A shortfall of posted security means farmers owed money by 
Naber seeds won’t get full payment.

RCMP investigate Naber Specialty Grains

Farmers will get 10 to 15 cents on the dollar

RCMP are investigating Naber Specialty Grains Ltd. after it was placed in receivership owing farmers more money than it has posted in security. “We have uncovered what appear to be irregularities in producer liability reports provided by Naber Specialty Grains Ltd. to the Canadian Grain Commission and as a consequence security posted by the company

Concept of making money agriculture

No cuts to agriculture in provincial budget

Eliminating school taxes from farmland may be a tall order given projected deficit

Awidely reported funding reduction for agriculture in the province’s newly released budget is not what it seems, according to Keystone Agricultural Producers. While $1 million less is being allotted to agriculture in 2016 than in 2015, president Dan Mazier said the reduced allocation has to do with lower payouts being made by farm insurance programs.


KAP’s membership fees are collected through a checkoff. KAP president Dan Mazier says the fee is worth it, but those who disagree can apply for a refund. Farmer Shelley Mitchell says KAP membership should be “opt in” not “opt out.”

KAP defends its refundable membership fee checkoff

Farmer Shelley Mitchell wants changes so those who don’t want to be members can avoid the deduction

A western Manitoba farmer says Keystone Agricultural Producers is wrong to put the onus on farmers to opt out of membership and the group’s refundable checkoff. Shelley Mitchell, who farms with her husband Byron Bellow between Baldur and Cypress River says KAP needs to revisit its funding model. “This has been a flawed program from

KAP head says crop insurance changes unnecessary

Dan Mazier is skeptical about suggestions recently made by former MASC chair Frieda Krpan

A call for farmers to pay a greater share of crop insurance costs isn’t sitting well with the head of the province’s general farm organization. Dan Mazier, president of the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), says he doesn’t like the idea farmers pay more for crop insurance and he doesn’t believe it would reduce crop insurance

Parties urged to focus on innovation

Agriculture innovation is both an urban and rural affair, but it requires strong support and investment

Manitoba could be a hub of agriculture innovation but not enough is being done to foster that potential. That was the message the Keystone Agricultural Producers brought to the Finny and Murray building in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District last week. That structure has, over the years, been home to the Western Glove Works, Garry Press


Manitobans affected by flooding from Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin got some welcome news in the federal budget — a hard commitment for funding from the federal government.

Budget hoopla misses outlet channel support

Funding for outlet channels on Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin gets significant shot in the arm

An important development for rural Manitobans has flown under the radar in the recent federal budget. Hidden amid budget initiatives such as new First Nations funding and a beefed-up Canada Child Benefit was $248 million for the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project, which aims to prevent flooding and better direct surface

“The bigger question is, who is going to own our land at the end of the day? Who is going to own agriculture at the end of the day? Is society comfortable having someone else own our land? Someone has to buy it and own it and operate it.” – Dan Mazier

KAP election priorities released

Money for agricultural research and innovation has dwindled in recent years, something that KAP hopes those vying for Manitoba’s top job will pledge to change

The Keystone Agricultural Producers is hoping to make the future of farming a higher priority in the run-up to the provincial election. KAP released its pre-election priorities document last week and it was full of items that emphasized the need to support and encourage young producers and new entrants to agriculture. “We talk lots about

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) will consult Canada’s grain industry this fall about new, lower user fees to take effect Aug. 1, 2018. As of March 31, 2015 the CGC had a $63.3-million surplus due to higher Canadian grain exports than anticipated. Most of the CGC’s revenue comes from services related to export grain.

Big crops feast of fees for CGC

Talks will begin this fall on a new fee structure for the 2018 crop year

The Canadian Grain Commission is working on a plan to reduce its service fees after racking up a surplus since 2013 that is bigger than its annual operating budget. As of March 31, 2015 the CGC had a $63.3-million surplus, according to its most recent annual financial statement. It’s expected the surplus will have grown


Grain silo and train

Deadlines loom for grain-monitoring programs

Associations say tracking railway performance must continue

Grain farmers and shippers have their eye on a couple of other deadlines. The federal government’s grain monitor’s contract ends in July 2017, while federal funding that helps the Ag Transport Coalition track railway performance ends in March 2017. “We need the data and so does the government so we can say, ‘Here’s what we

New farm organization for direct marketers proposed

New farm organization for direct marketers proposed

Discussions now focused on possible partnership with 
Farmers Market Association of Manitoba

The Farmers Market Association of Manitoba (FMAM) may change its name and become the new farm organization called for in a report delving into supports needed for farms that direct market. About 50 people met last fall for a day-long meeting and consultation on how to create a more formalized group. “What we’re looking at