News & Opinion & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

The Manitou Opera House is now fully accessible with a ramped walkway leading to a spacious foyer inside an access wing architecturally consistent with the heritage style of the original building.

Manitou takes pride in keeping its opera house in fine form

Manitou has added a seamless new addition to its 1930 Arts and Crafts-style opera house

By Lorraine Stevenson January 12, 2016

The Manitou Opera House has always looked as good as it sounds. So when residents of this south-central town added some modern amenities to its 1930s-era vintage theatre, they were determined to keep it that way. No one will ever guess 86 years had passed between the new addition and the original Manitou Opera House,

Ron and Janice Apostle received the 2014 Intermountain Conservation District award after implementing a number of conservation efforts on their cow-calf operation.

Livestock, Local news

Bale grazing for a healthier pasture and wallet

Conservation Champions: A Gilbert Plains producer says switching to a bale-grazing system has saved money,  labour and created positive changes in pastures

By Jennifer Paige January 12, 2016

Ron and Janice Apostle run their second-generation cow-calf operation on the outskirts of Gilbert Plains with the intent of leaving the land better than they found it. “Everything starts with the environment,” said Janice. “We used to have our corrals right by the creek and we wanted to apply to move them. During that process

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development recently updated a number of helpful production tools for beef and forage producers.

Livestock, Local news

Provincially developed calculators give insight into on-farm numbers

More than a dozen free worksheets are available online to assist producers  in exploring common operation scenarios

By Jennifer Paige January 12, 2016

Private and customizable worksheets offer Manitoba producers the ability to gain insight into on-farm costs, now and in the future. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) recently updated its online interactive tools for beef and forage producers. “We have spent a considerable amount of time developing tools and resources to help with farm management

Entrants in the New Product competition get a chance to demonstrate  their innovations one on one with farmers.

Crops, Livestock, Local news

Best new products for 2016 coming to Ag Days

This year’s show will once again feature a full range of new products certain to gather a lot of attention

By Duncan Morrison January 11, 2016

Each year, Manitoba Ag Days is the backdrop as retailers, manufacturers, dealers and entrepreneurs launch their top new products for the upcoming season. This year’s show will once again feature a full range of new products certain to gather a lot of attention from visitors looking for the latest in farming technology and products. All

Green Party leader, James Beddome, speaks during a press conference, while David Nickarzn looks on.

Crops, Livestock, Local news

Manitoba needs a carbon tax: Beddome

Another voice is added to the debate over farming and greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba

By Shannon VanRaes January 11, 2016

The word “agriculture” may not have made it into the text of the Paris climate agreement, but in Manitoba, climate change and agriculture have been appearing together a lot in recent days. Only a few weeks ago the Manitoba government released its Climate Change and Green Economy Action Plan, and now Manitoba’s Green Party has

Average Manitoba corn yields in 2015 hit a new record high of 136 bushels an acre, based on 99.7 per cent of yield data collected by the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation being keyed in.

Crops, Local news

Manitoba crop yields above average in 2015

Corn and soybeans set new records at 136 and 39 bushels an acre, based on crop insurance data

By Allan Dawson January 11, 2016

2015 was a bumper crop year for Manitoba with farmers setting new records for corn and soybean yields, according to data collected by the crop insurance branch of the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC). Based on 99.7 per cent of yield data from insured farmers entered into MASC’s database, the average yield for corn in

Local news

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries bets on local food

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries dedicates 25 per cent of food budget to local food purchasing

By Lorraine Stevenson January 11, 2016

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries doubled the amount of local food it bought to serve in restaurants at its two Winnipeg casinos’ restaurants this year, now dedicating 25 per cent of its annual $4-million food budget to local food purchasing. The food is served at its restaurants at Club Regent and McPhillips Station where approximately 9,000

Local news

Portable generators: a lifesaver or a real killer?

Improper hookup or use can be hazardous

By Manitoba Hydro Release January 11, 2016

When a power failure occurs, due to a storm, equipment failure or accident, a properly sized and well-maintained standby generator can be a lifesaver when used properly. But many people turn to a portable generator as a temporary solution to a power outage without knowing the risks. Know how to use a generator safely: Only

Crops, News

What’s hot and what’s not for 2016 crops

Margins are expected to be a lot tighter in the coming year, but the major crops are still showing a potential for profit

By Laura Rance-Unger January 8, 2016

Manitoba farmers are facing some tough choices when it comes to squeezing a profit out of the crops they grow in 2016. But the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development annual crop production guidelines indicate there are still profits to be made in both conventional and organic production systems. These estimates serve as useful reference

Crops, News

Railways exceeded their regulatory revenue cap moving record volumes

The Canadian Transportation Agency says the railways were allowed to earn $1.46 billion shipping grain in 2014-15, but exceeded their maximum revenue entitlement by $9 million or about 22 cents a tonne

By Allan Dawson January 8, 2016

The nation’s two main railways moved a record volume of western Canadian grain in the 2014-15 crop year but they collected more from grain shippers than regulations allow. Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) together shipped 41.3 million tonnes of western grain to export position and were supposed to do

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