Hay Foot, Straw Foot Better For Pigs

Pigs can be healthier and more productive with straw under their feet instead of just bare concrete, research at the University of Manitoba indicates. A three-year study at the University of Manitoba’s National Centre for Livestock and the Environment found that group-housed gestating sows on straw had fewer leg and hoof problems and better productivity.

Burning Suggested As A Weed Control Method

“It won’t be 100 per cent effective but it will obviously reduce the number of weed seeds.” – GARY MARTENS A new study has cast a fresh light on the method of controlling weeds through burning – not the plants themselves but the seeds they leave behind. “Fire is capable of sharply reducing the probability


Manitoba’s Ag Museum Opens Rural Transportation Display

Agriculture built modern Manitoba, but it was transportation – moving settlers in and their grain out – that allowed it to happen. That part of the province’s history is now on display at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum through a new exhibit that explores the evolution of transportation and its economic, social and political impact on

Manitoba Dogs Monitored For Lyme Disease

Manitoba’s veterinarians are tracking the incidence of Lyme disease in dogs to contribute to veterinary and public health official understanding of the geographic presence of this bacterial infection transmitted to animals and humans through deer tick bites. A simple in-clinic blood test typically run in conjunction with heartworm testing identifies to veterinarians if a dog


Urban Agriculture Offers New Possibilities For Industry

“It’s going to grow.” – IAN BARNETT, FORT WHYTE ALIVE It’s been a late, cool spring but lettuce and spinach are finally starting to poke through the soil on Simon Hon’s farm. Hon and three fellow workers are already watering the emerging plants and getting herb and tomato seedlings ready for planting. As he carefully

Screwing Up Plots… On Purpose

“Some of the winter wheat in the plots looks poor now, but it might be OK by July.” – KIM LIVINGSTON-BROWN While most farmers were headed for their fields trying to beat the rain May 12, John Heard and his colleagues were busy preparing to screw up some plots at the University of Manitoba’s Ian


Push For GM Wheat Resurrected

Five years to the month after Monsanto shelved its controversial Roundup Ready genetically modified (GM) wheat, farm groups in Canada, Australia and the United States are pushing for the “synchronized introduction” of biotech wheat. The Grain Growers of Canada, Wes tern Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) and Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission are leading the

Calculator To Determine N Rate

“I think there is tremendous potential for this calculator. I can assure you that something like this is going to become a valuable tool in the farming community.” – DON FLATEN When nitrogen prices went through the roof a few years ago, farmers flooded John Heard with queries about determining the optimum economic application rate


What’s Up – for May. 21, 2009

Please forward your agricultural events to [email protected] call 204-944-5762 May 27 – Winter wheat spring clinic and weed seedling identification day, University of Manitoba research station, Carman. Wheat clinic runs 10 a. m. to noon, weed ID day from 1 to 3 p. m. rain or shine. For more info call Doug at MAFRI in

Ask Reena

HI REENA, Can you please tell me how to reopen an envelope that was sealed too soon? I really enjoy your columns and hope to get your books very soon. Thanks. – M. P. M. P., Use a kettle or a small pot and boil water till it starts steaming to its maximum. Take the