Louise Miller’s passion is to share her farm story with visitors.

Binscarth woman receives distinction award

Louise Miller is an advocate and supporter of women in agriculture

Louise Miller, a staunch advocate and supporter of women in agriculture was among the rural citizens to win a 2018 YWCA Brandon Women of Distinction Award. Miller is the matriarch of Silver Creek Bison Ranch, located between Binscarth and Russell. Operating for over 50 years, the family business was initiated when husband Lorne purchased six

A root wad buffers the bank from erosion and simultaneously provides fish habitat.

Project stabilizes creek bank, enhances fish habitat

Roseilse Creek is home to a state-of-the-art project 
that looks like an all-round winner

A riverbank stabilization project on the Roseilse Creek is demonstrating how to restore, rebuild, rehabilitate and enhance fish habitat and the riparian area along the waterway. The project, which involves the Pembina Valley Conservation District (PVCD), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership program, AAE Tech Services and the Rural Municipality of


Oil and corn go to war

Oil and corn go to war

The two industries are touting duelling studies on future of U.S. biofuel program

Big oil and big corn are squaring off with opposing studies on proposed biofuels policy reforms under consideration by the Trump administration, part of an ongoing clash between the two sides over the future of the program. Valero Energy Corp., a major oil refiner, funded a study by Charles River Associates that supports placing a

Just exactly how cellulose is made by plants has always been 
a bit of a mystery.

Fuel cell insight gets powered up

Understanding how plant cells make cellulose could be 
the key to biofuel’s future

Scientists from Penn State University say they’ve gained valuable insight into how plants make cellulose — information that could help figure out how to break it apart to make ethanol. The researchers said, in a paper published online by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that they have identified the major steps


Representatives from Plainview Colony accept the reserve champion award from Ron Kristjansson (r), Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba general manager, during the 2018 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair pork quality competition. The colony took both first and second in this year’s competition.

Plainview Colony brings home the bacon from Royal Manitoba Winter Fair

Organizers say the annual competition was smaller than normal, 
but judges had nothing but good feedback for the entries that were there

Quantity may have been lacking, but there was no shortage of quality on display at the 2018 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair pork quality competition. Judge Jason Care said the smaller-than-average show was one of the few he has seen where every entry earned warm carcass points. “Most of the shows that I do, I have

Jewles Smyth of Roblin managed to successfully get the tie rope off a calf after running the full length of the arena during one of two calf scrambles, where 20 teens try to catch 10 frisky calves.   

PHOTOS: Winter Fair attracts youth

Spring break meant hitting the Manitoba Royal Winter Fair for many students

Brandon’s Keystone Centre was recently once again the scene of the 111th Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Once again the event educated and entertained attendees and participants during the week-long event. The event drew young people both as patrons and participants, coinciding as it did with spring break for many of the province’s youth. Freelance photographer


Canada’s auditors general say the federal government and provinces are behind their own targets to address the cause and effects of climate change.

Canada lagging on climate change action: report

Emission reduction plans lack details and are late in addressing the issue

Canada’s federal and provincial governments are lagging far behind their targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are woefully unprepared for climate change, a new report says. Canada is expected to miss its 2020 emissions reduction target by 20 per cent and is also likely to miss its 2030 target without a major effort, says

Rifles and shotguns won’t be subject to a new long-gun registry, the federal government says, but there will be new rules and checks.

Feds tout gun legislation as workable middle ground

Both proponents and opponents of gun control don’t like the new bill

There’s an old political adage that if critics on both sides of an issue don’t like a government policy then it may have struck the right balance. The government’s tightening of weapon registration and background checks included in a bill tabled in Parliament has miffed both stricter gun control supporters as well as gun-owner groups.


Maple Leaf quarterly profit beats estimates

Higher prices, growing demand have positively affected the balance sheet

Maple Leaf Foods posted a fourth-quarter profit Feb. 21 that beat estimates, due to better pricing and high demand for its prepared meats and plant-based protein foods. The company, one of Canada’s biggest pork processors, is focusing on expanding into new businesses in the United States. Its latest acquisition was the US$120-million purchase of vegan

Manitoba’s soybean growers are facing protein-related discounts from some buyers. 

Discount reports put a new focus on soybean protein

Soybean producers are used to focusing on yield, but the new threat of discounts or rejection has some reconsidering where protein fits in their priorities

Calvin Penner suddenly has a new risk to contend with — the possibility his soybeans could be discounted or even outright rejected for low protein levels. Penner, who farms southeast of Elm Creek, says the threat’s a new one and makes him more aware than ever of the clauses contained within the contracts he signs


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