Pipestone-area producer Bryce Lobreau planted 15 acres of Linden butternut squash this summer.

Grain growers try their hand at veg production

Canadian Prairie Garden Puree Products Inc., based in Portage la Prairie 
has significantly ramped up its organic product line

Not long ago Bryce Lobreau would have scoffed had someone told him he’d be growing a field of vegetables one day. The Pipestone-area farmer was focused on building up his cattle herd, to become what is now Manitoba’s largest organic livestock feeder, and expanding his land base, now at 5,000 acres of mostly hay land



A view of the 100-year-old Morden Research Station from its southern plots. Although the station is renowned for its horticultural research, it has developed many flax, sunflower, corn, buckwheat and pulse crop cultivars. Last year its mandate expanded to include cereal research after the closing of the Cereal Research Centre in Winnipeg.

Editorial: Beauty and the farm

The shifting sands in agricultural research were apparent last week as the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Morden Research Centre celebrated 100 years of innovation. Anyone who has visited the picture-perfect grounds on the east side of town is familiar with its reputation as one of the most beautiful in AAFC’s network. Not only has it

Fruits and veggies deserve more respect

Fruits and veggies deserve more respect

Prairie Fare: Mango Salsa

As I checked our family’s garden the other day, I noted the potential bumper crop of tomatoes coming our way. I recalled a scene from the season we built a raised garden bed. That year, I noticed a few partially eaten tomatoes on the grass outside the raised bed. Eating tomatoes right out of the


High tunnel production has potential to extend the Manitoba grower’s season, says MAFRD’s fruit crops specialist Anthony Mintenko. He and the provincial vegetable crop specialist are evaluating fruit and vegetable crops for high tunnel production at the AAFC site at Portage la Prairie.

Researchers study how to extend the growing season

MAFRD is looking at how well these oversize cold frames 
can extend horticultural growing seasons


A production system that extends the growing season, offers growers a competitive edge in the marketplace and potential to make more money sounds mighty tempting. That’s why fruit and vegetable growers were out in large numbers at Hort Diagnostic Days in late July to hear more about construction of high tunnels. This is the first

girl kissing a young cow

Farmers encouraged to register for Open Farm Day

This year's event will be held September 20; farmers have until June 1 to register

The Manitoba government is encouraging farmers to participate in the sixth annual Open Farm Day to share information about the diversity and importance of the province’s farms while also showcasing local foods, Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn says in a release. “Open Farm Day is our opportunity to showcase Manitoba’s agricultural industry


Ken Kamiya outlining papaya

The dark side of agriculture in Hawaii

GM variety has helped protect papaya against a deadly virus, but some growers have found their crop vandalized

Hawaii — the name conjures up thoughts of beautiful beaches, waterfalls, fresh exotic fruits, flowers. However, there is a much darker side that most tourists are unaware of — an atmosphere of distrust, vandalism, legal wars, massive security, heartbreak and so much more. All of this due to genetically modified (GM) crops. With a 12-month