Glacier FarmMedia – In 2012, Calgary brewer Graham Sherman was told his plan to start a craft brewery didn’t conform to Alberta’s liquor laws. The province’s legal framework wasn’t friendly to small-scale producers. Brewery-owner hopefuls had to be able to produce 500,000 litres of beer a year if they wanted a licence. Sherman didn’t have […] Read more
Don Norman
Stories by Don Norman
Bad weather derails smooth grain movement
Glacier FarmMedia – At the midway point of the 2023–24 transportation year, grain shipments are moving at a good clip. “In the last 12 to 18 months, we’ve seen some really good performance from both of the railroads,” said Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corporation, Canada’s grain monitor, at last month’s CropConnect conference in Winnipeg. […] Read more
Canola sector anticipates major biofuel boom
The biofuel industry could drive canola demand into uncharted territory in the coming decade, says one industry expert. “The capacity of crush could grow from 11.3 million metric tonnes today to 18 million metric tonnes in three or four years,” said Chris Vervaet, executive director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association. Vervaet was among the […] Read more
Pulse sector welcomes federal research funding
Pulse Canada is getting $11 million in federal funds to take crop production to the next level. The funds from Agriculture Canada were announced earlier this month at the University of Manitoba by Winnipeg South-Centre MP Ben Carr on behalf of federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay. “This is going to be an extremely powerful catalyst […] Read more
Producers squeeze profits from a dry sponge
High costs and low commodity prices bring back tight margins as already depressed values see significant reductions
Farmers can expect tighter margins for the foreseeable future, says Manitoba Agriculture farm management specialist Darren Bond. “This is not 2022 or even the early parts of 2023; this is a return to historic-type margins,” said Bond. “I think that profit is still attainable for this upcoming year but we’re going to have to work […] Read more
Implants help young calves, says study
Results are in from a case study at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Institute on growth implants in suckling calves. The study, jointly conducted by the institute and Manitoba Beef Producers, confirms what years of research already suggest: hormone implants are an effective and economical strategy to promote growth and feed efficiency in suckling calves. […] Read more
Implants seen as climate solution
The Canadian cattle industry is facing a quandary. With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, beef production must increase to meet rising demand. On the other hand, there is greater pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural production. Environment and Climate Change Canada says agriculture contributes about eight percent of […] Read more
Uncertainty looms for hog sector in the wake of Prop 12
The impacts of a California animal welfare law that took full effect on the first day of 2024 are already being felt, according to Manitoba Pork general manager Cam Dahl. “Yes, Jan. 1 was a deadline but, in truth, Proposition 12 has been enforced since July,” he said. Proposition 12, or Prop 12, is a […] Read more
Manitoba crown land regulations take effect
New measures take forage capacity into account, allow farmers to add five years to their terms and address lease transfers
The Manitoba Crown Land Leaseholders Association says the province’s new regulations are a welcome step and more is needed. “We’re still holding out for the promises that were made by the premier and (agriculture) minister during the election,” said president Brent Benson. On Jan. 2, the province announced that changes to the system were officially […] Read more
CN acquires Iowa Northern Railway
Canadian National Railway’s acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway won’t likely shake up the grain shipping industry in Canada. “I cannot see any advantage to the Canadian grain trade in this purchase,” said Mark Hemmes, of Quorum Corp., Canada’s grain monitor. CN’s acquisition of the Waterloo, Iowa., rail company was announced Dec. 6 and is pending […] Read more
