Record snowfall in North Dakota and saturated soil north of the border will likely cause significant flooding of farmland in southern Manitoba this spring, according to the province’s first flood forecast of 2009, released Feb. 19. An average weather scenario, from now to spring melt, is expected to produce conditions similar to 2006 in the […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
Farmer knowledge as vital as experts’
If you’re considering variable rate technology on your farm, Pam Haege-man has some friendly advice. Don’t be intimidated by variable rate consultants because you know more about your farm than they do. “I know too many guys who are too timid and just leave everything to the experts,” said Haegeman, a precision farming specialist with […] Read more
U.S. farmer fan of cover crops
If Ken Miller had any doubts about the value of cover crops, they were erased last summer. Miller, who farms near Bismarck, North Dakota, planted barley on two fields in April. One was a conventional field fertilized with urea and the second had no fertilizer. But it was planted on a field with a cover […] Read more
Study compares March, June calving
While it’s too early for definitive data, an Agriculture Canada research project is demonstrating that calving in June has one advantage over March. “So far, with preliminary results, we’ve noticed that June calving is cheaper,” said Lynne Girardin, a masters student in animal and poultry science at the University of Saskatchewan. “It’s cheaper to raise […] Read more
Death sparks cries for building code
A roof collapse that killed a man working at a vegetable farm in Portage la Prairie, Man., has reignited the debate over standards for agricultural buildings. On Feb. 9, the roof of a vegetable processing shed at Mayfair Farm caved in, killing Scott Giffin, a 48-year-old Portage farmer. Wet, heavy snow on the roof is […] Read more
Computer links farm practices, greenhouse gas
With the help of a new computer program, Canadian producers will soon be able to calculate how much greenhouse gas (GHG) is coming from their farm. The innovative computer model, called Holos, is an Agriculture Canada invention that will allow producers to link changes in farm practices to a specific amount of GHG reduction. “One […] Read more
Plant density trumps seed rate
Anastasia Kubinec has a friendly reminder for canola growers at seeding time: the focus should be on the plants, not the canola seed. “Farmers need to get out of the mind set of a standard pounds per acre rate,” said Kubinec, an oilseed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. “They need to think about the plants per […] Read more
Peas turned into snack food in Manitoba
Getting your kids to put down the bag of tacos and pick up something healthy is not easy. But two entrepreneurs in Portage la Prairie, Man., may have found the perfect compromise for Canadian parents. On Feb. 12, Margaret Hughes and Trudy Heal launched Yumpeez, a roasted vegetable snack made from peas. “Yumpeez has been […] Read more
Central Manitoba weighs feasibility of slaughter plant
A beef slaughter plant that never opened its doors may get a second chance at a grand opening in Swan River, Man. A representative from the Rural Municipality of Swan River said the community would like to establish a slaughter facility in its area. That may involve buying the equipment from the Rancher’s Choice Beef […] Read more
Man. co-operative throws caution to wind
Winners and losers are an unfortunate aspect of rural economic development. When one town gets an ethanol plant, a town down the road loses out. When one community gets funding for a pulse processing facility, another community is disappointed. Dan Mazier is one rural resident who’s sick of that scenario and doing something about it. […] Read more
