Ranchers not fooled by rainy cycle

One Interlake farm family is developing a rubber management strategy — one that bounces back in wet times or dry — for dealing with weather extremes. Don Green even joked about the new “Interlake cowboy boot,” made of rubber of course, as he shared his approach to dealing with the wet cycle of the past

Pulse Industry Innovator Honoured

Geoff Heal of Best Cooking Pulses, Inc. (BCP) was posthumously presented with the CSCA Industry Appreciation Award at the Canadian Special Crops Association Silver Jubilee Convention Gala Dinner held in Vancouver July 13. The CSCA’s Industry Appreciation Award is presented annually to an individual who has shown a significant commitment to promoting and expanding Canada’s


In Brief… – for Jul. 21, 2011

Construction underway: Legumex Walker Inc. is starting construction of its 10th production facility, a canola oilseed-processing plant in Warden, Washington. The new facility, the company’s first in the United States, will produce expeller-pressed canola oil and high-quality canola meal. The plant will be the first commercial-scale canola-crushing operation west of the Rockies and is well

Special Crops Get Marketing Boost

The Canadian Special Crops Association has received $196,000 from the federal government to help promote Canadian pulses and special crops on trade missions and at international trade shows. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made the announcement while attending the CSCA’s annual meeting in Vancouver July 13. “The funding is instrumental in our efforts to expand and


Crop Report – for Jul. 21, 2011

SOUTHWEST REGION In the Southwest Region rainfall was spotty over the past week with reported amounts of five to 40 mm. Warm, dry conditions have helped to dry up fields and several producers were able to spray unseeded acres. Early-seeded cereal crops are in the flag-leaf to early-heading stage and several producers are applying fungicides

Crop Report – for Jul. 7, 2011

SOUTHWEST REGION Spotty thundershowers over the past week brought varied rainfall ranging from 10 to 60 mm, with reports of severe weather in Hamiota, Cardale, Newdale and Reston. In general, warm weather and humidity over the past week, let the crop advance and improve. Producers are working on weed control. Crop quality varies a great


Cool, Damp Weather Could Lower Alfalfa Quality

The cool, wet weather this spring may be having a negative effect on the quality of alfalfa as well as yield. Preliminary tests by the Manitoba Forage Council show the fibre content of first-cut alfalfa is higher than usual. If that continues, Manitoba cattle producers could have double trouble with alfalfa crops this year. Yields

Time For A Hay Day

Forage alfalfa across the province is ready to harvest, if farmers aren’t too busy fighting back the water. The Green Gold Reports dated June 6 from the eastern, central and western regions of the project show relative feed values have peaked and are on the decline. The Manitoba Forage Council’s Green Gold program (Alfalfa Scissor


KAP Opposes Roundup Ready Alfalfa’s Release In Canada

The Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) has added its voice to groups opposed to the release of Roundup Ready alfalfa. “It’s a superweed,” Paul Gregory, a Fisher Branch farmer and alfalfa seed exporter said during debate on his resolution for KAP to support the Manitoba Forage Seed Association’s efforts to block Roundup Ready alfalfa’s release. “Once

Pulse Crop Outlook

There’s little change in the latest estimates of the supply and demand for major pulse and special crops in the country. Ending stocks of the seven major special and pulse crops for 2011-12 crop year is now pegged by Agriculture Canada at 830,000 tonnes, according to its March 15 release. This compares with the January