News & Opinion & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Jeffery Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, manager of sustainability and government relations for McDonald’s Canada.

McDonald’s Canada announces investment in beef research

One of Canada’s largest fast-food companies sees value in the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiative

By Jennifer Paige February 16, 2016

McDonald’s Canada has put its money where its mouth is with an investment into the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiative (MBFI). “We are trying to balance being responsive to our customers and responsible to our downstream supply chain,” said Jeffery Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, manager of sustainability and government relations for McDonald’s Canada. “I really look at this

Crops, News

Study defines role of organic ag in feeding the world

Numerous studies point to the environmental benefits

By Lorraine Stevenson February 16, 2016

Organic agriculture can play an important role in feeding the world, according to a new study comparing conventional and organic farming systems’ ability to produce yields, benefit farmers’ bottom line, and sustain the environment. That’s the conclusion drawn by Washington State University (WSU) researchers after a review of 40 years of science-based evidence comparing organic

Opinion

There’s no such thing as a free lunch — or free trade

By Alan Guebert February 16, 2016

We in U.S. agriculture talk about free trade agreements as if they are the international equivalent of a free lunch. This lovely belief, of course, overlooks the absolute certainty that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Someone somewhere always pays. More often than not, that someone over the last 25 years has

Opinion

Editorial: Ideology and modern farming

By Laura Rance-Unger February 12, 2016

Whenever the subject of organic agriculture surfaces in a discussion about modern farming, the “yabuts” start flowing fast and sometimes, furiously. Ya but organic farmers don’t produce as much as “conventional‚” farmers do, so if everyone went organic, there would be shortages, more pressure on land and higher food prices. And so it goes. Those

Crops, Local news

VIDEO: Tillage erosion and how you can avoid it

Soil science professor says it can be the most damaging type of soil erosion

By Allan Dawson February 12, 2016

You’ve heard of wind and water erosion, but how about tillage erosion? It’s often the worse of the three, says University of Manitoba soil science professor David Lobb, who spoke to Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson Feb. 4 at the Manitoba Soil Science Society’s 59th annual meeting in Winnipeg.

Crops, Livestock, Local news

Pictures help avoid confusion in the barn

Hiring employees from diverse cultural backgrounds has rewards and challenges

By Shannon VanRaes February 12, 2016

Communicating well with employees can be challenging at the best of times, but throw additional languages and new customs into the mix, and it can be a minefield for the unprepared. “I think we’ve become way too politically correct in this country and we need to call a spade a spade… because it would really

Local news

Monsanto versus Schmeiser to play out on Winnipeg stage

Prairie Theatre Exchange will host ‘Seeds’ as part of its latest tour

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff February 11, 2016

The tale of the Prairie farmer who fought the good fight for saved seed, or tried and failed to game a multinational agribusiness, or maybe both — or neither, is coming to the Winnipeg stage. Seeds, written by playwright Annabel Soutar, will run for 19 performances at Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE) in Portage Place from

Crops, News

Canadian pasta makers accuse Turkey of dumping

To add insult to injury, much of the offending product is made with Canadian durum

By Allan Dawson February 11, 2016

Turkey is buying Canadian durum, using subsidies to make it into pasta and dumping it back into Canada, the Canadian Pasta Manufacturers say. Pasta imports from Turkey more than doubled in 2015 compared to 2014, while its value tripled, Don Jarvis, president of the Canadian Pasta Manufacturers Association (CPMA), said in an interview from his

Cereals, Crops, News

The countervailing duty process explained

By Allan Dawson February 11, 2016

Getting countervailing duties applied to imports believed to be subsidized and/or dumped is a two-pronged process that takes at least seven months. It starts by the industry being hurt filing a complaint with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), the agency’s website says. The application, must represent at least 25 per cent of the Canadian

Organic potatoes are a tough row to hoe, but the manager at Poplar Grove Farms say the crop is worth it.

Crops, Local news

More farmers looking at organic potential

2015 saw more producers start transition process

By Lorraine Stevenson February 11, 2016

High prices and the prospect of fewer input costs are attracting more farmers to organic farming in Manitoba. At least 30 farmers began a transition in 2015, convinced they can become more profitable using a farming system that also costs less to operate, says provincial organic specialist Laura Telford. They are conventional farmers who’ve crunched

Daily Network News

India, Japan canola crops to be steady in 2026/27 – USDA

ICE Weekly: Trade waits for canola to break out

Advance Payments Program interest free limit set at $250,000 for 2026

News & Opinion