Where’s the beef?U.S. consumption is in decline

For the past decade, cattle ranchers and meat packers watched with despair as America’s beef consumption steadily declined, ceding ground to leaner meats as well as vegetarian trends among the health conscious. Most recently, high unemployment in the world’s wealthiest nation had cash-strapped Americans avoiding restaurants where beef is a common entree and had them


Breakfast of champions

The bodies and minds of students at two area communities were nourished when the famous Made in Manitoba Breakfast program was featured, connecting students to where that food came from. The breakfast and agriculture education program is one of a number run by Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba Inc. (AITC-M), a non-profit organization supported by individuals

Co-operating with its competitors

Attendance was down at the annual Canadian Wheat Board breakfast at Ag Days this year, but the farmers who came were encouraged by what they heard. “That just made my day. Now we have a choice,” said Jake Hofer, a wheat producer from Treesbank Colony after listening to a presentation by Gord Flaten, the board’s


MBP Votes Thumbs Down On MCEC Checkoff

Co-operator staff / brandon The Manitoba Beef Producers has given a thumbs down on the $2-per-head voluntary checkoff for the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council. A resolution to eliminate the checkoff aimed at supporting beef slaughter capacity in the province was passed by a narrow margin of 24-21 after a vigorous debate at the recent MBP

Letters – for Nov. 17, 2011

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. Please forward letters to ManitobaCo-operator, 1666DublinAve.,Winnipeg,


Cattle Market Outlook Bright

CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BRANDON Feeder prices, already bright, are likely to get even brighter. I m not willing to quote any prices or make any predictions on how high they might go, but I m pretty bullish that this market is going to be strong, Cargill s Tyler Friesen said at the recent Manitoba Beef

4-H Reports – for Nov. 17, 2011

TheCo-operatorwill publish 4-H reports once a month. Reports can be submitted by the third week of the month by email to [email protected], by regular mail to 4-H Reports, c/oManitoba Co-operator,1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1 or by fax to 204-954-1422. Rapid City Rodeo We have a new 4-H club in the area, focusing on


Cargill Earnings Tumble

U.S. agribusiness and trading firm Cargill Inc. posted a steep drop in quarterly earnings Oct. 10, citing economic uncertainty and volatile commodity markets. Minneapolis-based Cargill, one of the world s largest privately held corporations, reported $236 million in earnings from continuing operations for the quarter ended on Aug. 31, down 66 per cent from $693

Agribusiness Giants Can’t Escape Market Volatility

You know commodity trading conditions are tough when even firms that sit on both the buy and sell sides of a market still suffer hefty losses. Such was the case with 140-year-old agribusiness giant Cargill, which recently reported a 66 per cent drop in earnings in the latest quarter over year-ago levels due to global