Ian Bell

Brandon made another major business deal last week. Less than a year after landing the $112 million Maple Leaf Meats plant, the city has been chosen for a new plant to manufacture livestock ventilation equipment. Installatie Techniek Boxmeer, a family-run Dutch company, plans to invest $1 million to build the plant. The company specializes in […] Read more

Maurice Smigelski can take part of the credit for a healthy wolf population in his area. The cattle producer believes wolves kill an average of 10 calves on his farm each year, a loss of $6,000 annually. “I’ve seen them attacking the cattle,” said Smigelski, who farms 30 kilometres southwest of The Pas, Man. “I […] Read more

It was good news to some, a disappointment to others. Last week, Manitoba’s environment minister ruled out a public hearing on construction of Maple Leaf Meats’ hog plant at Brandon, Man. Jim McCrae said he is confident his department thoroughly reviewed the project proposal before issuing a construction licence in June. The licence has 23 […] Read more

Tom Borgen credits canola with keeping many farms afloat in North Dakota. With sagging wheat prices, farmers in that state have embraced canola as diversification. North Dakota is now the largest canola producer in the United States, and the number of acres committed to that crop is climbing. “Had it not been for canola in […] Read more

A recent study suggests Manitoba must train more people for work in hog barns. The study found major gaps in the ability to train workers, especially stock people. That gap could widen in the next few years, depending on how quickly training is increased. “If we fail to address our shortfalls, it will stifle the […] Read more

A 54-year-old farmer was killed last week near Westbourne, Man., after getting pulled into a round baler. Thomas Dinwoodie was working alone in a field when the accident happened shortly after noon Aug. 31. It’s believed he was trying to fix a malfunction on the baler when he got drawn into the machine. The power […] Read more

WINNIPEGOSIS, Man. – Despair, anger and frustration. Steve Bobinski shares all those emotions while driving across a pasture to check his cattle. The pasture is punctuated with mud flats and large stands of cattails, reeds and bullrushes. The pasture was once good farm land, Bobinski said. But water from Lake Winnipegosis has spilled onto the […] Read more

BOISSEVAIN, Man. – Walter Albrecht steps from the ladder of a self-propelled combine clutching a cellular phone. He doesn’t attempt to hide his frustration as he walks to a nearby grain truck. “I’ve just plugged the chopper again,” he said. “We’ve been having trouble with that all afternoon. I’m trying to phone the mechanic.” It’s […] Read more

Bob Puchniak rejects suggestions that his company is responsible for toxic gases assailing a farm family in southwestern Manitoba. A teenage boy collapsed at the Bill Campbell farm near Tilston, Man., Aug. 26 shortly after a hand-held monitor he was carrying detected high levels of toxic gas. Tundra Oil and Gas burns off hydrogen sulfide […] Read more

NINGA, Man. – Horse and rider cut easily around the barrels set up in an outdoor pen. Training is in session. A short while later, Paul Unrau dismounts, unsaddles the horse and heads to the house for coffee and to chat with neighbor Larry Hicks, who has stopped by for a visit. The conversation turns […] Read more