Roberta Rampton

A team of Winnipeg researchers has found a faster, easier and cheaper way to test for fusarium headblight. The fungus has plagued Manitoba, reducing farmers’ yields and returns. Recently, it has appeared in Saskatchewan fields. Fusarium can produce deoxynivalenol, known as DON, which can put livestock off their feed. Maltsters also reject barley with detectable […] Read more

The pulse of pea and lentil markets might be weak for the next couple of months. But analysts say the crops are setting seasonal price lows now, and with some strong marketing and a bit of luck, exporters should be able to move a big chunk of the supplies. A record-setting early pea harvest, matched […] Read more

Relief is in sight for farmers weary of battling the tiny orange bug known as wheat midge. Scientists hope that in three or four years they will have a variety of wheat that’s unappealing to midge as a place to lay eggs and wreak havoc with yields. Two teams of researchers are working on breeding […] Read more

Egg farmers in Manitoba are hatching some new ways to make their business less fragile to the hard knocks of international trade. Groups of producers recently announced plans to start Canada’s first “new generation” co-operative, and to build what is thought to be the largest egg barn in the country. The two projects are not […] Read more

After almost half a year of wondering how they’ll pay for damages to their operations, Red River Valley farmers found out late last week they’ll get some help from a $26 million compensation package. While help for homeowners has been in place for months, many farmers had almost given up on the hope for money […] Read more

Western Canadian spud appeal has lured the world’s largest french fry processor north to flirt with the potential of finding the right spot to build a plant. Now each province is putting forth its particular charms to try to land the big date with Lamb Weston. Officials at the ConAgra-owned company, which has annual sales […] Read more

and Reuters News Agency news Farmers who watch U.S. corn and soybean prices may have noticed an irregular autumn boost last week, and positive ripples into Canadian feed grain and canola markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture came out with some “shockingly bullish” crop production reports, said analysts at the Chicago Board of Trade. Corn […] Read more

Negotiators from around the world will meet this month to start hammering out text for an agreement that is expected to be an important tool for international trade involving transgenic products. The biosafety protocol will be legally binding on countries that ratify it, said John Herity, part of Canada’s negotiating team. Herity, who works for […] Read more

Manitoba Pool Elevators reaped the rewards of cutting costs in 1996-97 and posted a record $28.1 million profit. The co-operative was able to increase net earnings by more than five times over last year with brisk business in grain and chemicals, as well as strong returns from Western Co-operative Fertilizers Ltd. But key to the […] Read more

Jake Hoeppner says he always thought his class action suit against the Canadian Wheat Board would end up in the Supreme Court of Canada. In the next couple of weeks he will be deciding with his lawyer whether to ask the court for leave to appeal a recent ruling by the Manitoba Court of Queen’s […] Read more