News & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Pork sector mixed victories and challenges in 2017

Policy changes positive war with the worst PEDv outbreak on record and renewed criticism from Hog Watch as pork producers look back on 2017

By Alexis Stockford January 5, 2018

Manitoba’s pork sector has racked up victories on paper, but challenges on the ground during 2017. In perhaps one of the biggest wins for the industry, 2017 ended the freeze on new barns, something industry has fought for since a rule requiring anaerobic digesters in new barns was first introduced in 2006 and expanded province-wide

Robb Fraley is the executive vice-president and chief technology officer for Monsanto Co.

Crops, News

Explosion of innovation coming to the farm

The chief technology officer for Monsanto Co. says the interface between data and biology will be a powerful tool

By Laura Rance-Unger January 5, 2018

There is an explosion of innovation coming to the farm as a new age of sensors and satellite imagery intersects with the world’s oldest industry, the executive vice-president and chief technology office for Monsanto Co. says. Robb Fraley, who was in Calgary recently to address the GrowCanada Conference, said in an interview that although agriculture

Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) inspection specialist Usman Mohammad demonstrates how inspectors use CGC grade standard samples to assist in grading grain consistently. PHOTOs: ALLAN DAWSON

Cereals, News

Subjective? Not exactly

Western Canada’s wheat-grading system is probably more objective than you think

By Allan Dawson January 4, 2018

For 40 years Western Canada’s grain industry has dreamed about the black box — an affordable machine that would take a handful of wheat and quickly and accurately spit out its end-use quality on the elevator driveway. Like flying cars and cellulosic ethanol, it’s just around the corner, but never arrives. The black box is

Rapid Visco Analyzers are just one small step towards the longed-for ‘black box’ for grain testing.

Cereals, News

Falling number, objective grain-grading debate not new

The grain industry explored machine testing more than a decade ago

By Allan Dawson January 4, 2018

Calls for “objective” grain grading on the elevator driveway, especially for falling number, have been around for years, ebbing and flowing with the quality of the wheat crop. These days it’s the Alberta Grain Commission and Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) advocating for the change. They say since grain companies sell wheat to customers

Local projects for multi-beneficial water management were cited by staff with Seine-Rat River Conservation District speaking at the 42nd annual Manitoba Conservation Districts Association convention in December.

Local news

CDs cite need for multi-benefit water control projects

Flood preparations alone won’t buy a litre of drought protection,  say MCDA speakers 

By Lorraine Stevenson January 4, 2018

Will there be flooding? Will there be drought? Planning for both is essential to help ward off the financial hits these weather extremes bring, speakers at last month’s Manitoba Conservation Districts Association convention said. In the Seine-Rat River Conservation District (SRRCD) they’re looking at ways to be ready for whatever climate change brings, and to

Crops, News

Grain shippers in between legislation as rail service declines

The Fair Rail for Farmers Act is dead and the Transportation Modernization Act hasn’t become law

By Allan Dawson January 2, 2018

With rail service not meeting grain company demands, fears about a gap in remedies to deal with it have come to pass, says Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA). “What we predicted is exactly coming true,” Sobkowich said Dec. 14 in an interview. “We don’t have Bill C-49 (Transportation Modernization

Local news

MAAS awards three lifetime memberships

A lifetime of effort has earned the nominees this recognition 

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 2, 2018

The Manitoba Association of Agriculture Societies (MAAS) has honoured three Manitobans with lifetime memberships for their commitment to their local agriculture society and agriculture as a whole. Jim Knox and Huntley Knox, both of Miami, and Yvonne Jansen of Cypress River received the nod in December. Jim Knox was born and raised in Miami and

Rescued Relish is an anything-goes condiment made from excess produce that Philabundance, a Philadelphia anti-hunger organization, can’t move.  The relish is modelled on a Pennsylvania Dutch chow chow recipe — a tangy mix of sweet, spicy and sour flavours.

Did you know?, News, Other

Eating garbage

A new study shows acceptance, and even preference for,  food made from waste

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 2, 2018

A recent study has shown consumers won’t just accept food made from discarded ingredients — they’ll embrace it. Researchers from Philadelphia’s Drexel University looked at products that were made from recovered ingredients that would otherwise have been destined for the waste stream. “There is an economic, environmental and cultural argument for keeping food, when possible,

Livestock, Local news

Crown land administration to be overhauled

The province says the process will become more open and transparent

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff December 28, 2017

The provincial government is revamping its administration of Crown lands, something the provincial agriculture minister says will ensure compliance with the New West Partnership Agreement. Ralph Eichler announced the changes in a media release this week, saying they will make the process more transparent for farmers and ranchers. “Modernizing access to agricultural Crown lands helps

Mike Gifford, Canada’s former chief agricultural trade negotiator, says the elements for a deal on agriculture through NAFTA are there without scrapping supply management.

News

NAFTA ag deal while keeping supply management possible

Mike Gifford says the negotiations are unique because agriculture doesn’t top the agenda

By Allan Dawson December 22, 2017

An agreement on agricultural trade under a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is possible without gutting dairy supply management, says Mike Gifford, Canada’s former chief agricultural trade negotiator. The United States is Canadian agriculture’s biggest customer generating more than $50 billion in annual revenues. Terminating NAFTA, as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to

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