Runoff is expected to be average or below average across Manitoba this year, which is why provincial flood forecasters have downgraded the chances of severe flooding in the Red River Valley this spring. Manitoba Water Stewardship released its flood outlook last week and predicted that floodwaters on the Red would peak at approximately 2.9 feet […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
Meeting confusion created over controversial Manitoba project
A Manitoba politician was caught off guard last week when Manitoba Hydro bought ads informing the public that an open house in Haywood was cancelled. Blaine Pedersen, a Progressive Conservative MLA for Carman, said the radio ads were a surprise because he had organized the open house, not Manitoba Hydro. “I’m paying the rent on […] Read more
Couple eager for new ventures
OAKBANK, Man. – Jim Lintott moves rapidly from task to task, barely staying long enough in one place to leave a footprint in the snow as he cuts twine and spreads bales for his herd of Black Angus cattle on a sunny, windless day in March. While his movement is surprising to a visitor, the […] Read more
Manitoba reduces agriculture spending
Manitoba Agriculture’s budget has been cut by 4.2 percent in a provincial budget that increased overall spending by 5.2 percent. In her first budget as finance minister, Rosann Wowchuk announced March 23 that the government will change its balanced budget legislation so that it can run a $545 million deficit in the upcoming year. “I’m […] Read more
Farm awareness campaign takes to Ontario skies
French farmers have a earned a reputation for their creative and aggressive protests. Whether they’re spilling three million litres of milk next to a monastery or dumping manure outside a McDonald’s in Paris, French producers know how to grab the media’s attention. However, an agricultural awareness campaign in Ontario is taking a friendlier approach. “You […] Read more
Five things you need to know about successful crop inoculation
Soybeans, lentils and peas are no longer special. Pulse and soybean acres continue to expand on the Prairies, and the crops have become almost standard practice on thousands of farms. As more producers switch to pulses and soybeans, more of them are using inoculants to achieve the full benefit of the crops’ ability to fix […] Read more
Flood possibilities dwindle
Unusually warm weather this month is dampening the alarm bells over severe flooding in Manitoba’s Red River Valley. “It’s not bad, this weather. It’s actually favourable. We haven’t had much precipitation at all in the last month in Manitoba,” said Alf Warkentin, the province’s chief flood forecaster with Manitoba Water Stewardship. “There’s still a pretty […] Read more
Man. egg farmers adopt chicken welfare rules
It’s not perfect, but the executive director of the Winnipeg Humane Society is pleased that the Manitoba Egg Farmers have adopted new animal welfare standards to house chickens. Last week, the egg farmers’ board decided all new housing facilities for laying hens in the province after 2018 must satisfy the five freedoms of animal welfare […] Read more
Maple Leaf plans ways to cut costs, increase efficiency
The manager of Maple Leaf Foods’ hog processing plant in Brandon isn’t worried about the supply of hogs on the Prairies, despite the recent downturn in the industry. “Most of the people that are in the hog industry, this is their life. This is their culture. They stick to it through thick and thin,” Leo […] Read more
Biofuel benefits, costs examined
A more sober look at the Canadian biofuel industry is being planned now that the heated debate over biofuel’s role in escalating food prices is fading. The International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) study will evaluate the economic benefits and environmental costs of ethanol and biodiesel production. “Right now, the biofuel industry is driven largely […] Read more
