In January 2011, the second largest grocery store chain in Australia began selling only beef produced without the use of administered growth hormones. The decision by Coles Supermarkets, which has more than 740 stores, came as a shock and an insult to Australian cattle producer associations, which called it a threat to the country’s $7.6 […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
Farm couple opens door to educate and enlighten
Dispelling myths | Successful small-scale farmers use their experiences to help others interested in making agriculture a career
PILOT MOUND, Man. — Stuffing ground beef into one-pound plastic bags is not a glamorous job, but the messy reality doesn’t bother Clint and Pam Cavers. Running a ranch and a meat shop has taught the Caverses that farm life is more about meat covered aprons and less about the sun setting over a rustic […] Read moreFederal money to help Maple Leaf renovate hog plant
A federal investment of $4.5 million will help Maple Leaf Foods upgrade its 13-year-old hog plant in Brandon. The investment, announced this morning, will go toward several improvements at the plant, including the purchase and installation of new line processing machinery, packaging equipment and heat recovery technology. “Upgrades to its Manitoba facilities will help Maple […] Read more
Profits draw producers to ‘natural’
Markets decide | Some producers receiving bigger profits without hormones and antibiotics
When Will Samis decided five years ago to produce beef free of added growth hormones and antibiotics, his choice wasn’t prompted by antipathy toward the two products. Samis was tired of being a price taker in the beef business. “We were, as farmers, paying First World prices for inputs and competing for Third World prices […] Read more
Expert refutes recent research into grain drying
More information needed | PAMI official isn’t ready to rule out daytime drying
A grain-drying expert from the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute says producers shouldn’t dry grain only at night, contrary to research findings from the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation. Joy Agnew, project manager of agricultural research services with PAMI in Humboldt, Sask., told the Manitoba Canola Growers Association annual meeting in Brandon that grain growers shouldn’t […] Read moreAg Canada denies scientists muzzled
A recent editorial in the journal Nature that accused the Canadian government of muzzling its scientists doesn’t apply to researchers with Agriculture, says a director general with the department. Stephen Morgan-Jones said Agriculture Canada scientists are encouraged to share their research with producers and are free to share their opinions on agricultural science with journalists. […] Read more
Cattle buyers, vet charged with age tampering
Illegal exports | The accused are charged with intentionally exporting cattle that were older than trade rules allowed
Several cattle dealers and a veterinarian from western Manitoba are scheduled to appear in a provincial courthouse in early March facing charges of falsifying records and illegally exporting cattle to the United States. A vet from Neepawa, Man., along with representatives of P. Quintaine and Son, J. Quintaine and Son of Brandon and Mowat Livestock […] Read moreBuckwheat processor offers $15 per bushel contract
Demand exceeds supply | New buckwheat varieties are high yielding and frost tolerant
Mike Durand knows drastic action is needed to convince farmers to grow something other than canola when it is trading at $12 per bushel. So, to grab producers’ attention this winter, Durand has offered contracts of $15 per bu. for new crop buckwheat. “I think I’m raising quite a few eyebrows with my prices on […] Read moreCo-ordinator to get research to users
Agricultural research is like the proverbial tree falling in the forest: if producers don’t hear about the latest science or don’t apply it on their farms, does it really matter? The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has attempted to solve this problem by launching an extension initiative that bridges the gap be-tween scientific research and beef cattle […] Read more
To be, or not to be … a farmer
WINNIPEG — Parents with children in hockey know all too well that it’s not easy to pull back the bed covers on a – 28 C Saturday morning and drive to an early morning practice. It may not represent the same level of dedication — or madness — but nine Manitobans did force themselves out […] Read more
