These have been among the best years of my life. I say that as I prepare to depart from my job as Brandon bureau news reporter with the Western Producer. The adventure began when our editor, Barb Glen, hired me in June 1998. Since then, I have never stopped learning new things about journalism, about […] Read more
Stories by Ian Bell
Brandon hog plant to add shift
Maple Leaf Foods wants to begin the transition to a second shift at its Brandon hog slaughter plant in late 2007, but the company’s president said government help is needed. In particular, Michael McCain cited the need for government to share the cost of adding more waste water treatment. “If this waste water treatment facility […] Read more
Rising loonie ravages pork sector
Michael McCain tends to speak in metaphors when describing his company’s business endeavours. Last week was no exception. The president of Maple Leaf Foods was in Brandon to talk about the state of Canada’s pork industry and to outline the company’s intentions to add a second shift at its hog slaughter plant there. He referred […] Read more
CFIA gives Manitoba area TB-free status
A burden has been eased for cattle and bison producers living near a national park in Manitoba. The Riding Mountain Tuberculosis Eradication Area was recently granted TB-free status by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, giving it the same status as all other areas of Canada. Producers of cattle and farmed bison no longer need movement […] Read more
Cattle producers accused of harming beef plant plan
A cull slaughter plant proposed for Manitoba will be vulnerable to a takeover by a large packer without a mandatory, non-refundable beef levy, says Fred Tait, Manitoba regional co-ordinator for the National Farmers Union. Tait insists that the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association had a role in scuttling efforts to ensure the Ranchers Choice slaughter plant […] Read more
Honey harvest may top average
It’s shaping up to be a sweet year for beekeepers on the Prairies for their honey harvest. There is also some hope that prices for white honey will improve. Manitoba is expecting above average honey production, and Saskatchewan and Alberta will be at least average. “I think it will be average, it might even be […] Read more
PMU producers rebound
Producers of pregnant mare’s urine are enjoying calm after the storm. Three years ago, there were more than 400 PMU producers on the Canadian Prairies and in North Dakota, but declining demand for drugs derived from the urine prompted cutbacks that would eventually leave only 73 PMU producers in the industry. The past year was […] Read more
Family seeks help in finding rancher
The family of a cattle rancher who went missing in mid-August repeated its appeal last week for help from the public in locating him. Grant Moffat, 55, disappeared on Aug. 18 while on his way to join friends for a fishing trip near Toutes Aides, Man., about 50 kilometres north of Ste. Rose du Lac, […] Read more
Slaughter plant closer to reality
The chance of Neepawa, Man., landing a cattle slaughter plant improved last week with the announcement of funding to expand the town’s industrial waste water treatment facility. The federal and provincial governments will contribute $5.4 million toward the work, with another $3 million coming from the Town of Neepawa, located in western Manitoba. Natural Prairie […] Read more
Manitoba heeds flood concerns
The Manitoba government is exploring ways to alleviate flooding on farmland downstream from a dam it controls in the western part of the province. Affected producers say flooding downstream from the Shellmouth Dam has become more frequent during the past decade. Their main concerns are delays in seeding and damage the flooding causes to their […] Read more
