G20 Leaves Biofuels Industry Unscathed

PARIS/REUTERS The biofuels industry emerged relatively unscathed from a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers June 23, which ignored advice to scrap biofuels subsidies on the basis they force up food prices. The warning against biofuels targets and subsidies in places such as Europe, Canada, India and the United States had appeared in a report to



A Truly Unusual Year For Weather

Ithink nearly everyone who reads this will admit that we have seen some unusual and record-breaking weather over the last year or so across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. If you are feeling that you might be alone, that it is only our part of the world seeing these weather extremes, you would be wrong. It

Lentil Is A Good Source Of Protein For Weaned Pigs

Bernie Peet is president of Pork Chain Consulting Ltd. of Lacombe, Alberta, and editor of Western Hog Journal. His columns will run every second week in the Manitoba Co-operator. With the current high price of feed ingredients, hog producers are looking for alternative sources of energy and protein in order to reduce costs, without compromising


EU Clinches Deal On New Food-Labelling Rules

European Union negotiators reached a deal June 15 on new food-labelling rules, which aim to fight rising levels of obesity in Europe by helping consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions. Under the agreement, all food products must carry labels showing their energy, salt, sugar, protein, carbohydrate, fat and saturated fat content, EU officials with

In Brief… – for Jun. 16, 2011

Road repairs underway: Assessments are still underway, but repairing roads and bridges damaged during this year’s flooding could cost $40 million, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton says. Advances of up to 60 per cent or $100,000, whichever is greater, of repair costs will be made to municipalities against disaster financial assistance claims. These advances


Thy Neighbour As Thyself

The disturbing news that our provincial government had decided to breach the Hoop ‘n’ Holler bend in order to take pressure off the weakening Assiniboine River dikes raised mixed feelings. “Why do we have to be the scapegoats?” one area resident protested. Another wondered, “How can they decide to sacrifice my land to spare others’

Cool, Damp Weather Could Lower Alfalfa Quality

The cool, wet weather this spring may be having a negative effect on the quality of alfalfa as well as yield. Preliminary tests by the Manitoba Forage Council show the fibre content of first-cut alfalfa is higher than usual. If that continues, Manitoba cattle producers could have double trouble with alfalfa crops this year. Yields


Export Sales Will Pay For Bipole III Route

When it comes to Manitoba Hydro, reliability is everything. It powers our economy to the tune of half a billion dollars every year, and it does so while providing the lowest power rates in North America. This huge benefit is good for families and businesses all around the province. The Hydro project, Bipole III, will

Canada Is Exporting Fresh Water In Commodities

Canada is giving away massive amounts of fresh water in the form of exported grain, meat and food products as well as other commodities, the Council of Canadians says in a report. It says the agriculture industry accounts for 70 per cent of the water shipped from the country. It calls the moisture content of