow. In addition, cold weather increases the cow’s nutrient requirements. “Body condition plays an important role in successfully wintering beef cows,” says Yuri Montanholi, North Dakota State University Extension beef cattle specialist. “Late weaning, overstocking, late

Manitoba cattle producers will now have wildlife loss insurance coverage for extended grazing practices.

Livestock, News

Extended grazing to get wildlife loss coverage

Deer getting first bite at your swath grazing? Now there’s insurance for that

By Alexis Stockford February 5, 2020

Cattle producers may not be able to keep wildlife off their grazing swaths, but at least now they can get paid for the loss. Bale grazing, swath grazing and grazing standing annual crops (including corn) will all be eligible for wildlife damage insurance this year, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. (MASC) has said. The new program

Jessica Anderson, an agricultural specialist for U.S. Customs Border and Protection, works with a beagle named Bettie to sniff out banned pork products at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Livestock, News

African swine fever poses global threat

Disease that killed millions of China’s pigs is prompting worry and planning around the world

By Tom Polansek February 4, 2020

Bettie the beagle, a detector dog for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, picked up the scent of pork on a woman arriving from China at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Soon the dog’s handler discovered and confiscated a ham sandwich in the purse of a passenger who had flown on a China Eastern Airlines flight from

Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen addresses the crowd during Ag Days 2020 in Brandon.

News, Other

Province brings in the experts on protein strategy

The province says the promised protein consortium has launched, and will give needed expert direction to Manitoba’s protein strategy

By Alexis Stockford February 3, 2020

It’s been a year since the province announced its new focus on protein; now there will be more hands on the reins. The province has officially launched its protein consortium; a committee of producers, industry representatives and academics that it hopes will help inform Manitoba’s protein strategy going forward. Last January, then agriculture minister Ralph Eichler (now the

News

Grain Farmers of Ontario celebrates a decade together

Merging gave the group greater resilience and resources, its leaders say

By Geralyn Wichers February 3, 2020

Ten years after its formation, Grain Farmers of Ontario says amalgamation equipped it to navigate an increasingly complex sector. “The agriculture industry is expanding in areas and contracting in other areas,” writes CEO Barry Senft in a 10th-anniversary edition of Ontario Grain Farmer magazine. “The public interest in agriculture has increased beyond what anyone could

“The WTO and the rules-based system help our Canadian businesses, because they have the rules that they can depend on which helps them make the decisions... ” – Mary Ng, Export Promotion and International Trade Minister.

News, Other

Canada promotes trade order

Ng quiet on U.S.-China trade deal, as fight for WTO reform continues

By D.C. Fraser February 3, 2020

Canada’s Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Minister Mary Ng had little to say of the newly signed U.S.-China trade deal, claiming her office was still carefully reviewing it. Details of the first phase of the deal show China is committed to buying an additional US$40 billion to US$50 billion in agricultural products from

Daily Network News

Iran says Strait of Hormuz open as Trump sees deal ‘soon’ to end war

Agriculture groups welcome seed, fertilizer approval bill

AAFC projects tighter canola stocks for 2026-27