Opinion & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Editorial: Just the numbers

'Then' and 'now' statistical figures in the world of agriculture

By John Morriss November 9, 2015

World average wheat yield 2015 (bushels per acre): 48.4 U.S. 43.6 EU 86.5 Ukraine 57.4 Uzbekistan 76.4 Canada 40.3 Percentage increase in five-year average Prairie canola yields, 2005-09 to 2010-14: 5.9 For spring wheat: 15.6 Average per capita U.S. meat consumption, 1965, ounces per day: 7.8 In 2015: 9.34 USDA recommended daily consumption for men

Comment, Opinion

Supply management fixation may finally be coming to an end

Economist says CWB changes were positive and the same could happen for dairy

By Sylvain Charlebois November 3, 2015

We shouldn’t kid ourselves, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal was never really about Canada. It was, in fact, about the United States’ will to undermine China, increase its commercial footprint in the region, and connect with Japan. But whatever the motivation for the deal, it is time to redefine what competitiveness really means to

Opinion

Editorial: Knocking on new doors in Ottawa

By John Morriss November 2, 2015

Aside from the difference in political stripe, the new federal government means quite a change for western farmers. You may or may not have agreed with their policies, but at least the Conservatives had plenty of MPs who knew how to run a swather, sort cattle or fill out an AgriStability form. There are some

Opinion

Agricultural interests object to healthy eating recommendations

By Daryll E. Ray, Harwood D. Schaffer November 2, 2015

Thomas Vilsack, secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) appeared before the House Agriculture Committee on Oct. 7 to respond to criticism of the “Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee” by members of the agriculture committee. Chief

Crops, Opinion

Financial support should go to local food markets

By University Of East Anglia Release October 27, 2015

New research by Shawn McGuire of the U.K.’s University of East Anglia challenges some of the conventional approaches to supporting food security, in particular the priority given to commercial seed shops as the main way to supply farmers with new crop varieties. The findings suggest that money could be more effectively spent to reach poor

Cereals, Opinion

Editorial: An inconvenient truth

By Laura Rance-Unger October 26, 2015

U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers recently released the results of a study they commissioned on how much farm supports in four key markets are costing U.S. farmers. The premise behind the analysis, conducted by Iowa State University economists, is that countries such as Brazil, India, Turkey and China are depriving

Opinion

Editorial: A terrible loss

By Laura Rance-Unger October 22, 2015

The deaths of the Bott sisters from Withrow, Alta., last week touched all of us. We extend our deepest sympathies to their family and all who knew them. The tragedy has focused attention on farm safety, particularly how dangerous the farmyard can be for young children. From some quarters of the farming community has come

Dairy cattle, Opinion

Editorial: Positioning to thrive

By Laura Rance-Unger October 19, 2015

Canada’s dairy farmers are wise to tread carefully as they consider how to position their industry in the face of rising imports due to trade and technology. The oh-so-tempting reaction that comes immediately to mind would be to seek replacement of the sector’s protective tariff wall, which is gradually being eroded, with a non-tariff barrier

Opinion

Editorial: Trust us. Why?

By Laura Rance-Unger October 8, 2015

It was no small feat achieving the kind of Trans-Pacific Partnership deal that offers export agricultural commodity groups the kind of market access they were seeking with modest, but significant, concessions on supply management. If the early reports are to be believed (details were announced just before press time), Canada’s trade negotiators deserve kudos for

Hogs, Opinion

Federal candidates need to understand the challenges facing today’s hog industry

Market access, labour and financing issues threaten to undermine its future

By Rick Bergmann October 6, 2015

Over 7,000 pig farms in Canada produce 25.52 million animals a year and generate over $13 billion in economic activity, making the country’s swine industry the fourth-largest source of farm cash receipts of any agricultural commodity. In 2014, over 1.14 million tonnes of pork and pork products valued at over $3.7 billion were exported to

Daily Network News

Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say

CBOT Weekly: April supply and demand report a ‘nothing burger’

Canada blocks meats, dairy from Greece over foot-and-mouth disease

Opinion

Editorial: Just the numbers

Supply management fixation may finally be coming to an end

Editorial: Knocking on new doors in Ottawa

Agricultural interests object to healthy eating recommendations

Financial support should go to local food markets

Editorial: An inconvenient truth

Editorial: A terrible loss

Editorial: Positioning to thrive

Editorial: Trust us. Why?

Federal candidates need to understand the challenges facing today’s hog industry

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