News & Opinion & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

As older workers are set to retire, few replacements are to be found. One factor contributing to that is the lack of growth in rural population in Canada.

Agricultural labour shortage will worsen, new report says

Cash receipt losses to Canadian farmers from job vacancies pegged at $1.5 billion,  or three per cent of the industry’s total value in sales and production

By Lorraine Stevenson March 28, 2016

Canadian agriculture’s already acute labour shortage will worsen over the next decade, as high numbers of employees retire and the domestic labour pool continues to dry up. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council released labour market information (LMI) research last week, showing a gap of 59,000 employees between primary agriculture’s need for workers and those

Prairie flood events, like this one in the Red River Valley, are the single biggest annual expense under a federal disaster financial assistance program.

News

Federal bill for Prairie flooding an outsized expense, says budget watchdog

Report points to provincial shortcomings as possible reasons for large annual expenditures

By Alex Binkley March 28, 2016

Prairie flooding is costing the federal government too much under a disaster financial assistance program, says the Parliamentary Budget Office. The issue is the single biggest expenditure under the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements plan, something the budget watchdog blamed on a lack of co-ordination and co-operation. In a report to Parliament, the PBO said

Canada’s pulse sector has been exporting to the EU with few problems so far.

News, Pulses

VIDEO: CETA deal or no CETA deal, Europe a tough market to enter

Glacier FarmMedia Special Report: But trade agreements offer a place to start the process of ironing out the details

By Ed White, Gfm Staff March 28, 2016

Our March 24, 2016 issue marks the second in a series of Special Reports prepared by reporters from the Glacier FarmMedia network, which includes the Manitoba Co-operator. In these articles, reporters explore the implications of the yet-to-be- ratified Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union. Grain-marketing professionals in the towers at

Beef cattle, News

Selling beef to Europe requires commitment to high quality

Glacier FarmMedia Special Report: It’s the story that sells quality into a premium market

By Barb Glen, Gfm Staff March 28, 2016

Our March 24, 2016 issue marks the second in a series of Special Reports prepared by reporters from the Glacier FarmMedia network, which includes the Manitoba Co-operator. In these articles, reporters explore the implications of the yet-to-be- ratified Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union. Marketing beef into Europe is not

Crops, Local news

Winter wheat acres survive winter, but down significantly

A mild winter and early melt hasn’t hurt the winter wheat crop,  but competition from new varieties has hit acreage

By Allan Dawson March 25, 2016

The return of snow cover and colder weather have winter wheat growers heaving a sigh of relief — but they’re still uncertain about the long-term future of the crop. Ken Gross, Ducks Unlimited agronomist for the group’s winter wheat initiative, said a couple of weeks ago his phone was ringing off the hook as temperatures

Accessing new markets for beef won’t be easy.

Livestock, News

CETA deal will open up new markets for Canadian beef

Glacier FarmMedia Special Report: But that meat must be produced according to EU standards,  which stipulate no growth hormones

By Barb Glen, Gfm Staff March 24, 2016

Our March 24, 2016 issue marks the second in a series of Special Reports prepared by reporters from the Glacier FarmMedia network, which includes the Manitoba Co-operator. In these articles, reporters explore the implications of the yet-to-be- ratified Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union. When John Masswohl toured the central

Beef cattle, News

Beef industry watching how new Liberal government proceeds

Glacier FarmMedia Special Report: There is a widely held view that the deal is just the beginning

By Barb Glen, Gfm Staff March 24, 2016

Our March 24, 2016 issue marks the second in a series of Special Reports prepared by reporters from the Glacier FarmMedia network, which includes the Manitoba Co-operator. In these articles, reporters explore the implications of the yet-to-be- ratified Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union. Canadian cattle and beef interests that

PIN chair Dustin Williams says winding up the organization was a difficult choice, but the right one.

Local news

Pulling the pin on the Prairie Improvement Network

The organization will create a scholarship endowment with remaining funds

By Lorraine Stevenson March 24, 2016

After spending nearly two years struggling to reinvent the organization, the board of the former Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (MRAC) is winding up the group. The Prairie Improvement Network (PIN) as it is now known, will cease to exist as of Mar. 31. Directors agreed last week, during a final annual general meeting held by

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) will consult Canada’s grain industry this fall about new, lower user fees to take effect Aug. 1, 2018. As of March 31, 2015 the CGC had a $63.3-million surplus due to higher Canadian grain exports than anticipated. Most of the CGC’s revenue comes from services related to export grain.

Cereals, News

Big crops feast of fees for CGC

Talks will begin this fall on a new fee structure for the 2018 crop year

By Allan Dawson March 24, 2016

The Canadian Grain Commission is working on a plan to reduce its service fees after racking up a surplus since 2013 that is bigger than its annual operating budget. As of March 31, 2015 the CGC had a $63.3-million surplus, according to its most recent annual financial statement. It’s expected the surplus will have grown

Cereals, News

CGC wants to consult further on licensing feed mills

It also wants to explore licensing producer car loading facilities — an idea farmers strongly rejected 15 years ago

By Allan Dawson March 24, 2016

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) wants to consult with the grain industry about licensing feed mills and producer car loading facilities. “Once again it’s all about producer protection,” CGC commissioner Murdoch MacKay said in an interview on the sidelines of the Winter Cereals Manitoba annual meeting here March 16. “Our responsibility is to make sure

Daily Network News

New strategies needed for Canadian agriculture to stand out in global trade

Feed Grains Weekly: Cash prices for wheat, barley largely flat

The Canadian GMO mustard wars: Dijon vs canola

News & Opinion