Funding for value-added food processors

The Manitoba Food Processors Association is getting $440,000 in funds to assist with commercializing new products and expand food manufacturing in Manitoba. “Here in Manitoba and across the country, the food-processing industry delivers a lot to the Canadian economy and it deserves our support,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in announcing the funding at Ag

Wheat progress lagging in Canada, but not much better in U.S.

Manitoba’s average spring wheat yield is slightly higher than 
North Dakota’s, says MAFRI’s Pam de Rocquigny

Spring wheat yields, on average, are slightly higher in Manitoba than North Dakota, even though the perception is it’s the other way around, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiative’s cereal specialist Pam de Rocquigny told the Manitoba Agronomists Conference Dec. 12 at the University of Manitoba. Manitoba’s 10-year-average wheat yield (2003-12) is 45 bushels an


Warning issued over rodent infestations in vehicles

Rural residents are being warned that mouse infestations in parked vehicles pose a serious health hazard. Manitoba Public Insurance has seen a sharp jump in claims for rodent damage and MPI spokesman Brian Smiley says people need to take extreme care if there’s a chance those rodents were deer mice. “With deer mice there could

Discovery centre booth connects the field to our food

The featured booth at Manitoba Ag Days for 2013 is the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre, which will be offering information and activities aimed at making connections between the farm and the food on your plate. The centre is located at the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment at the University


St. Claude student receives livestock travel fellowship

Michel Rey of St. Claude, a master’s student in animal science at the University of Manitoba, is one of 12 students from six countries awarded the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation travel fellowship to the International Livestock Congress in Denver, Colorado. A multinational selection committee chose the students from Canada, Australia, Brazil, Uruguay, Nepal and the

Keen on quinoa? Growers wanted

From the high Andes to the Canadian Prairies, quinoa could be the next little seed to hit the province

Once a largely obscure Andean seed, quinoa has made in-roads into Canadian pantries, but is having difficulty taking root on Canadian farms. “Right now we don’t really turn down any interested growers, the challenge is still getting enough interested growers,” said Michael Dutcheshen, general manager of Saskatoon-based Northern Quinoa Corporation, a processor and distributer of


John Morriss awarded Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

Veteran farm journalist John Morriss has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contribution to Canada’s agricultural industry. Morriss, who began his journalism career in 1975 with Grainews, is associate publisher and editorial director of Farm Business Communications, which publishes the Manitoba Co-operator as well as other respected journals including Grainews,

Our history: Dec. 19, 1957

Many readers were still in the egg business in 1957, based on ads in our Dec. 19 issue that year. This Roto-Egg washer sold for $19.95 complete, and could clean and sanitize up to 10 dozen eggs every three to five minutes. An ad for Double-Duty Egg Shell Maker from Winnipeg Supply and Fuel appeared


OUR HISTORY: November 18, 1982

Our November 18, 1982 issue reported on Manitoba Pool’s decision to withdraw from the Manitoba Farm Bureau, which was then the province’s general farm organization. The bureau had favoured a recommendation by University of Manitoba economist Clay Gilson, who had been appointed by the federal government to evaluate whether the Crow freight subsidy should be

Canadian grain farmers enjoying good times

It’s a great time to be a farmer in Western Canada, but don’t expect the good times to last forever, grain industry officials said during the Fields on Wheels conference in Winnipeg Nov. 9. “This is truly a time of opportunity,” said Richard Wansbutter, Viterra’s vice-president of government and commercial relations. “I really think these