News & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

A mixed grass/alfalfa field gets its first cut in EastMan.

Rain relief brings good news for forage crops

The initial dour outlook for forage is looking brighter now that the dry spell has broken

By Alexis Stockford June 5, 2018

Forage growers are seeing a glimmer of hope for the first time this season, with stands jumping from the recent rains. Some areas broke 10 millimetres of cumulated monthly rainfall for the first time in the last week of May. Brandon counted just over 55 millimetres through May and June as of June 3, while

A new report prepared by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities cites the key role rural communities continue to play in nation building but the considerable limitations and challenges they also face.

Country Crossroads, Local news, Other

Rural reality — new report cites ways to tackle the challenges

FCM report details the challenges of thinning populations and what’s needed for small-town Canada to grow and prosper

By Lorraine Stevenson June 5, 2018

A new report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities hopes to convince Ottawa to revive the Rural Secretariat. The chair of the national municipal lobby group’s rural forum says they hope the federal government can come to better understand the challenges and opportunities of rural Canada. The FCM’s 28-page report Rural Challenges — National Opportunity:

Madison McGee of Deloraine releases her lasso as her and Rayna Mortensen of Souris competed in the  junior team roping competition.

Livestock, Local news

PHOTOS: Riding and roping

Manitoba youth hit the saddle for the annual rodeo season

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff June 5, 2018

It’s youth rodeo season again and young people from across Manitoba are participating in this proud rural tradition. Oak Lake hosted the annual Manitoba Junior High Rodeo Finals May 26 and 27, along with their regular high school event. Photographer Sandy Black was present and captured these images. The Manitoba High School Rodeo Finals will

Manitoba cattle producers are scrambling for hay while they wait for their pastures to regrow.

Livestock, Local news

Slow-growing pasture means feed questions for producers

Pastures are slow growing this spring and last year’s feed surplus is starting to dwindle

By Alexis Stockford June 5, 2018

Gord Adams of Deloraine has a feed problem, and he’s not the only one. The beef producer is among many Manitoba farmers reaching the limit of their feed supplies while pastures remain unable to fully support herds given poor regrowth. “We’re pretty much out of hay here now and we’ve been kind of trying to

Crops, Local news

VIDEO: Weed ID day comes to Brandon

By Alexis Stockford June 4, 2018

Manitoba Co-operator reporter Alexis Stockford recently met with provincial weed experts at one of two recent weed identification days to hear about some of the key points to watch for when identifying weeds as seedlings. The events were held in Carman and Brandon in the second-last week of May.

Canada’s top 10 wheat customers between August and March accounted for 74 per cent of wheat exports.

Cereals, News

Canadian wheat exports up so far this crop year

Cam Dahl of Cereals Canada credits quality and a weak Canadian dollar

By Allan Dawson June 4, 2018

Canada is exporting more wheat than traditional competitors the United States and Australia thanks to a low Canadian dollar and the quality of Canadian wheat, says Cereals Canada president Cam Dahl. “You’re seeing exports from the Black Sea explode through the roof,” Dahl said in an interview May 15. “You’re seeing exports from the U.S.

Some fields in eastern Manitoba are showing signs of alfalfa weevil damage.

Forages, Local news

Fair weather sees good forage growth, alfalfa weevils on the scene

Forage and grassland conditions for Eastern Manitoba/Interlake and Western Manitoba/Central as of May 30 – 31

By Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association June 4, 2018

Fields in the Western area received some welcome rains with reports in the 2 inch range as of May 30. Central Manitoba reported only trace amounts of precipitation. Fields in Southeast Manitoba received around 7 mm while the Interlake received as much as 14 mm. Fields in the East that saw 3-4 inches of growth

A previously parched agricultural Manitoba got some needed relief last week with a series of rain- and thunderstorms.

Local news, Weather

Drinking it in

Many farmers got their wish  for rain in late May, although not everyone was so lucky

By Alexis Stockford June 1, 2018

Last week was a cool drink of water for much of Manitoba, but patches of the province are still gasping for rain. Late May broke the dry spell that had been gripping almost all of agricultural Manitoba for April and May. “The rain that happened a week and a half ago didn’t really hit the

A Cereals Canada-Cigi merger would raise questions about Sask Wheat’s checkoff funding of Cigi.

Cereals, News, Other

Wheat groups watch Cereals Canada, Cigi merger talks

Spokespeople say it’s too soon to react because there are no details yet

By Allan Dawson June 1, 2018

Western Canada’s farmer-funded wheat checkoff organizations says it’s too soon to have an opinion on whether Cereals Canada and the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) should collaborate more or even merge. “We’re waiting to see what the process will be and where those discussions will lead,” Manitoba Wheat and Barley Grower Association (MWBGA) general manager

Farmers often don’t pay attention to the fine print in grain contracts until there’s a problem, which is when it’s too late.

News

Read the fine print

Novel grain contracts require closer scrutiny

By Alexis Stockford June 1, 2018

A spate of cases involving a Regina-based canola buyer has farmers across the Prairies paying attention to a legal drama between Saskatchewan producers and Input Capital, which has offered long-term “streaming contracts” for canola. In early May, CBC reported on a class-action lawsuit with six producers accusing the company of predatory lending. Morris Feduk, a

Daily Network News

Southern California honeybees show resistance to varroa mites

Pulse Weekly: SaskPulse optimistic despite input, crop price concerns

Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say