Other & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Prairie forecast: Typical spring weather expected; not dry, not wet

Forecast issued April 24, 2024; covering: April 24 – May 1

By Daniel Bezte April 24, 2024

It looks like this will be a good news, bad news forecast. For those of you hoping for rain, it may be good news. For those wanting things to dry out enough to get out working, it's a bit of bad news. The one thing, which is typical for spring forecasts, is that there's a fair bit of uncertainty.

File photo of a desk in Canada’s Senate. (Dougall_Photography/iStock/Getty Images)

Other

Carbon Alliance worries bill could add red tape, cost to farm lending

Private members bill proposes to add climate accountability strings to financial sector

By Geralyn Wichers April 22, 2024

A bill under consideration in the Senate could add red tape and extra cost to ag lending, representatives from the Agriculture Carbon Alliance told senators April 18.

From May 1 to June 9, Manitoba received 150 per cent of its normal precipitation.

Editorial, Op/Ed, Other

Editor’s Take: Reducing risk is better than insurance — and a lot less costly

By Gord Gilmour April 19, 2024

Farmers aren’t the only ones dealing with risk management dilemmas these days. Insurance costs are rising rapidly across the board. One industry website recently suggested that car insurance rates in Ontario could climb by as much as 25 per cent, or about $600 per vehicle. One reason is the inflated cost of cars, which obviously

A significant amount of liquidity for grain farms comes from harvest still in the bin.

News, Other

Are farm finances on a slippery slope?

Canadian agriculture’s balance sheet is strong, but eroding margins and rising costs may temper producers’ optimism

By Geralyn Wichers April 18, 2024

At the end of 2017, Canadian farm debt topped $100 billion. At the time, it was a bigger number than the national debt of 135 countries, noted Country Guide columnist Gerald Pilger. The climb hasn’t stopped. The figure rose steadily since crossing the $100-billion threshold. As of 2022, the most recent year on Statistics Canada’s

“In farming, there are lots of assets where you can use the capital gains exemption, but farmers tend to think they can use it for absolutely anything. That’s not true. There are very specific rules around when and how it can be used and what assets are eligible.” – Edith Frison, MNP.

News, Other

Don’t get beat up by taxes this year

Running down best practices and common misconceptions for this tax season

By Don Norman April 18, 2024

Tax season is back and experts say there are a few things farmers should consider as they prepare their 2023 returns. Understanding the implications of certain business activities can reduce tax amounts. For farms that run as corporations, Dec. 31, 2023, was the last day for the temporary immediate expensing option. This program allows corporations

File photo of farmland around an abandoned farmstead near Swift Current, Sask. (ImagineGolf/iStock/Getty Images)

Other

Renting land better than buying for cash flow: FCC

Each farm needs to make the decision themselves, but a bit of analysis can help when choosing

By GFM Network News, Gord Gilmour April 18, 2024

Rising farmland values and higher interest rates have swung the affordability pendulum in favour of renting, not buying, farmland.

Photo: Korey Peterson/iStock/Getty Images

Other

Snow and rain fall across the Prairies

Topsoil should have sufficient moisture for planting in next few weeks says analyst

By Geralyn Wichers, GFM Network News April 17, 2024

Farmers took to social media to post pictures of snow and rain as the effects of a Colorado low splashed across the Prairies.

Deoxynivalenol is produced by fusarium, evidenced here in these heads of wheat.

Cereals, Crops, Other

Cold plasma tapped as grain mycotoxin solution

The fourth state of matter (in its cold form) could be coming to a malt house or barn near you

By Alexis Kienlen April 17, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian researchers are harnessing a high-tech concept to decontaminate grain. They’re using cold plasma, which is created by electrical discharge in a low-pressure gas. One of the most common uses is in florescent lighting, which creates light with little heat. Cold plasma is the fourth state of matter, alongside solid, liquid and

Tim Sopuck and Devin Borus pose with a pike they took through the ice on a large dead bait.

News, Other

Lock targets on pike for spring fishing

Northern pike make for some memorable early season action as the open water season gets underway

By Tim Sopuck April 16, 2024

It was a calm spring day as my son Mark and I made our way up a grassy creek, swollen with the yearly influx of meltwater. Our targets for the day were post-spawn northern pike or, in common parlance, jackfish or jacks. We were moving under paddle power, having previously made the mistake of motoring

News, Other

Fishing rules in Manitoba for 2024

By Tim Sopuck April 16, 2024

As open water season approaches, it’s worth reviewing some of last year’s important regulatory changes. Some of these haven’t quite sunk in with the angling community. I was recently talking to an old fishing pal, who was regaling me with the tale of a lovely pike he had caught and taken home for dinner. After

Daily Network News

Canadians worked first 39 days of 2026 to pay for year’s grocery bill says CFA

Feed Grain Weekly: Corn affecting barley prices in Lethbridge

Cargill to close Wisconsin beef plant, cut 221 jobs

Other

Prairie forecast: Typical spring weather expected; not dry, not wet

Carbon Alliance worries bill could add red tape, cost to farm lending

Editor’s Take: Reducing risk is better than insurance — and a lot less costly

Are farm finances on a slippery slope?

Don’t get beat up by taxes this year

Renting land better than buying for cash flow: FCC

Snow and rain fall across the Prairies

Cold plasma tapped as grain mycotoxin solution

Lock targets on pike for spring fishing

Fishing rules in Manitoba for 2024

AgCanadaTV

AgCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Feb. 6, 2026

Cyber-Savvy Farmer

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