Producers have a right to be concerned that the mergers of Monsanto with Bayer and PotashCorp with Agrium, if they go through, will eliminate competition and drive up input prices. If you compare farm cash receipts in Manitoba with the federal government’s Farm Input Price Index, starting in 2004 (which is the base line year), […] Read more
Stories by Dan Mazier
Who will feed us in the future?
Manitobans put a priority on eating local food, and that means we need local farmers to produce that food. But alarmingly, we’re losing them in droves. The average age of a farmer in Manitoba is 55, so retirement for many is on the horizon. As well, the high cost of buying and running a farm […] Read more
Labour shortage should be addressed
Which candidates are talking about the labour dilemma in agriculture? The answer is no one, despite the fact that a recent change to the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program has turned an existing labour shortage in the agriculture industry into a near-crisis that is not only affecting producers but also value-added industries. The TFWP allows […] Read more
Where are farm issues in the election?
Every day I tune into the election news, hoping for some mention of agriculture: the issues we in the industry are facing and proposed solutions. And every day I’m disappointed. But I remain optimistic because surely the parties and the candidates will realize at some point that agriculture is a major economic driver, creating one […] Read more
