After 10 years with the same agriculture minister, Manitoba Agriculture has a new leader. Manitoba premier Greg Selinger announced yesterday Wednesday that former conservation minister Stan Struthers will become the province’s agriculture minister. The change is part of a cabinet shuffle by Manitoba’s new premier, which sees longtime agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk become finance minister. […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
Flax plant behind schedule
A flax processing plant will eventually re-open in Brandon, but it may take another couple months to get Shape Foods up and running, said owner Jim Downey. “We’ve been busy with getting the plant ready to get back into production…. We’ve still got a considerable ways to go,” said Downey, a former provincial cabinet minister […] Read more
Seed-placed MAP studied
Canola yield losses caused by excess mono-ammonium phosphate placed next to seed can be tough to detect. “It (seedling damage) can be really insidious…. It may be stealing bushels quietly without you being able to see it,” said Cynthia Grant, a soil fertility specialist at Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Brandon. “Unless you have something […] Read more
Anaplasmosis strikes another farm in Manitoba
Cattle in southeastern Manitoba have tested positive for anaplasmosis. Dorothy Geale, senior staff veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, confirmed that 43 animals on a farm in the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn have contracted the red blood cell disease. “We had our first diagnosis on Oct. 9 but the situation had started on the […] Read more
PotashCorp. profit falls
A flax processing plant will eventually re-open in Brandon, but it may take another couple months to get Shape Foods up and running, said owner Jim Downey. “We’ve been busy with getting the plant ready to get back into production…. We’ve still got a considerable ways to go,” said Downey, a former provincial cabinet minister […] Read more
Manitoba to restrict manure spreading
The Manitoba government plans to ban winter manure spreading starting in 2013. The new regulation is part of an effort to reduce nutrient loading in Manitoba’s rivers and lakes, a campaign that provincial officials are now describing as a war on phosphorus. “When we entered office, we recognized that decades of poor planning, abuse and […] Read more
Manitoba may replace ag minister
Manitoba has a new premier and may soon have a new agriculture minister, according to political watchers in the province. Greg Selinger was sworn in as Manitoba’s premier Oct. 19 after defeating his only rival, Steve Ashton, in the NDP leadership vote held Oct. 17. The former finance minister won the vote easily, defeating Ashton […] Read more
Breeder champions hulless oats
As a lifelong promoter of oats, Vern Burrows is definitely biased. However, the Agriculture Canada oat breeder is convinced hulless oats could be a huge opportunity for Canadian farmers. “Canada could use a crop like this because I think our farmers need something that would give us an advantage internationally,” Burrows said. “There are very […] Read more
Hulless oats wins big on Dragons’ Den
A Manitoba farmer entered the Dragons’ Den last week and walked out with $250,000 in cash. Scott Sigvaldason of Arborg stood in front of the panel of business gurus on the popular CBC program and sold the idea that hulless oats are nutritious, delicious and a good investment. He pitched the idea that cavena nuda, […] Read more
Business as usual for PMU industry: Pfizer
Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth should have no impact on Canadian producers of pregnant mare’s urine, said a spokesperson for the PMU industry. “We’re not looking for any drastic changes. If fact we’re excited about it,” said Norm Luba, executive director of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council, an organization that represents 64 PMU producers […] Read more
