News & Opinion & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Marcus Wiebe was in the final stages of getting a new apple press operational last week. The Winkler farmer expected to start pressing apples for new customers this week.

New apple press starts operations near Winkler

Burwalde Juice Co. owner expects business to be brisk

By Lorraine Stevenson August 15, 2017

A new Manitoba farm-based company offering apple pressing for backyard growers expects to start operations this week. Burwalde Juice Co., located on a farm north of Winkler, is the newest apple press providing cold-pressing, pasteurizing and bottling services to those who drop off loads of apples to be made into cider. They purchased the press

Manitoba Pork is hoping a new swine health programs manager will help the sector deal with challenges like the ongoing PEDv outbreak.

Hogs, Local news

Expanded staff to put hog disease in the crosshairs

Manitoba Pork says it hopes to fill the new swine health programs manager by early fall

By Alexis Stockford August 15, 2017

Manitoba Pork hopes revisiting its disease management and prevention programming will help the industry dodge the next disease threat. The council will be expanding staff to include a swine health programs manager as part of the process, chair George Matheson said during a recent interview with industry-run broadcast “Farmscape.” The new hire will take on

Crop Report, Local news, Weather

Rain falls, but more needed; cereal harvesting, canola swathing begin

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for August 14

By Manitoba Agriculture August 14, 2017

Warm weather has advanced crops, and also caused some injury in canola. Rainfall occurred throughout the province, but more rainfall is needed in many areas. Harvest has begun in winter cereals, spring cereals, and field peas. Canola is starting to be swathed. Insect monitoring is on-going, but disease incidence remains low. Haying continues, but in

Corn leaves display the lesions associated with Goss’s wilt.

Crops, Local news

Goss’s wilt makes its first appearance of the year

Goss’s wilt in corn and Phytophthora root rot in soybeans have been among the pathogens noted in the provincial disease and insect updates

By Alexis Stockford August 14, 2017

Reports of Goss’s wilt in corn are early, but not surprising, according to Holly Derksen, field crop pathologist with Manitoba Agriculture. One infection was reported near Austin, followed by reports of the disease near Morden. “Which is not surprising at all,” Derksen said. “We have it everywhere every year, but especially in the Morden, Altona,

Veggie chips aren’t magically healthy just because they’re made from vegetables.

Did you know?, News

Vegetarian junk food panned

Researchers say there are plenty of plant-based unhealthy dietary choices out there

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff August 14, 2017

Medical researchers have long said plant-based diets are healthier — but it turns out what type of plant-based foods matter a lot. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and other ‘basic’ plant foods can in fact lower the risk of heart disease, result in less obesity and other positive impacts. But a recent study published in

News

Ottawa announced details of CETA assistance

Transition programs will assist farmers adapt to an expected influx of European cheese

By Alex Binkley August 11, 2017

With the European free trade deal CETA set to launch next month, Ottawa is smoothing out a few wrinkles. The federal government has backed down a bit in a dispute with the European Union over the allocation of new tariff-free cheese imports. It also said it would start accepting applications Aug. 22 from dairy farmers

Intermediate 4-H members survey the ingredients they could use to make beef vegetable soup during the 4-H Manitoba Food Challenge Provincial Championship June 10.

Country Crossroads, Local news, Other

4-H kitchen heats up at Manitoba Summer Fair

Junior and intermediate cooks had already proved themselves with regional wins by the time they donned their aprons at the provincial championships in Brandon

By Alexis Stockford August 11, 2017

Ffion and Nia Devonald are award-winning chefs, and they aren’t even in high school yet. The pair — and their herb and tomato rendition of the grilled cheese sandwich — took the junior title during the inaugural 4-H Manitoba Food Challenge Provincial Championship June 10 in Brandon. “We’ve baked with our family for a while,

Matthew Johnson of M3 Aerial Productions says a drone ground school will contribute to public safety while teaching operators how to fly the remote aircraft.

Local news, Other

Brandon University launches new drone training

New course gives students opportunity to become certified drone pilots

By Lorraine Stevenson August 11, 2017

Brandon University will be one of the first post-secondary institutions in Canada to offer an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pilot ground school when it introduces a course credit for taking the program this fall. Pilot training schools now offer similar training but not university course credits. The new course will offer students everything they need

Crops, Local news

VIDEO: Growing North

KAP heads to northern Manitoba to hear from producers

By Shannon VanRaes August 10, 2017

Four communities, six flights and two days. Follow Keystone Agricultural Producers as they tour the organization’s northern districts and learn about production challenges and successes beyond Manitoba’s boreal forest. From excess moisture and transportation issues, to emerging opportunities in forestry and surface water management, the province’s northern farms are breaking new ground.

Oat plants in central Manitoba display chlorosis discolouration, one of the first signs of barley yellow dwarf virus.

Cereals, Crops, Local news

Aphid-borne virus found in Manitoba oat fields

The virus, and its associated chlorosis and premature maturation, has been noted in several oat fields

By Alexis Stockford August 10, 2017

Oat fields in central Manitoba are fighting off barley yellow dwarf virus. “We see it from year to year,” Manitoba Agriculture field crop pathologist Holly Derksen said. “I think this is probably the most severe that I’ve seen it in fields, but that being said, it’s historically been present in Manitoba and in varying levels.”

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