Million-dollar milestones reached by volunteer harvests

Some projects have surpassed $1 million in straight donations, 
more have passed that mark when matching grants included

Growing Projects across Manitoba for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank are starting to reach some major contribution milestones. Volunteers with the BMW (Boissevain Morton Whitewater) Growing Project took off their 17th consecutive harvest this fall, and when the crop is sold, it will push their group’s straight contributions (not including matching grants) to over $1 million

Robert Clarke McNabb


Agricultural Hall of Fame: Robert McNabb

Five new members of the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame were inducted July 17 at a ceremony 
in Portage la Prairie. We’re featuring a new inductee each week

Robert (Bob) McNabb was born and raised on a farm at Minnedosa, Manitoba. He attended the University of Manitoba where he obtained a degree in agriculture, majoring in animal science. While at university, he took flying lessons and obtained his commercial flying licence. Following graduation, Bob spent eight years in northern Saskatchewan where he was


Conservation not a hippie delusion

Small-scale farmers can implement conservation agriculture and improve soil health 
in developing areas, often by using a mix of science and local knowledge

The damaging effects of tillage on soils is well documented on Europe and North American soils. So why is that approach still being exported to developing nations, proponents of conservation agriculture asked the recent World Conference on Conservation Agriculture. “We’re taking that paradigm to developing countries, so one has to ask, what is actually going

Combine parked near a promotional sign

Agribusiness companies help end hunger through CFGB

Several companies are providing free inputs to growing projects across Canada

Spring planting has not yet begun, but Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) growing project organizers across Canada are already thinking about what they will grow this year to help end hunger. Their efforts will be greatly aided by support from some of Canada’s agribusiness companies. Businesses lined up to provide free seed, fertilizer, chemicals and other


Sarah Jaibes is a Zimbabwean farmer practising conservation agriculture. 
Photo: Shannon VanRaes

Conservation agriculture will play a key role in feeding future populations

Conference told that by employing permaculture, cover crops, strategic rotation and reduced tillage, small landowners can generate surpluses and contribute to food security

Sarah Jaibes isn’t a soil scientist, or an international development expert, but she knows a lot about how to make small farms work and what it will take to feed nine billion people by 2050. The Zimbabwean farmer became involved in conservation agriculture in 2009, after rising inflation made it difficult to live on her

Do food aid and economic self-interest mix?

The recent decision to merge the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) into the new Department of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Development isn’t the first time Canada’s aid program has been profoundly changed. Five years ago, another major change occurred when Ottawa fully untied Canadian food aid. Then, as now, it was a matter of


Thank you for 30 years!

April 13, 2013 marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). Throughout this year, we wish to celebrate and thank the many people and organizations that have created, built and supported the CFGB over the years — the early visionaries, the practical people who worked out the mechanics, the many farmers

Eugene Whelan dies at 88

Funeral services were held Feb. 23 for the man beneath the green Stetson hat who took the helm of Canadian agricultural policy during the Trudeau administration. Eugene Whelan, Canada’s agriculture minister from 1972 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984, died late Feb. 19 at age 88. According to the Windsor Star , Whelan’s death, at



A giving community

As a kid growing up on the farm, each season came with its unique set of memories. It may have been only once that we were all conscripted Thanksgiving Monday into digging the remaining rows of potatoes out of the cold, snow-speckled mud, but it was a memory maker. Other events however, were routine, such