Forage producers, exporters and government representatives will visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia later this month in an effort to create another export market for Canadian forage crops. But it isn’t a trade mission, said Glenn Friesen, a forage specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and member of the delegation. The purpose is to gather […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
Australia buys hog course from Man. college
Australia’s national hog producers association has bought the rights to teach courses developed by Assiniboine Community College in Brandon. Starting this March, hog barn workers in Australia will be able to take ACC courses to enhance their knowledge of pork production. “This is a great opportunity for our industries to network and improve our training […] Read more
Manitoba’s west on hopper alert
Last summer’s warm September may have saved the harvest for Manitoba grain producers, but the mild weather also provided ideal egg-laying conditions for grasshoppers. “Warm and dry weather in late summer will mean that there has been more opportunity for the potential pest species of grasshoppers to lay their maximum amount of eggs,” Manitoba Agriculture […] Read more
Farm building codes draw heat in Manitoba
Manitoba is one step closer to establishing a farm building code that would apply to new structures larger than 600 sq. metres. However, animal rights groups remain concerned that the code won’t apply to existing hog barns, and engineers aren’t convinced the process to develop the new codes was open and transparent. “Bringing old hog […] Read more
Manitoba plant adds output to industry stats
The amount of canola crushed per week in Canada appeared to increase suddenly in late January. On Jan. 27 and then again Feb. 3, the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA) reported weekly crush volumes of 87,000 tonnes, about 10,000 tonnes more than the weekly crush last fall and higher than the weekly crush in January […] Read more
Kids need face time with Mother Nature
RUSSELL, Man. – Kids love forts. Whether it’s a snow fort or a wooden fort, children love to build them. And like home renovations, forts are rarely completed because kids constantly make improvements with tunnels, ladders or flags. But according to Jo-lene Gardiner, an extension co-ordinator with Manitoba Agriculture in Pilot Mound, Man., there’s a […] Read more
Crown rust points way to antioxidants
Although they don’t know how it happens, researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture have determined that oat grains contain five to 20 times more avenanthramides if the crop is exposed to crown rust. Oats are the only food crop known to produce avenanthramides (Avns), an antioxidant that combats cardiovascular conditions such as atherosclerosis. Establishing […] Read more
Cold climate may reduce greenhouse gas
New research may be good news for Canada’s reputation as a greenhouse gas emitter. A master’s student at the University of Manitoba has discovered that beef cows emit less methane in the winter, compared to the warmer months of the year. Jennilee Bernier and her supervisors at the U of M expected that scenario, but […] Read more
DDG effect on methane examined
Manitoba’s producers are trailing cattle producers in other parts of Western Canada when it comes to using dried distillers grains, said Jennilee Bernier, a master’s student at the University of Manitoba. “I think producers out west, they use it a lot more in feedlots,” said Bernier. “(But) we’re hoping that we can make cow-calf producers […] Read more
Hog processing plant workers vote to accept new contract offer
Workers at a hog processing plant in Neepawa, Man., have voted to accept the company’s new labour agreement. Springhill Farms workers voted 79 percent in favour of a deal that will boost wages and improve pension benefits. There are 533 union members at the plant. “This is a strong contract for our members at Springhill […] Read more
