News & Opinion & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Manitoba shipped 3.9 million tonnes of grain through the Port of Thunder Bay this crop year.

Manitoba Thunder Bay grain shipments set modern record

By Allan Dawson November 14, 2019

For the first time in 20 years, Manitoba shipped more grain through the Port of Thunder Bay than Saskatchewan. “Historically, Manitoba grain has accounted for about a third of the grain shipments through Thunder Bay,” Chris Heikkinen, the port’s communications and research co-ordinator, said in an email Nov. 5. “This has changed over the past

Local news, News, Other

TD Bank Group signs on as ALUS sponsor

New Acre Project aims to boost acres under the pay-for-benefits plan

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff November 13, 2019

TD Bank Group has signed on as a major sponsor for ALUS Canada’s “New Acre Project,” to spur investments in ‘naturalization’ projects across the country. “Nature is one of the most powerful tools we have to help communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” Nicole Vadori, TD’s head of environment, said. “By

A farmer shows a corn shoot infested with fall armyworm at his farm in Narayangaon village in the western state of Maharashtra, India, Dec. 18, 2018.

Farmit Manitoba, News, Other, Weather

Technology eases farming ‘drudgery’ and risk as climate threats grow

Farming technological innovations can make the work more secure and appealing around the world

By Laurie Goering November 13, 2019

Thomson Reuters Foundation – In India, farmers growing crops for seed company Mahyco get a text message after they deliver their harvest, noting its weight and how much was usable — followed quickly by another text saying their money is in the bank. That reliable flow of cash through their accounts means when a farmer

British Columbia has had a farmers’ market coupon system since 2007, and has reported good success.

Farmit Manitoba, News, Other

Market coupons aim to give less fortunate local food access

The system, to be administered by Direct Farm Manitoba, is modelled on a system British Columbia has had since 2007

By Geralyn Wichers November 13, 2019

A program that would give farmers’ market coupons to low-income families will help people and build a market for small food producers, Direct Farm Manitoba says. “I believe this program is a fantastic tool to help pitch in and address food insecurity by helping restore local food economies,” said Justin Girard, who heads the steering

The Manitoba Food History Project “food truck” has travelled to Steinbach, Altona, St. Norbert and Dauphin, allowing the researchers to conduct interviews and cook food with people all over the province.

Farmit Manitoba, Local news, Other

Manitoba Food History Project ‘trucks along’

A Winnipeg-based food history project delves into how cultural forces shaped food production in the province

By Geralyn Wichers November 12, 2019

In Winnipeg there’s this tradition of burgers called the ‘fat boy.’ The staple of drive-in restaurants, they’re fairly ordinary beef burgers with lettuce, tomato and a thick pickle spear, except they have a chili sauce that isn’t found much elsewhere. These burgers are also often served in Greek Canadian restaurants. To some residents of Winnipeg,

A man works next to a truck unloading second corn (winter corn) near Sorriso  in the Mato Grosso state, Brazil.

News, Oilseeds

Lack of rain puts Brazil corn crop at risk

Soy planting delays will mean a very tight window to plant ‘second corn’

By Roberto Samora November 12, 2019

Reuters – Delays in Brazil’s soybean planting due to scarce rainfall may affect sowing of the country’s second corn crop, which is planted after the oilseed is harvested and represents about 73 per cent of the South American output. “There is a lot of risk for the (corn) crop,” Antonio Galvan, head of the Mato Grosso state grain growers’ association,

Soil scientist David Lobb speaks to a tour group during a Soil Conservation Council of Canada conference this October.

Crops, News

What’s blowing in the wind? Maybe not your soil

A recent study on land rolling shows that wind erosion doesn’t cause severe soil loss

By Geralyn Wichers November 12, 2019

A recent Manitoba study shows wind erosion may not be the soil stealer it’s cracked up to be. “It’s a perception issue,” said David Lobb, a soil scientist from the University of Manitoba. While recent images of dirty snow — or “snirt” — and the towering clouds of topsoil from the dust bowl era are

News, Oilseeds

Canada working to diversify canola seed sales

This crop year exports to several countries have risen

By Allan Dawson November 12, 2019

Canada is working to diversify its canola seed sales, says Brian Innes, the Canola Council of Canada’s vice-president of public affairs. “As an industry we are doing what we can to diversify,” Innes said in an interview from Geneva, Switzerland Oct. 28 where Canada and China had their first face-to-face meeting over the canola dispute.

A storm last Thanksgiving weekend brought a lot of snow, and a lot of headaches.

News

AMM calls on province to pitch in on disaster funding after storm

Manitoba’s Thanksgiving surprise was an expensive one for municipalities

By Alexis Stockford November 12, 2019

[UPDATED: Nov. 14, 2019] Municipalities say the winter storm over the Thanksgiving weekend is going to cost them, and they’re looking to the province for help. The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) has formally requested a disaster financial assistance program for its impacted members in light of storm cleanup costs. Why it matters: An early storm last month

A panel of Manitoba Pork staff addressed issues of disease management, traceability and communication.

Hogs, News, Other

Manitoba pork producers discuss PED, African swine fever plans

2019 was a ‘disappointing year’ for PED outbreaks after gains made in 2018

By Geralyn Wichers November 8, 2019

Disease management remains a baffling issue for pork producers and top of mind for the Manitoba Pork Council. “It’s been a disappointing year,” said MPC board chair George Matheson, citing 79 confirmed cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) this year. “What we’re doing just doesn’t seem to be working.” Disease prevention was front and centre

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

News & Opinion