Opinion & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Plants may run out of time to grow under climate change

Canada is among the few regions that could see increased production under global warming

By University Of Hawaii At Manoa June 23, 2015

A key potential ‘benefit’ of global warming — namely, that plants at northern latitudes will thrive in a warmer world — is challenged by a new study released by University of Hawaii’s scientists. The prevailing assumption ignores the fact that plants in the North will remain limited by solar radiation, curbing positive effects of warming

Beef cattle, Opinion

Editorial: Beef production and the view from Alberta

By Laura Rance-Unger June 22, 2015

The view is different out here — and it’s not just the scenery. Granted, Co-operator staff had the rare opportunity last week to visit with ranchers in and around Calgary that were specifically selected by their colleagues at Alberta Farmer Express specifically because they do things a little differently. Nevertheless, it was an eye-opener listening

Crops, Opinion

Editorial: The buzz around bees, neonics and the ‘big picture’

By Laura Rance-Unger June 15, 2015

In our business, getting the facts right and keeping them in context is a constant challenge. Such is the case with the materials circulated as part of the Buzzing Gardens campaign rolled out last week by Bees Matter, an industry group formed to present information on bee health. It offers free flower seeds to gardeners

Opinion, Poultry

Editorial: It’s time to rethink poultry production

The bird flu epidemic has wiped out 12 per cent of U.S. egg-laying capacity in a matter of weeks

By Laura Rance-Unger June 8, 2015

The numbers surrounding the bird flu epidemic change each day. But they are staggering. Early this week, the USDA was reporting 197 confirmed outbreaks among poultry flocks with losses of 44.6 million fowl, many of them egg-laying hens. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) predicts the number of birds affected will climb to 50

Crops, Opinion

Human security at risk as depletion of soil accelerates, scientists warn

Change is needed so that valuable, non-renewable fertilizers are recycled

By Berkeley Release, University Of California June 2, 2015

Steadily and alarmingly, humans have been depleting Earth’s soil resources faster than the nutrients can be replenished. If this trajectory does not change, soil erosion, combined with the effects of climate change, will present a huge risk to global food security over the next century, warns a review paper authored by some of the top

Livestock, Opinion

Editorial: COOL fight not over yet

U.S. legislators will soon vote to repeal, but how it will all play out remains to be clear

By Laura Rance-Unger June 1, 2015

The WTO has made its final-final decision in Canada’s favour on U.S. labelling laws. It now appears that U.S. legislators in the House of Representatives will vote next month on a bill to repeal it. But Canada’s COOL fight isn’t over. Support for repealing the legislation is less secure from the U.S. Senate where the

healthy groceries, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and vegetables

Crops, Opinion

Editorial: Demand pull nature of organic foods can’t be ignored

The market for organic foods continues to grow in spite of naysayers

By Laura Rance-Unger May 26, 2015

Imagine farming in a world in which you could control your production costs, receive a premium for what you produce, and where demand exceeds the supply. That might seem like the impossible dream in a year like this one, when it appears it doesn’t matter what crop a farmer grows, there are very few opportunities

Cereals, Opinion

Editorial: Captive grain, and captive farmers?

COFCO likley to create waves for the future of grain pricing

By John Morriss May 25, 2015

Those who follow livestock markets will know the term “captive cattle” — feedlot cattle owned by the large packers, and which they can use to maintain supply and/or take the pressure off rising open-market prices. In the past that’s led to some U.S. government intervention, such as mandatory reporting of purchases and prices. Recent developments

Comment, Opinion

Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership a good deal for Canada?

The economic logic behind free trade is that ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’

By Robert McGarvey May 19, 2015

Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership a bulwark of freedom as proponents claim, or is Canada about to be shoehorned into another free trade deal that will continue the hollowing out of our economy? It depends on your perspective. The TPP, championed by U.S. President Barack Obama as an important addition to the world’s free trade zone

Opinion

Editorial: More to TPP than milk and eggs

The Trans-Pacific Partnership and what a deal could mean for Canadian producers

By John Morriss May 18, 2015

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement now under negotiation involves 12 of the world’s largest economies, and has been described as “NAFTA on steroids.” What’s holding it up? Canadian dairy farmers. Or so you’d think about reading some of the national and international media coverage. Some of it made us think of the coverage of

Daily Network News

Chinese pig farmers test fermented feeds as Beijing weans sector off U.S. soy

Deere settles U.S. right-to-repair lawsuit with $99 million fund, repair commitments

Klassen: Negative margins weigh on Western feeder cattle market

Opinion

Plants may run out of time to grow under climate change

Editorial: Beef production and the view from Alberta

Editorial: The buzz around bees, neonics and the ‘big picture’

Editorial: It’s time to rethink poultry production

Human security at risk as depletion of soil accelerates, scientists warn

Editorial: COOL fight not over yet

Editorial: Demand pull nature of organic foods can’t be ignored

Editorial: Captive grain, and captive farmers?

Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership a good deal for Canada?

Editorial: More to TPP than milk and eggs

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