It’s not nearly as famous as the large and unusual rock west of Okotoks, Alta., but Manitoba has its own glacial erratic, says nature writer Bill Stilwell. Manitoba’s Medicine Rock, a massive boulder moved and deposited by glacial ice, is located southeast of Ste. Rose du Lac on the Alonsa Ridge. “Since the last ice […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
New inductee joins familiar faces in Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame
When Keith Smith is officially inducted into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame this July he should have no trouble fitting in, because the native of Oak Lake, Man., already knows most of the people in the elite club.“It’s funny. There’s a 120 people in the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame and I knew or […] Read more
Sharp ag cuts in proposed U.S. budget not expected to fly
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a budget that would cut $177 billion from America’s agriculture budget. However, congressman Collin Peterson of Minnesota said the proposed reduction has little to no chance of becoming law. Peterson told the North American Agricultural Journalists annual meeting in Washington that the budget proposed by […] Read more
Increasing crop production top priority: U.S. ag secretary
WASHINGTON, D.C. – It’s time for America to end the food versus fuel debate, says U.S. agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack. Instead, the country needs to determine if double cropping can produce enough corn and other agricultural commodities to satisfy the demand for both ethanol and breakfast cereal? During an address to reporters attending the North […] Read more
Canola growers’ views sought on CWB option
The Manitoba Canola Growers Association has a question for western Canadian producers: do they want to sell canola in a voluntary marketing system through the Canadian Wheat Board? The association has placed ad-vertisements in farm publications to determine if canola growers are interested in such an option, said association vice-president Ed Rempel. Producers can fill […] Read more
Survey to gauge farmer interest in selling canola through the CWB
The Manitoba Canola Growers Association wants to know if prairie farmers are interested in selling canola through the Canadian Wheat Board.The MCGA is advertising in The Western Producer and other farm publications to determine if canola growers support a voluntary marketing arrangement with the wheat board, the MCGA said in a news release.Producers can fill […] Read more
Man. beef plant plans expansion
Plains Processors is planning a $13 million expansion of its beef plant in Carman, Man., which will increase the plant’s slaughter capacity to 1,000 head of cattle per week. It will employ 80 to 100 workers when at full capacity, said owner and president Calvin Vaags. “This is a major expansion,” said Vaags, a cattle […] Read more
CPR expands North Dakota rail service
Canadian Pacific Railway is investing $100 million over the next two years to enhance its rail service in North Dakota. The company plans to expand the capacity of three rail subdivisions in the state and will hire more than 70 new employees in North Dakota to better serve the state’s grain and oil industries. “North […] Read more
Manitoba remains on flood alert
An early spring snowstorm that dumped 50 centimetres of snow on parts of North Dakota last week should cause only a slight increase in water levels on Manitoba’s Red River this spring, say provincial forecasters. However, peak water levels along the Red will likely exceed 2009 by 0.4 to 0.7 metres, forecasters announced March 25 […] Read more
4-H members cook breakfast for kids
Increasingly busy lifestyles over the last 25 years have turned breakfast into more of a sprinkled doughnut at a Tim Horton’s drive-through than a sit down meal at home. However, a 4-H club in western Manitoba is trying to reverse that trend and ensure that breakfast remains children’s most important meal of the day. The […] Read more
