The Best Farm Support Program

Scholarly types come up with different numbers when they set about quantifying the returns on public investment in agricultural research, but they are all, without fail, extraordinarily positive. University of Guelph agricultural economist George Brinkman summed it well in a 2004 paper by saying agricultural research is one of the highest payback uses for public

Letters – for May. 13, 2010

We welcome readers’comments on issues that have been covered in the Manitoba Co-operator. In most cases we cannot accept “open” letters or copies of letters which have been sent to several publications. Letters are subject to editing for length or taste. We suggest a maximum of about 300 words. Farmers heading back to bad old


Auditor General Criticizes AAFC Research Management

“There’s a component of science that has to remain to protect the public trust.” – GARY CORBETT, PIPS Canada’s federal agriculture scientists are getting old, their equipment is outdated and their research increasingly aimed at making money for big business rather than benefiting the public good. That’s how Gary Corbett interprets Auditor General Sheila Fraser’s

What’s Up – for Jul. 16, 2009

Please forward your agricultural events to [email protected] call 204-944-5762 July 16 – Manitoba Zero Tillage Research Association annual summer tour, 10 a. m. to 3 p. m., MZTRA farm, 12 miles north of Brandon on Highway 10 and half a mile east on Hwy. 353. All welcome, lunch provided. For more info call 204-725-3939 or


What’s Up – for Jul. 2, 2009

Please forward your agricultural events to [email protected] call 204-944-5762 July 1-4 – Yorkton Goat Show, Yorkton Fairgrounds, Yorkton, Sask. Includes demonstrations of pack goats and harness goats, plus CGS official milk testing. For more info call Nola Rossow at 306-925-4509. July 7-8 – Canadian Swine Health Forum, Radisson Hotel, 405 20th St. E., Saskatoon. For

Ag Spending Debate A Chippy One

Other than in the disjoined repartee of question period, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, like his predecessors, is rarely called to account in the Commons for the spending programs and priorities of his department. That usually happens at the agriculture committee, which receives little attention from the mainstream news media on Parliament Hill. But on May


Market Access Secretariat Still Being Developed

Livestock groups have welcomed a federal offer to create a specialized unit within Agriculture Canada to help overcome overseas barriers to Canadian farm and food products. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has repeatedly mentioned the Agriculture Market Access Secretariat ever since it was first announced on Jan. 9 but Agriculture Canada says it’s far from being

Research co-ordination sought in canola deal

Manitoba canola growers and the federal government plan to improve how federal canola agronomy research funding is co-ordinated in a new $6 million agreement. The Prairie Canola Agronomy Research Program (PCARP), announced Nov. 12, is the result of an agreement involving the Manitoba Canola Growers Association, Canola Council of Canada, Alberta Canola Producers Commission, Saskatchewan