Meadow fescue, a long forgotten forage crop, is beginning to make a comeback in North America. In the 1800s and for the first few decades of the 1900s, meadow fescue was a popular pasture grass in America. But that popularity came to an end in 1943 when Kentucky 31, a tall fescue variety, was introduced […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
Best breads for the body
There was a time when buying bread was a simple choice between a loaf of white, brown or occasionally rye. Today, the bread aisle at the grocery store offers options from whole wheat to stone ground whole grain flax bread with omega 3. But Terry Graham, professor in the nutritional sciences department at Ontario’s University […] Read more
Zero tillage recommended as wave of global future
MINOT, N.D. – The United Nations thinks zero tillage can help save the world. “We see this as the big future for agriculture and the only way to do agriculture in an intensive, high productive way, but at the same time sustainable,” says Theodor Friedrich, senior officer in the crop production systems intensification division at […] Read more
Power line project angers Manitoba farmers
If Blaine Pedersen gets his way, one issue will dominate the conversation at coffee shops this winter in Carman, Elm Creek and other towns in south-central Manitoba. That topic is Bipole III, a power transmission line that Manitoba Hydro, the provincial energy utility, wants to build through the region. “We’re out to stop this line, […] Read more
Producer says power line route makes no sense
In Bruno Divorne’s mind, there’s no doubt about the appropriate route for Bipole III, a proposed power transmission line in Manitoba. “Common sense should prevail. There’s only one place where that line goes and it’s on the east side (of Lake Winnipeg),” said Divorne, a dairy and grain producer near Haywood, Man. When Divorne learned […] Read more
Manitoba producers want brand inspections
It’s fine to have rules, but if they’re not enforced, those rules are meaningless. Which is why the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association wants the provincial government to establish a brand inspection program. “We’ve had registered brands in this province since God knows when. We’d never had inspection. The other provinces have and I’ve really wondered […] Read more
Maple Leaf improves wages, pension
The 2,200 employees at Maple Leaf Foods’ hog processing plant in Brandon have a new union contract that is expected to make life easier for foreign workers. Last week, 78 percent of the Maple Leaf workers voted in favour of the five-year contract that provides pay raises up to nine percent and also improves the […] Read more
Weather extremes kept prairie farmers hopping
This is one of several “Year in review” stories published in our January 7, 2010, edition examining the performance of certain industries during 2009. A lot of words could be used to describe the weather in 2009, including several of the four-letter variety, but David Phillips chose a slightly longer word. “It was challenging. I […] Read more
Secrets of genome sequencing unravelled in 2009
This is one of several “Year in review” stories published in our January 7, 2010, edition examining the performance of certain industries during 2009. It’s likely that 2009 will be known as the year of the genome in agricultural research. Over the last 12 months, scientists working in collaboration at universities and institutes around the […] Read more
Manitobans top generosity index
A Fraser Institute study has shown once again that Manitobans are the most generous of all Canadians. But a spokesperson for the Vancouver based think-tank has no answer for why. “We don’t get into particular reasons as to why there are differences (between provinces),” said Charles Lammam, a policy analyst. The institute released its annual […] Read more
