Other & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Editor’s Take: Funding fairness

By Gord Gilmour April 22, 2021

Few would argue the education tax system Manitoba’s had for the past few decades was a model for the future. It was a complex patchwork of competing interests and duplicated efforts. It saw one level of government set the tax rate, another collect it on its behalf, and the province turning around and refunding a

Manitoba’s new education tax system will be fairer, farm advocates say.

News, Other

Education tax cut increases fairness, say KAP, AMM

The rollback has led to criticisms that it’s a tax cut for wealthy landowners at the expense of education funding, which could hurt rural communities

By Geralyn Wichers April 22, 2021

The Pallister government’s promised education property tax cuts are a step in the direction of fairness, but won’t be a huge windfall — at least not this year, said KAP president Bill Campbell. “Education funding needs to be equitable and equal for citizens of Manitoba and not necessarily based on some people’s assets. Not everybody’s

Other, Weather, Weather Vane

Weather: A cooler pattern settling in

Forecast covering the period from April 21 to April 28

By Daniel Bezte April 22, 2021

If you’re going to fail, then fail spectacularly. That’s what happened with the last forecast. Thanks to the retrograding upper low that impacted our region for most of the week of April 12-16, the forecast fell apart as the atmosphere underwent a shift to a much cooler pattern. The question is, just how long will

Garry Workman (right) with Paul Brennan at the Strathclair Old Iron Club’s threshing day.

Farmit Manitoba, News, Other

‘Walking tour’ preserves the Solsgirth of bygone days

As the village’s eldest resident, Garry Workman made himself its biographer

By Darrell Nesbitt April 21, 2021

“Straw hats and old dirty hankies, Mopping a face like a shoe, Thanks for the meal here’s a song that is real, From a kid from the city to you.” These words serve as the verse to Murray McLauchlan’s, “The Farmers Song.” Released in 1972, the song is a snapshot of the changing place of

Swans and mallard ducks, seen using a car as a photography blind.

Farmit Manitoba, Other

Continue with bird activities in spring

With the new season come new avian arrivals and observation opportunities

By Donna Gamache April 21, 2021

Are you one of those who has recently taken up watching birds, or feeding or photographing them? With most Manitobans staying close to home, these have become new hobbies for many. With the arrival of spring, there are different birds to watch for, new requirements in bird feeding and maybe some changes in how you

With spring, comes mud – just ask the owner of this dog. It takes almost as much heat to melt snow as it does to bring water to its boiling point.

Other, Weather

When does spring usually begin?

Every year with a late spring had significant snow cover going into April

By Daniel Bezte April 21, 2021

Still working on finishing up the look at this past winter and, in particular, whether it was the shortest winter on record. As I worked on defining just what constitutes ‘winter,’ I came across a previous article I wrote about when spring usually arrives. So, I figured I would revive that article and begin our

A freight train at Manchac, La., about 75 km east of Baton Rouge. (CN.ca)

Crops, Other

CN challenges CP with Kansas City Southern bid

KCS shareholder warns U.S. regulator 'doesn't like overlap'

By GFM Network News April 21, 2021

Reuters — Canadian National Railway said on Tuesday it had offered to buy Kansas City Southern railroad for about US$33.7 billion, sending shares of the U.S. rail company soaring as investors anticipated a bidding war with Canadian Pacific Railway. CP had agreed a deal to acquire Kansas City Southern for about $25 billion last month

Comment, Op/Ed, Other

Comment: Land as an inflation fighter

Real estate and farmland typically are an excellent inflation hedge

By Grant Alexander Wilson April 20, 2021

More than 100 years ago, a jug of milk was 40 cents. Today, it’s almost $4. This phenomenon is called inflation. Over the past five decades, all industrialized nations have experienced inflation. A typical rate of inflation is around two per cent and indicates a stable economy. Although Murray Rothbard, a 20th-century economic historian and

Letters, Op/Ed, Other

Letters: Manitoba government squeezing ranchers out

By Dale and Sharon Myhre April 20, 2021

This letter is in response to Agriculture Minister Blaine Pedersen’s recent misleading comments about Manitoba Crown lands. Let us tell you about a farmer, a real person who represents many small ranchers. This man worked hard all his life. He fished in the winter, he went to the mines, he drove trucks — anything to

Months of dry weather have left lots of dugouts low and in need of freshwater. Ryan Young of Middleton Ventures widened and deepened Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson's dugout near Altamont April 10 before the recent snow. (Young is Dawson's son-in-law)

News, Other

KAP welcomes snow, Churchill and $21 canola

Manitoba farmers welcome much-needed moisture via snowfall last week

By Allan Dawson April 19, 2021

Manitoba farmers welcomed the precipitation much of agro-Manitoba received April 12 and 13, even if most of it was snow. “The moisture is certainly appreciated…” Keystone Agriculture Producers’ (KAP) president Bill Campbell said during the general farm organization’s online advisory council meeting April 15. However, in an interview later Campbell stressed more timely rains will

Daily Network News

Prairie Wheat Weekly: Western Canadian bids move upward

China has reduced tariffs on Canadian canola, peas, federal government confirms

Canadian agriculture must build on the moment federal politicians say

Other