Farmers Are In This Together

It might be time to start paying attention. Consumers are beginning to use their dollar power to drive agriculture and we farmers don’t know where that will take us. Ihave no argument with the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council. My goal is always for farmers to work together to find innovative solutions as the food world

Be Bold, Not Balanced

B y most accounts, the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council’s 2010 annual meeting was well attended, full of new members and democratically run. Those are all signs of a healthy organization – at least on the surface. So why the hard feelings? A former director went home bitter after the nominating committee did not renew her


MRAC Board Faces Criticism

Allegations that a former member of the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council’s board was ousted because of her affiliations to the organic sector and the National Farmers Union are unfounded, the outgoing board chair says. Lenore-area farmer Barry Routledge said it was democracy in action that resulted in Kate Storey’s failure to be re-elected at last

Global Energy, Food, Water Shortages On The Horizon

By 2015, the world will have arrived at the summit of global crude oil production, according to John Oliver, president of Maple Leaf Bio-Concepts. After that point, depletion rates of roughly four to six per cent per year in the world’s “easy” oilfields will leave an ever-shrinking pool of the precious resource to power the

What’s Up – for Mar. 11, 2010

Please forward your agricultural events to [email protected] call 204-944-5762 March 11– Manitoba Pork Marketing Co-op annual district meeting, Heartland marketing district, 1:30 p. m., Starbuck Community Hall. Light dinner included. For more info call 1-800-899-7675. March 11 – Canadian Wheat Board Farmer Forum, District 10, with Bill Toews, 5:30-9:30 p. m., Oak Bluff Community Centre.


What’s Up – for Feb. 25, 2010

Please forward your agricultural events to [email protected] call 204-944-5762 Feb. 25-27 – Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference, Winnipeg Convention Centre, 375 York Ave. For more info visit www.pcesc.caor call Shannon toll free at 866-532-6155. Feb. 26 – Farm Focus: Celebrating Farm Families and Rural Living, 9:30 a. m. to 4 p. m., Boissevain School,

What’s Up – for Feb. 18, 2010

Please forward your agricultural events to [email protected] call 204-944-5762 Feb. 17-19 – The Future of Trucking Symposium, Hotel Fort Garry, 222 Broadway, Winnipeg. For more info visit http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/management/ti/oremail larson@ cc. umanitoba.ca. Feb. 18 – Value Chain Manitoba Initiative workshop, Module 5: Understanding Category Management, 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. Various rural video conference

What’s Up – for Feb. 11, 2010

Please forward your agricultural events to [email protected] call 204-944-5762 Feb. 16 – Canadian International Grains Institute introductory biodiesel production training, Beausejour. For more info or to register visit www.cigi.ca. Feb. 17 – Manitoba Hay Day, AAFC Brandon Research Centre, Brandon. For more info or to register call Linda at 204-483-2153 or visit www.mbforagecouncil.mb.ca. Feb. 17-19


Value Chain Benefits Organic Milk Producers

The farmers had the milk and the processor wanted new business. Between them, they forged a new business relationship for mutual benefit. In December 2008, the Manitoba Organic Milk Co-op (MOM), and Notre Dame Creamery launched Organic Meadow, a new line of Manitoba-produced and processed organic milk. The organic milk sold here had previously come

In Brief… – for Dec. 24, 2009

Buhler consolidates branding: A new “brand strategy” at farm equipment maker Buhler Industries will see all its equipment marketed under either the Farm King or Versatile brands. The strategy follows the Winnipeg company’s decision in October 2008 to rebrand all its tractor lines under the Versatile name. Buhler’s short-line products such as grain augers, grain