A federal private member’s bill that aims to ban the air export of live horses for slaughter has some base ingredients for political success. The bill, C-355, was introduced by a Liberal MP, currently the governing party, and is backed by celebrity endorsements. At its centre is an animal that pulls at many Canadian heartstrings. […] Read more
Don Norman
Stories by Don Norman
Studies aim to improve heifer selection
Glacier FarmMedia – A research project underway at Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives (MBFI) north of Brandon might help cattle operations across the Prairies take their replacement heifer game plan to the next level. MBFI is one of three western Canadian sites feeding data into a four-year study aimed at evaluating how various novel technologies […] Read more
Manitoba farm group takes aim at two noxious weeds
Keystone Agricultural Producers will set its sights on two emerging noxious weeds: waterhemp and Palmer amaranth. A resolution brought forward by University of Manitoba agriculture diploma students during KAP’s March advisory council meeting March 27 aims to give more support to farmers to beat back Manitoba’s growing problem. The resolution would see KAP fund testing […] Read more
Seeding will require financial strategy this year
Farmers urged to prepare for spring by knowing their costs and their soil and leaving room for flexibility in their rotations
Glacier FarmMedia – Commodity prices are at least a third lower than last year and input prices are stubbornly high, so farmers will need a spring strategy to squeeze every dollar from every acre, experts warn. “There’s going to be pressure on the margins for pretty much most of the crops that we grow in […] Read more
BrettYoung flags efficiencies
Glacier FarmMedia – The new jewel of BrettYoung’s Winnipeg operations will focus on the turf side of the seed company’s business, but executives say improved efficiencies will carry into the rest of the firm. The new NorthCore seed processing plant is a $20-million investment for BrettYoung, whose business includes forage and turf seed, crop inputs […] Read more
Product of USA rule alarms producers
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada’s livestock sector will monitor the effects of a new U.S. voluntary country-of-origin labelling ruling announced March 11. “It is crucial to address any issues that threaten or diminish the cattle and beef trade between Canada and the U.S.,” said Nathan Phinney, president of the Canadian Cattle Association, in a media release. […] Read more
Prairie farmland values continue to increase
Farmland is still getting more expensive, but not quite as quickly as in recent years, according to the latest farmland value report from Canada’s biggest agricultural lender. Farm Credit Canada put average national farmland value growth in 2023 at 11.5 percent, down from 12.8 percent in 2022. “We’re seeing a little bit of a pullback,” […] Read more
Climate change plan needs ‘proportion and perspective’
Glacier FarmMedia – The ag industry has a chance to get a hand on the reins of climate change discussions. That was the takeaway from a panel discussion at the 2024 Canadian Crops Convention in Winnipeg March 6. Kristjan Hebert was the farmer voice on the panel. He is president and chief executive officer of […] Read more
Economic hazards identified
Glacier FarmMedia – Farm Credit Canada predicts a bit of a rocky road ahead for Canadian farmers, with input prices high, commodity prices low and interest rates not expected to drop in the short term. “The sentiment of the industry is not the greatest right now,” said Desmond Sobool, FCC’s director of economics and deputy […] Read more
Churchill charts new course
Glacier FarmMedia – It’s been decades since there’s been this kind of optimism around the Port of Churchill and how it could be developed into a transportation hub. The money is flowing. Last month, Manitoba premier Wab Kinew announced $60 million in provincial and federal funds to get the Hudson Bay Railway between The Pas […] Read more
