Making more of Canada's hemp crop will mean building a market for fibre.

Untangling the future of hemp fibre

Hemp fibre has been overshadowed by grain, but is it time to give it another look? And what obstacles still stand in the way?

Back in 1998, when industrial hemp production was legalized, most expected the crop would be grown for its fibre. After all, it was the original market for the crop, with the strong sturdy fibres having been used for centuries to produce rope, canvas and paper. Why it matters: Manitoba’s hemp industry has been largely grain

Study skewers palm oil tactics

The World Health Organization has likened palm oil lobbying to the tobacco and alcohol industries

Reuters – The palm oil industry is deploying tactics similar to those of the alcohol and tobacco industries to influence research into the health effects of its product, a study published by the World Health Organization said Jan. 8. Evidence of the health impact of palm oil is mixed, with some studies linking consumption to


Workers in protective suits are seen at a checkpoint on a road leading to a village near a farm where African swine fever was detected, in Fangshan district of Beijing, China November 23, 2018.

African swine fever hits huge, foreign-invested Chinese farm

Despite government claims to the contrary, little progress in containing the disease is apparent

Reuters – China reported an outbreak of deadly African swine fever on a huge pig farm part owned by a Danish investment fund, showing the spread of the virus to modern industrial farms expected to have the best levels of disease prevention. The outbreak occurred on a farm in Suihua city with 73,000 pigs in

Manitoba Agriculture’s 2018 in-season survey now documents 12 municipalities with glyphosate-resistant kochia.

Glyphosate-resistant kochia confirmed in 12 municipalities in 2018

Testing is the only way to confirm how widespread glyphosate-resistant kochia is in Manitoba

When Tammy Jones’ phone rang last year as often as not it was farmers fed up with kochia spreading in their fields. The Manitoba Agriculture weeds specialist dubbed the tumbleweed ‘weed of 2018,’ in a talk at St. Jean Farm Days last week. “We saw a lot of it,” she said. “It felt like anyone


The Canada Food Guide has not been revised for eight years, leaving many to wonder what 2019's update to the guide will bring.

New Canada Food Guide to debut January 22

Health Canada minister says updated document will better meet the needs of Canadians

The 2019 revision of Canada’s Food Guide will be released January 22, with Canada’s dairy and livestock sectors, which have already had plenty to say about what it may contain, especially anxious to see its recommendations. Worrisome to both industries is the increased emphasis the guide is expected to place on eating protein-rich foods derived

Farm Credit Canada says grain producers have a lot of variables to contemplate in the upcoming season.

Grain growers face year of contemplation: FCC

There’s a lot of what-ifs and maybes out there for growers to consider

Deciding what crops to plant this year will require lots of consideration of the various economic and political forces at play in the domestic and export grain trade, says Farm Credit Canada. In its 2019 crop outlook, FCC cites many factors to think about before making final planting decisions. Chief among them are “China’s oversized


Dry spell pares Brazil soybean estimates as crop ratings slide

Dry spell pares Brazil soybean estimates as crop ratings slide

This could cause concern for China that is doubly dependent on the country as trade relations with the U.S. have been frosty

Brazil has harvested two enormous soybean crops in a row and will likely make it a third straight in 2019, but the volume might not be as big as market participants were initially expecting and this could be of particular concern for the top customer. Brazil has helped pad supplies in No. 1 buyer, China,

Some farmers say the current system of paying a royalty to variety developers when they buy certified seed is sufficient.

Seed companies defend proposed cereal seed royalty changes

Alliance Seed, Canterra Seeds, FP Genetics and SeCan say the current system for funding cereal development isn’t working

Four independent Canadian seed companies want western grain farmers to “get the facts” on a proposal for them to pay more royalties on new cereal seed to encourage variety development. Alliance Seed, Canterra Seeds, FP Genetics and SeCan issued a news release Jan. 11 saying the proposal is a “divisive topic,” but they are united


The historic dome building on the Keystone Centre grounds will be the site of a fundraiser for Agriculture in the Classroom — Manitoba.

Manitoba Social to raise advocacy funds

Ag in the Classroom will benefit from the first-ever event at the historic dome building

In the spirit of going a step further to promote agriculture advocacy, this year Ag Days is throwing a fundraising social for one of the province’s most important agriculture education groups. The first-ever Manitoba Social will take place January 23 at 8 p.m. in the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba’s historic dome building with all funds

Dr. Martin Scanlon.

Scanlon named dean of agriculture and food science

The seasoned academic has taken up the reins at the University of Manitoba for a five-year contract

The University of Manitoba’s faculty of agriculture and food science has a new head. Dr. Martin Scanlon has been appointed dean for a five-year term effective January 1, 2019. Scanlon is a professor in the department of food and human nutritional sciences, and has served as associate dean (research), chair of the National Centre for Livestock


Upcoming events