Small harvest | Manitoba’s 2011 harvest was down 8.5 percent from the previous year
A smaller potato crop in Manitoba last year may force processors to import from outside the province or move processing to other parts of North America. Garry Sloik, executive director of the Keystone Vegetable Producers Association, said there is no immediate risk of running out of potatoes, but the Simplot plant in Portage la Prairie […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
Manitoba network helps forage growers locate U.S. markets
Getting the right price | Producers share information to get the best possible price
Six forage producers in Manitoba have found it possible to compete and co-operate on export sales to the United States. The producers, who belong to Manitoba Forage Marketers, manage their own farms and arrange their own sales, independent of the other members. However, they also share information about customers, prices and the most efficient ways […] Read moreResearcher refutes recent grain drying recommendation
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 more
Farmers kick off Agricultural Literacy Week
Farmers are jack of all trades and this week they will take on yet another trade — teaching in schools from Alberta to Newfoundland. Hundreds of farmers and representatives from Canada’s agriculture industry will take part in the inaugural Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week from Feb. 26 to March 3. The program is intended to connect […] Read more
Processor offers buckwheat contracts at $15 per bushel
Mike Durand knows drastic action is needed to convince farmers to grow something other than canola when the ubiquitous oilseed is trading around $12 per bushel. So, to grab producers’ attention this winter, Durand has been offering contracts of $15 per bu. for new crop buckwheat. “I think I’m raising quite a few eyebrows with […] Read more
Producers must provide answers
PIPESTONE, Manitoba — Canadian cattle producers are urged to pay more attention to the issue of livestock transport because consumers are certainly doing so. Canadian Cattlemen’s Association vice-president Martin Unrau recently said at a town hall meeting in Pipestone that federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz’s office receives more letters on livestock transport than any other […] Read more
Canola ends higher on Thursday
A U.S. Department of Agriculture acreage outlook had little impact on canola today, as futures prices rose slightly in Winnipeg. The May canola contract closed the day at $561.80 per tonne, up $1.80 from yesterday. The new crop November contract was up 60 cents, ending at $532.40. At its outlook forum in Arlington, Virginia, the […] Read more
Pesticide ban position questioned
Charity defends stance | Canadian Cancer Society says some studies suggest pesticides increase risk
When the Manitoba government announced plans for a cosmetic pesticide ban in early February, it cited research done by several health organizations to justify its new policy on pesticides. One of them was the Canadian Cancer Society, which has spent thousands and possibly millions of donor dollars on anti-pesticide information and advocacy. Yet on its […] Read moreLegumex Walker buys U.S. facilities
One of Canada’s largest pulse and special crop processors just got bigger. Legumex Walker has bought a dry bean processing company in Minnesota and the facilities of a sunflower seed processor in North Dakota and Minnesota for a total of $16.8 million US. Following the acquisitions, the Winnipeg company will own 11 processing facilities on […] Read more
Chemicals to fight varroa mite cause deadly interaction
Miticide strips interact | Treating bee hives with one chemical, then exposing them to another can increase toxicity to dangerous levels
WINNIPEG — A quick glance at a bottle of Tylenol makes it clear that acetaminophen and alcohol don’t mix because the combination can cause liver damage. Medical doctors know about the Tylenol-alcohol threat and many other dangerous pharmaceutical combinations, yet little is known about the interaction between the chemicals used to treat bees for parasites […] Read more
