Ian Bell

The future is here. At last week’s Rural Forum in Brandon, visitors had a chance to visit the community of the future. The model community had one prominent feature – computers. Exhibits showed how computers are plugged into everything from health care and commerce through to education and home entertainment. The exhibits showed that computers […] Read more

Mike Kunka was forced this month to ponder the possibility of renaming his motel at Melita, Man. Situated beside the Souris River, the Melita By The River Motel found itself surrounded by water in recent weeks. Fed by spring runoff, the river became more like a lake, threatening low-lying areas of the community. “This year […] Read more

Their pulse is strong. Pulse growers in Manitoba expect a leap in the amount of edible beans seeded in the province this spring. Based on feedback from farmers and seed suppliers, about 180,000 acres will likely be seeded to the crop this year, said Ken Tjaden, executive manager of the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association. Last […] Read more

The writing was on the wall several months ago, but it became etched in stone this month. There were doubts last fall that Carvell Trading Limited would proceed with plans to revive the former Burns meat packing plant at Brandon, Man. Carvell, an Israeli consortium of investors, failed to produce a convincing strategy to market […] Read more

Keystone Agricultural Producers took another kick at an already dented can last week. During a council meeting in Brandon, Man., the general farm group mulled over its concerns with the Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance program. KAP members said the program is too complex and was tailored in a way that makes it difficult for farmers […] Read more

Efforts to start a new short-line rail service in western Manitoba appear to be on track. An American-based company expects service on the line to begin later in May. The line will run from just north of Dauphin, Man., to just east of Minitonas, Man. “We’re going to be relying on the people up there […] Read more

CYPRESS RIVER, Man. – The church spire points to the heavens, inviting people to gaze upon a star-spangled sky. The evening is calm, with only a hint of chill. Fields roll away into the distance, obscured by the shadows of the night. It is here that dozens of people have gathered for a journey into […] Read more

A red flag was waved this month concerning St. John’s Wort and fears that it could become a menace in Manitoba. The Manitoba Weed Supervisors Association worries about the impact the nutraceutical crop could have on agricultural land. The association wants precautions to manage escapes of St. John’s Wort from cultivated plots in the province. […] Read more

When Canadian Agra Foods Inc. built a canola crushing plant at Ste. Agathe, Man., it was hoped it would prompt other industries to locate in the southern Manitoba town. Those hopes ended last week with news that CanAgra had been placed in receivership. The Ontario-based company failed to meet a court-imposed deadline to restructure its […] Read more

Terry Schuddemat worries he will be working a lot of summerfallow this year. The Souris River, which runs through southwestern Manitoba, swamped low-lying agricultural land last week. Schuddemat rents land along the river and figured he had about 280 acres under water as of April 15. “If it takes three weeks to run off and […] Read more