News & Opinion & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

MASC estimates Manitoba farmers planted more canola, wheat and soybeans this spring

Acres too wet to seed down dramatically from 2014

By Allan Dawson July 24, 2015

Plantings of Manitoba’s three biggest acreage crops — canola, wheat and soybeans — are all projected to be higher in 2015, according to the Manitoba Agricultural Service Corporation’s (MASC) latest estimate. Based on assessing 94 per cent of farmers’ seeded acreage reports filed for crop insurance MASC estimates Manitoba farmers this spring sowed 3.2 million

Len Epp stands with bison about to be exported to the United States.

Livestock, Local news

Bison demand is growing. Producer numbers? Not so much

Surprisingly agile, bison require the right equipment and tough fencing to be handled safely

By Shannon VanRaes July 24, 2015

Turn down Road 88 North in Manitoba’s Interlake and you can still see the “Gunton Bull Test Station” sign. But don’t expect to see any cattle. “I’m kinda glad they left the old sign up,” said Len Epp. “It’s nice to have the history, even if it’s all bison now.” The co-owner of the Rockwood

Crops, News

FCWB amends lawsuit, alleges wheat board funds misallocated, farmers shortchanged

Confused by this latest legal action? Here’s an explanation

By Allan Dawson July 23, 2015

The Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board (FCWB) allege $720 million owed to farmers in 2011-12 went instead to help the board transition to an open market. “On the face of it, it contravenes the existing legislation,” FCWB chair Stewart Wells said in an interview July 14. According to Wells, the wheat board act says

Somerset-area organic farmer Jeremiah Evans is impressed with the weed control he’s getting with a new U.K.-made in-row cultivator.

Crops, Local news

Precision tillage offers new option for organic weed control

Frustrated with lack of weed control, organic farmer Jeremiah Evans has  tried a U.K.-made in-row cultivator and he’s impressed with the results

By Lorraine Stevenson July 23, 2015

Jeremiah Evans has a new high-tech hand helping him control weeds on his organic farm. Last fall the Somerset-area farmer took delivery of a custom-built U.K.-manufactured Garford Robocrop in-row cultivator, which uses special software to identify and target weeds, leaving the crop behind. After seeing what it could do to his wild oats, thistle and

News, Oilseeds

VIDEO: Big reward for winner of ‘Canola 100 Agri-Prize’

First farmer to grow 100-bushel canola will get use of a full line of John Deere equipment

By Laura Rance-Unger, Manitoba Co-operator Staff July 22, 2015

Canola growers with a competitive personality now have an extra incentive — a complete John Deere equipment package if they’re the first to grow 100 bushels per acre on 50 acres of canola. The ‘Canola 100 Agri-Prize’ was announced July 21 at Ag in Motion in Saskatoon. The first farmer to produce a verified average

Chris Siow, a research scientist at the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine is studying the health benefits of lingonberries.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Wild or farmed? Lingonberries seek place in Manitoba agriculture

Tiny, tart and full of goodness, Manitoba’s wild lingonberries are even healthier than those grown in other areas

By Shannon VanRaes July 22, 2015

Today they belong to the category often labelled as “superfoods,” but Dave Buck has always known that lingonberries were good tasting and nutritious. “I grew up in the bush,” he said. “And I can remember when I was young, my parents would pick the berries, they’d juice them. We’d have juice at Christmas and then

Bruce Berry of Almost Urban Vegetables uses composted manure to power his plants.

Livestock, Local news

Winter no barrier to composting

Manure composting has many benefits, including concentrated nutrients,  reduced volume, no smell and easy transport

By Shannon VanRaes July 22, 2015

Like any recipe, making a good composted manure requires the right ingredients, a proper mixer and some heat. “There are a lot of misconceptions as to what composting actually is, some think that if you have a pile of manure it’s called composting, it really isn’t,” said Mario Tenuta. “So we want to talk to

News

PHOTOS: Ag in Motion is underway!

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff July 21, 2015

Farmers and agribusinesses in Western Canada are seeing the latest agricultural technology in action at Ag In Motion, Western Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. Set up on 320 acres 15 minutes northwest of Saskatoon, Sask., Ag in Motion features live demonstrations of field equipment, crops and services. Ag in Motion runs from July 21 to July

Livestock, Opinion

Outright repeal of COOL defies consumer sentiment

It was how the meat-packing industry applied the law that caused the negative effects on imports

By Daryll E. Ray, Harwood D. Schaffer July 21, 2015

The fate of the U.S. COOL (country-of-origin labelling) program for beef, pork, and poultry hangs in the balance as Congress goes on its Independence Day recess. Given the May 18, 2015 WTO (World Trade Organization) ruling against COOL, the threat of $3 billion in retaliatory tariffs being imposed on U.S. products by Canada and Mexico,

Crops, Local news, Weather

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 12

Conditions as of July 20, 2015

By Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Development July 21, 2015

Another week of generally good growing conditions continues to advance crops across Manitoba. Localized thunderstorms did result in significant precipitation amounts in some areas of the province, while other areas would still benefit from additional moisture. Disease pressure and insect activity continues to be monitored as the growing season progresses. Click here for the Crop Weather Report for

Daily Network News

B.C. ostriches culled, CFIA confirms

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs end week on high note

U.S. grains: Soybeans bounce as Chinese demand assessed, wheat drops

News & Opinion