Roberta Rampton

WINNIPEG – Uninsured farmers unable to seed their fields this year due to floods can’t expect money from the provincial government. Brian Halstead of Manitoba Crop Insurance Corporation said less than 300 farmers bought optional flood insurance this year that covers loss of land use. Most of them are in the Red River Valley. “There’s […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Let the wrecking ball swing. Staff, students and alumni of the agriculture faculty at the University of Manitoba gathered last week to kick off a $12 million building campaign. If there was any doubt in their minds that the renovations were needed, it was quickly dispelled over lunch. Guests nibbled on sandwiches in […] Read more

WINNIPEG – XCAN Grain Pool has agreed to a “no admission, no denial” payment of $250,000 to the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange after questions arose about how the company traded the June 1994 canola futures. Exchange president Fred Siemens said the company, which was the major long position holder in the contract, was charged with four […] Read more

WINNIPEG – The world’s largest malting company is considering building a plant in China, the world’s fastest growing market for beer. Canada Malting is doing a feasibility study into the plant. Andrew Raphael, a vice-president in charge of business development for the company, said the study should be completed by October. Raphael said the plant […] Read more

WINNIPEG – It’s the 1990s version of the old calling “Go west, young man.” During the past year, at least two groups of Taiwanese hog farmers and investors have visited the Prairies to see one of the last great frontiers for agricultural production. One of these groups has visited twice. They’ve got the demand and […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Unifeed, the livestock feed division of United Grain Growers, has ventured into Manitoba’s swine and poultry region by buying a feed mill near Landmark, Man. Hart Feeds and Farm Supply, a 25-year-old company in the southeastern part of the province, will be a subsidiary of UGG. Bill McGill, the managing director for UGG’s […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Farmers and scientists in Manitoba are hoping a late start to the growing season will send an unwanted guest packing. Two years ago, farmers started to mention to researchers that they noticed the occasional brown, mottled, cutworm-like caterpillar in canola fields. The insects are a little thinner than a pencil and up to […] Read more

WINNIPEG – How long would it take 120 students to walk from Russell, Man. to the Ontario border? According to Linda Baker, a teacher at the kindergarten to Grade 9 school in Binscarth, Man., it takes eight days. Two weeks ago, the students finished what seems like an incredible journey to celebrate Manitoba’s 125th birthday. […] Read more

WINNIPEG – It’s a long bomb from the football stadium of Winnipeg to the grain fields of Saskatchewan, but Lyle Bauer sees it simply as a move from one commodity to another. Bauer played centre for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for 10 years and has been the team’s assistant general manager since 1992. At the […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Anhydrous ammonia dealers are angry they weren’t consulted on a new government regulation that requires them to test their trail tanks and applicators for leaks every five years. Garth Rowswell, a dealer in Vermilion, Alta., who is on the executive of the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers, said the hydrostatic test is too expensive […] Read more