Snowstorm Adds To Flood Woes

Hundreds of cattle died in the snowstorm which swept across the province over the May 1 weekend, as the toll rises from the soggiest, coldest spring in recent memory. Animals trapped in mud, snow, and water expired in cold and wet conditions, succumbing to exposure, suffocating or dying under the hooves of other animals vainly

Flax Growers Vote To Scrap Checkoff Cap

The Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA) wants the $275 cap removed from its farmer checkoff of half a per cent of the value of flax when it’s sold. MFGA members voted in favour of removing the cap at their annual meeting here March 3. The MFGA will ask the Agricultural Producers’ Organization Cer tification Agency


Science Sweetens Outlook For Honeybees

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientists are working on new treatment strategies for a parasite killing our bees, and are identifying the traits needed to breed bees with stronger resistance to disease and parasites. Stephen Pernal is AAFC’s national apiculture research scientist in Beaverlodge, Alberta who specializes in the management and detection of honeybee diseases and

Spoiled Beans Highlight Brazil’s Inflation Challenge

One bad harvest of beans in Brazil is causing massive headaches for new President Dilma Rousseff and showing just how difficult it is for policy-makers worldwide to combat a recent jump in food inflation. The retail price of beans – a staple that many Brazilians consume in virtually every meal – went up more than


Flood Assistance For The Assiniboine River Valley

The province is making more than $2.5 million in flood assistance available to Assiniboine Valley producers who experienced financial loss due to excessive flooding of agricultural land between the Shellmouth reservoir and Brandon in 2010, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) Minister Stan Struthers announced late last month. “Financial assistance is being extended to these

Canada Pushing For Biotech Changes – for Sep. 23, 2010

Canada is pushing international organizations and trading partners to accept low level levels of genetic engineering in crop shipments and adopt science-based trading rules, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. Speaking to reporters from New Delhi, India, near the end of a country trade mission, he said he repeatedly raises the issue because of problems Canadian


Mexico-Bound Canaryseed Under “Force Majeure” – for Aug. 26, 2010

The Canadian Special Crops Association has declared “force majeure” on exports of canaryseed bound for Mexico, extending deadlines indefinitely on crop deliveries to Mexican importers. Canadian canaryseed deliveries to Mexico have been disrupted since late June when Mexico slapped a “hold and test” policy for canaryseed from Canada and indicated any shipments found to contain



Rural Doctors Should Come From Rural Communities

“Once you have people in the community, how are you going to keep them there? You really want to keep them there.” – DR. PETER WELLS Delivering medical care in rural areas is full of special challenges, says Dr. John Wootton, president-elect for the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada. “Canadians in rural Canada are

In Brief… – for Mar. 25, 2010

Risk and reward: Jeff Conrad, president, Hancock Agricultural Investment Group told the Reuters Food Summit last week agriculture has its limits for investors. “The U. S. is a very mature marketplace – good technology base, good infrastructure, ability to harvest good crops … If you tell me you want to do 20 per cent returns