A Manitoba rancher recently told his colleagues that they should think twice before turning up their noses at the thought of allowing sheep on their property. Scoff if you like, Brian Greaves told the Manitoba Grazing School in early December, but keep in mind that a weaned calf would have to be worth $900 to […] Read more
Stories by Daniel Winters
Farmers urged to do end run around food rules
Arbitrary, irrational regulations biased toward large-scale industrial operators are the biggest obstacle facing the development of local food systems and profitable small farms, says Joel Salatin, the owner of Polyface Farm in Virginia. The author of Everything I Want to Do is Illegal urged farmers to come up with creative ways to skirt the rules. […] Read more
Centrifuge could offer solution to phosphorus woes
With Manitoba’s new phosphorus regulations coming into effect Nov. 10, 2008, hog producers must come up with new ways to deal with excess manure. The rules set targets for soil phosphorus content, ban winter spreading in the Red River Valley and require large-scale producers to follow setback guidelines when spreading manure near surface water. During […] Read more
Farm life a good life, says producer
HOLLAND, Man. – To Dan De Ruyck’s way of thinking, farming is as much about raising good children as it is about growing good food. It’s keeping them on the farm after they’ve grown up that’s the problem. His four children, ranging in age from 14 to 25, have all benefited from the fresh air […] Read more
RFID tag potential squandered: expert
The gold mine of information that could be gleaned from radio frequency identification ear tags is going unexploited, says Ray Bittner, a Manitoba Agriculture adviser. “Why are the people who have to put the RFID tags in not getting information back about where that animal ended up and how good it was? It’s baffling to […] Read more
Rancher adopts low-cost model
Rancher Steve Kenyon’s main business, as he describes it, is raising children. The rest is just details, he said. “To me it’s really important to realize that’s what my farm business is. Does it matter how I do it? If it’s going to take goats to do that, then that’s what I’m going to do.” […] Read more
Hogs can thrive in group housing: researcher
Good handlers and the right genetics can create successful group housing of sows, says University of Manitoba researcher Laurie Connor. Group housing is getting attention because the practice of confining sows for long periods in gestation stalls has generated negative press and some high profile operators such as Maple Leaf and Smithfield have pledged to […] Read more
Top farmers don’t fit stereotype
Who is buying and renting all the land out in farm country? To shed some light on the situation, market research firm Blacksheep Strategies did a study on behalf of a dozen agriculture industry sponsors aimed at gaining some insight into the financing, equipment and input decisions of operators of farms larger than 5,000 acres. […] Read more
Wind power delays under fire
Premier Gary Doer was pressed by delegates at the recent Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual meeting to explain the delay in announcing which wind farm proposals already tabled will receive approval. With the province’s stated commitment since 2005 to add 1,000 megawatts of wind generation in the next decade, many municipalities are keen to emulate […] Read more
Municipal leaders grill Manitoba gov’t on pie
Small town fairs, country potlucks and homemade pies – most people have no complaints when it comes time to sample any of the three. But regulators in Manitoba have concerns. The issue of home-baked pies was thrown at Manitoba cabinet ministers at the annual Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention during a bear pit forum that […] Read more
