Roberta Rampton

After two months of negotiations, the agency that sells about 80 percent of hogs in Manitoba has reached pricing agreements with two major processors. That leaves two to go for Manitoba Pork. The agency’s assistant manager said the process is frustrating, but negotiations are plodding along. “This has been an arduous, lengthy process and I […] Read more

MORRIS, Man. – Farmers are wasting time and losing patience with the internet because they can’t find what they’re looking for, says an agricultural computer consultant. They’re tired of searching for hogs and finding Harley Davidsons, weary of queries that turn up a million weather sites. “The problem on the internet is you can’t find […] Read more

Manitoba’s new regional health authorities will spend the next year talking to people to find out what health-care services they need. As of April 1, regional boards took control over how health money from the provincial and federal governments is spent in their areas. While rural residents won’t immediately notice any changes, they’ll have the […] Read more

If American farmers plant as many acres of soybeans and corn as they say they’re going to, market analysts say Canadian farmers should be crossing their fingers for weather scares. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report released March 31 shows farmers want to plant 68.8 million acres of soybeans, up 7.2 percent from last year, […] Read more

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – Only in the last year have Manitoba farmers realized their total freight bill is more than what they pay for fertilizer. Barry Routledge says it’s a sign of the fundamental shift taking place in the rural economy as it moves past the loss of the Crow rail transportation subsidy. Routledge, […] Read more

TOKYO, Japan – Japan might be one of the biggest users of canola oil in the world, but Canadian oilseed crushers won’t be able to take advantage of the market for the foreseeable future. Canada’s biggest export to Japan is canola seed, worth $773 million in 1996. But for years Canada has pushed Japan to […] Read more

A debate over the best way to increase chicken production in Manitoba could ruffle some feathers. With the lowest cost of production in the country, Manitoba chicken farmers want to increase production by 24 percent over three years, the maximum allowed under an agreement with other provinces. Manitoba now has 3.75 percent of the total […] Read more

Road restrictions Manitoba has announced a new spring road restriction system which went into effect March 23. There are three primary changes. The restriction period will be based on fixed start and end dates. Weight levels will be based on a simpler percentage formula to determine maximum weight allowed. A number of essential commodities will […] Read more

As a hive of Japanese buyers descended upon her, Gail Watch buzzed about, handing out honey with flax bread and slicing sausage to go with honey-based sauces. Watch, who works for BeeMaid Honey, displayed wares along with 22 other Manitoba companies for five buyers from Japan and Taiwan, brought to the Prairies by Agriculture Canada. […] Read more

TOKYO, Japan – Nobody in Canada thought a Japanese desire to protect itself against surges in pork imports would severely disrupt normal trade. But that’s what it has done and Japanese importers are aware of the problem. In the complicated world of Japanese agricultural policy, the likelihood of a quick fix is remote. Canadian meat […] Read more