NDP Says Canada Needs Food Security Policy

Canadians are looking to their government for a comprehensive food strategy to protect our food security and sovereignty, a report released by the New Democrats June 22 says. The report is based on the “Food for Thought” tour led by Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko, which held public forums in 28 communities across the country over

Send Recipes Or Recipe Requests To: – for Jul. 1, 2010

RECIPE SWAP It was a pleasure to open the mail the other day and find a package of recipes sent to us courtesy of the Anglican Church Women in Stonewall. They enclosed a photocopy of their 125th anniversary’s cookbook cover bearing the image of Stonewall’s pretty-as-a-picture Church of the Ascension. They also sent a brief


In Brief… – for Jul. 1, 2010

Out of time: Wet conditions limited planting by Western Canadian farmers this spring to only 82 per cent of the original planned acreage, the Canadian Wheat Board said June 21. The final crop insurance deadlines passed on June 20. Farmers are expected to plant their smallest acreage of wheat, durum and barley in decades and

Demand A Costing Review Of Railway Grain Transportation

Disbelief. Followed by frustration and, we hope, the desire to do something about it. That is response many western grain farmers are likely to feel upon receiving news that they may have greatly overpaid the railway companies to ship their product. Railway earnings for handling grain are the focus of a new study by respected


Stop importing slaughter horses

I strongly disagree with the letter from Cathy Halbesma “Horses, not breeders, need protection” in the June 17 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator. We believe in the humane treatment of all types of animals in the slaughterhouse. What we disagree with is the Americans dumping their slaughter horses onto our market. When you raise horses

Small Growers Can Still Vote

I would like to respond to Henry Neufeld’s letter to the editor in the June 16th issue of The Manitoba Co-operator. Neufeld is confused about Bill C-27 and its changes for the future operation of the CWB. The bill is short and has two main provisions; that producers will receive their payments faster, and a


No Shortage Of Topics For Crop School

“Zero-till is harder in wheat stubble and strip-till seems to be a way to deal with it.” – JOHN HEARD John Heard and his Crop Diagnostic School team have taken the advice that when life delivers lemons, you make lemonade. All that rain that’s hurting Manitoba crops has also hit the diagnostic school’s plots here

Hogs Neglected, Barn Destroyed Near Notre Dame

An air of mystery hangs over a small southern Manitoba community following the deaths of hundreds of pigs and a fire which later destroyed their barn. Provincial authorities are investigating a case of animal neglect in which approximately 2,200 feeder hogs were found starving in a barn near Notre Dame de Lourdes. About 400 pigs


Soaked Pastures Muddy Improved Markets

The Manitoba cattle industry is expected to get stronger. However, producers are looking for better weather for pasture conditions to improve and for feed grain prices to stay low, according to an official with the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association. During the week ended June 25, cattle movement was said to be steady considering the industry

StatsCan Acreage Data Released, Ignored

For three-times-daily market reports from Resource News International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca. Canola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform closed the week ended June 25 with advances. The nearby July contract managed to post the best advances in response to the buying back of previously sold positions. The rolling out