University of Manitoba researcher Martin Entz (r) gives federal MP Terry Duguid a quick lesson in the merits of hairy vetch in a cropping system at the Glenlea long-term organic cropping trials Sept. 23. Looking on is the university’s vice-president of research Digvir Jayas and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler.

New funds for organic research

Researchers at the long-term organic research trials at Glenlea will be getting some state-of-the art equipment

Organic research at the University of Manitoba is getting a boost from the provincial and federal governments. They capped off National Organic Week by announcing a $366,000 research investment Sept. 23. “This strategic investment in equipment and infrastructure will ensure the university continues to produce research that is relevant to producers who are interested in

Direct Farm Manitoba wants more marketing freedom for farm products

Direct Farm Manitoba, organized in March 2016 to represent farms producing and selling direct 
to consumers, holds first meeting with provincial ag minister

A first meeting with the provincial minister of agriculture has gone well, says a spokesman for a new organization representing direct marketers of farm products. Phil Veldhuis is spokesman for Direct Farm Manitoba, a group organized this spring to promote an improved policy environment for direct-to-consumer farm business. They sat down last week with Ralph


Bison producer Ken Overby (l) and Ralph Eichler, provincial agriculture minister, talk a bit about bison production Sept. 18 as part of Open Farm Day.

Open Farm Day showcases agriculture

Manitoba’s agriculture industry put its best foot forward

A total of 44 farms and other agricultural sites threw their doors open last Sunday to celebrate Open Farm Day, part of Farm and Food Awareness week, which runs until Sept. 25. Open Farm Day co-ordinator Wendy Bulloch said the farm hosts always go the extra mile to showcase the industry at the event, which

YCC board members (l to r): Kolton Kauser, Alberta delegate, Julian Collette, Maritimes delegate, Ryan Scorgie, member at large, Jason Reid, vice-president and Ontario delegate, Laura Bodell, member at large, Erika Strande, B.C. delegate, Brett McRae, president and Manitoba delegate, Shane Klepak, Saskatchewan delegate, Emily Ritchie, member at large.

Young cattle producers wanted

Young producers are critical in the province’s goal of upping cattle numbers 
and the Young Cattlemen’s Council hopes to help meet that goal

The key to rebuilding Manitoba’s cattle herd is going to be rebuilding its cohort of young beef producers. Brett McRae, whose family’s Mar Mac Farms near Brandon features a 200-head purebred Angus and Simmental herd, also heads up the Young Cattlemen’s Council, a subsidiary of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. He hopes that organization can help


Manitoba 4-H gains greater autonomy

The organization is taking over many responsibilities from the provincial Agriculture Department

The Manitoba 4-H Council is taking on a raft of new responsibilities Sept. 1. It’ll be assuming responsi­bility for club, member and leader support, 4-H Area Coun­cil program support, member and leader records and volunteer screening, taking over from Manitoba Agriculture, something the organization describes as an exciting evolution. “It’s terrific that Manitoba 4-H Council

Jeffery Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, senior manager 
of sustainability for McDonald’s Canada.

McDonald’s backs Manitoba research project

Newly established beef and forage research farm recently 
opened its doors to showcase value to sector


McDonald’s Canada sees itself as a longtime partner of the Manitoba beef industry. It contributed $25,000 in February to the Manitoba Beef and Forage Industry for a collaborative project of science-based research to enhance ecosystems, producer profitability and build awareness of the beef and forage industry. One McDonald’s executive says the now-completed pilot is just


Winnipeg home to new ‘bacon centre of excellence’

Winnipeg home to new ‘bacon centre of excellence’

More of the bacon people bring home will soon come from an expanded Maple Leaf plant in Winnipeg

A so-called “bacon centre of excellence” is coming to Winnipeg. Manitoba’s minister of agriculture used the phrase to describe a planned expansion of Maple Leaf Food’s bacon plant in Winnipeg during a Growing Forward 2 funding announcement last week. “This is one of my favourite products… and I know our customers to the south certainly

Ralph Eichler, Minister of Agriculture for Manitoba.

Trade key focus of agriculture policy framework

Manitoba’s agriculture policy priorities meld well with those of other provinces and the federal government

As federal-provincial-territorial meetings wrap up in Calgary, Manitoba’s agriculture minister says discussions touched on all areas of concern regarding the development of Canada’s next agricultural policy framework, which will launch in 2018. “We want public trust of course, research and development, we want to increase trade, we want to ensure that if we get this


A flooded field in the Interlake in 2013.

North Interlake drainage issues to be addressed

Pilot program aims to improve water management in the RM of Bifrost-Riverton

A recent announcement is a watershed moment for a largely producer-led group seeking to reduce flooding and increase agricultural productivity in Manitoba’s Interlake region. The federal and provincial governments have announced $1 million in Growing Forward 2 funding for a pilot project in the Rural Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton, which aims to improve drainage and address

Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler (standing) listens to stakeholder concerns during an industry consultation in Portage la Prairie.

Manitoba’s ag industry gives Eichler a wish list

Public trust and trade rank high on the list of important issues for the province’s agriculture sector

They hailed from commodity groups, producer lobby groups, research institutions and agribusinesses, and they came together here last week with the aim of directing and informing Manitoba’s new Progressive Conservative government on agriculture issues. “This is going to be where your role is going to be very important,” Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler told more than