Year of “The Big Wet” drowns a million acres

Year of “The Big Wet” drowns a million acres

Our History: July 1999

It was called the year of “The Big Wet” — in 1999 the normally dryish southwest corner of the province suffered repeated deluges which drowned almost a million acres of cropland. Unfortunately it was the precursor of more wet years. The bad news that week was that federal Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief had told Manitoba

Livestock breeders and “Dairy don’ts”

Livestock breeders and “Dairy don’ts”

Our History: July 1887

Livestock breeders advertising in the July 1887 issue of The Nor-West Farmer and Manitoba Miller included the Binscarth Stock Farm (C.L. Smellie), Beresford Stock Farm in Brandon (J.E. Smith), Chas. H. Fox & Co. in Winnipeg, Breeze Lawn Stock Farm (Sharman and Sharman) in Souris and O.P. Skrine and R.H. Skrine of Grenfell — now


Just say no to Crow

Just say no to Crow

Our History: June 1983

The Crow rate was a hot topic in June 1983. Jean-Luc Pepin, transport minister in the Pierre Trudeau government, had tabled a bill providing for annual payments to offset the money-losing rate, but debate continued on whether the payment should go to the railways (therefore only on grain shipments) or directly to farmers (which meant

MTS’ “Ultimate” cellular plan

MTS’ “Ultimate” cellular plan

Our History: June 1994

Not everything is subject to inflation — this ad for MTS cellular in our June 9, 1994 issue featured the “Ultimate” plan — $149.95 per month. That’s $229 in today’s dollars. Just above that ad was another inviting farmers to an AgrEvo field day near Brandon, where they could see a new crop that year



Waterloo Champion thresher, available in seven sizes

Waterloo Champion thresher, available in seven sizes

Our History: June 1928

The Waterloo Champion thresher advertised in the June 1928 issue of The Scoop Shovel was offered in seven sizes, and could be seen at that year’s Provincial Exhibition in Brandon, also advertised in that issue. It featured a monster midway, new dog show building, a new nursery and rest room for women and children, and


A new concept comes to combines

A new concept comes to combines

Our History: June 1983

This ad in our June 2, 1983 issue promoted a relatively new concept at the time — a rotary combine. The new Gleaner Series 3 had a crosswise rather than lengthwise cylinder. Seeding progress had been varied across the province — as of May 31 the northwest region was only 10 per cent complete but

U.S. expands war on Canadian wheat

U.S. expands war on Canadian wheat

Our History: May 1994

The world wheat trade war was in full swing in 1994, as we reported in our May 26 issue. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy had been in Argentina, Mexico and Brazil the previous week, urging them to take action against what he claimed was price undercutting by the Canadian Wheat Board. Espy claimed the CWB


Dearth of moisture in Manitoba earth

Dearth of moisture in Manitoba earth

Our History: May 1993

This photo from our May 6, 1993 issue showed (l-r) Peter Entz of Manitoba Agriculture, Bill Poole of Ducks Unlimited, Bob McNabb of Minnedosa, Wayne Lewis of Rapid City, Garth Butcher of Birtle and Bob Bradley of PFRA checking soil moisture for the first year of the Manitoba Zero Tillage Research Association’s 640-acre research farm

Weed-Bane herbicide, ‘harmless to humans’

Weed-Bane herbicide, ‘harmless to humans’

Our History: May 1948

Naugatuck Weed-Bane advertised in our May 6, 1948 issue was said to be a 2,4-D formulation developed specifically for Canada’s colder climate, and harmless to grass, soil, animals and humans. We reported that flooding was causing serious damage along the Red and Assiniboine rivers, and that many homes had been flooded on low river land