Prices Are Good. Don’t Worry, Be Happy

So corn is rockin north of $7, beans are toyin with $14, cattle look to be headed to who-knows-where, wheat prices for almost every variety are tall to really tall, and hogs, well, bacon is sellin for what steak used to. Wow, huh? And here are two more sweet words: land values. Second-quarter 2011 farmland

Water Management Key Election Issue

When Manitoba was hit hard by flooding this year, it was a major wake-up call about the need to focus on properly managing our watershed systems. Water quality and water management are complex issues, and what we need is an extensive water strategy involving all stakeholders that addresses the interconnected challenges we are facing. Heading


Letters – for Sep. 22, 2011

Pay more for hydro, less for property tax The Manitoba Education Financing Coalition Group wants tax to take a hike, (Sept. 1) deserves strong support from all Manitobans, including its proposal that education tax be paid with profits from Manitoba Hydro. I doubt that the profits are lying there, ready for the taking. I expect

There Are Other Issues Than The CWB

Though you d hardly know it, the Canadian grain industry is facing issues other than the Canadian Wheat Board. For example, just what are the long-term prospects for Prairie wheat and barley exports, wheat board or not? That came to mind last week while reading Reuters reports on production and export activity out of the


Where Clearing Land Is More Than Just Hard Work

Farming communities along the South Sudan- Uganda border are afraid to till their land. After years of civil conflict, the risk of landmines and other unexploded ordnance is great. Roselina Achan lives in Ngomoromo in northern Uganda s Lamwo district. She says, Landmines are a big problem here; my sister was blown up in 2007

Removing Education Financing From Property Tax Bills

It s September and Manitobans with students in the family are in back-to- school mode. Farmers have education on their minds as well because a provincial election is nearing and we are pushing for changes that will lower our property tax bills. Many people may not realize this, but Manitoba farm families shoulder an inequitable


Letters – for Sep. 15, 2011

One small step towards marketing freedom Farmers will finally be allowed the marketing freedom they have long been denied. The monopoly powers of the CWB will soon be revoked and it will either be an optional marketing entity available to farmers or it will cease to exist. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has held fast to

Who Will Be Responsible For CWB Demise?

With the announcement from the federal government that the monopoly will be removed and farmers will have a choice in marketing their wheat and barley, all hell has broken loose. The supporters of the single desk are running around in a panic forecasting the rape and pillage of the Western farmers by the big bad


Step In The Right Direction

Our hats off to Pembina Valley, Assiniboine Hills, and Turtle Mountain conservation districts, which have recently completed the Pembina River Integrated Watershed Management Plan. Thirty years ago, it was considered a real accomplishment when a group of neighbouring municipalities joined together to form a conservation district. After all, they were committing to co-operate on some

Food Regulatory Reform Not Needed

Like a bad rash that just won’t go away, talk of major legislative change to Canada’s food regulatory system is back. This talk is worse than just a waste of time because it distracts people from focusing on what can and should be done now to reform our food regulatory system. Our legislation is fine