On any team it’s important to know your role. Fran Erven, who lives on a farm near Clanwilliam, Man., knows her role during calving season. “It’s my job to keep the bed warm when he’s checking the cattle on those cold winter nights,” said Erven, who got a laugh out of the audience with that […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
COOL rules get upgrade
Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz and other Canadian politicians may be celebrating the wording of the final rule on U.S. country-of-origin labelling, but Canada’s livestock sector isn’t popping the champagne cork just yet. “It’s going to be a bit of a wait and see game,” said Karl Kynoch, chair of the Manitoba Pork Council. “Yes, there […] Read more
Man. forage council wants GM alfalfa ripped out
If you want to know the Manitoba Forage Council’s stance on Roundup Ready alfalfa, it’s not hard to decipher, because its position is anything but grey. According to the Council’s December newsletter, the organization wants a moratorium on all Canadian trials of genetically modified alfalfa and all stands of the crop destroyed. “We want the […] Read more
Jersey popularity increasing
As everyone knows, it’s not easy to tout Ford trucks without bashing Chevy, but Janna Rémond does a fine job of walking the diplomatic tightrope when she compares Jersey cattle to Holsteins. “We switched completely over to Jerseys in 2004 …. We found that because we’re a family operation it was easier for our kids […] Read more
Manitoba braces for Red River floods
Although it’s not an exact science, forecasters with the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) are confident that record snowfalls in North Dakota will cause flooding in the Red River Valley this spring. The likelihood of flooding in Grand Forks, N.D., which is often a harbinger of flooding in Manitoba, is essentially 100 percent, said Steve […] Read more
New Brandon reporter reintroduces himself – Editorial Notebook
When asked why I enjoy reporting on farming, I typically respond that I like the diversity of agriculture and the opportunity to learn more about this wide-ranging field. Or, I explain that when I was a kid I helped out on my uncle’s farm west of Lake Manitoba, which fostered a lifelong interest in agriculture. […] Read more
Future uncertain for Shape Foods assets
Ten weeks after laying off its remaining employees in late October, the fate of Brandon’s Shape Foods is still unclear. The flax crushing and bottling company that promoted its innovative processes and superior tasting flax oil remains in receivership. It is uncertain if new investors will reopen Shape’s $17 million processing plant. However, Sandy Trudel, […] Read more
Ag societies eager for new role
While some may wonder if agricultural societies are still relevant given that the average Canadian can’t tell a sow from an ewe, Liz Roberts believes the groups are more important than ever. “Ag societies haven’t reached their potential yet,” said Roberts, superintendent of agricultural societies for Manitoba Agriculture. “I think we have huge opportunities to […] Read more
Canada claims COOL victory
Federal international trade minister Stockwell Day and agriculture minister Gerry Ritz have claimed a major victory in Canada’s fight with the United States over country-of-origin labelling. According to a federal government news release, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final version of the regulations, which were published Jan. 12, contain wording changes that will help level […] Read more
New safety net much like the old
Agri-Stability may be less of a mouthful than the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program, but experts say little has changed with the federal government’s primary safety net plan. “As far as an accounting perspective, there really aren’t many changes to the program,” said Carey Knight of Knight Accounting Service in Brandon. “The forms are almost […] Read more
