Roberta Rampton

ELMA, Man. – Isolation feeds the independent spirit of farmers like Gerald Toews. The 33-year-old runs a hog and grain operation in the eastern-most agricultural area of the Prairies, nestled between the “moose pasture” of a dense provincial forest and Whiteshell Provincial Park. “We have no dealerships here, we have nothing,” Toews said. “Everything is […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Brenda Neabel-Turbett heard a story the other day that made her cringe. A farmer was driving down the road with some equipment, and got his 12-year-old son to drive behind him in a half-ton truck with the flashers on. “I just about died when I heard that,” said Neabel-Turbett, a registered nurse and […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Victory was sweet for Dave Sawatzky, though it may be short-lived. The MacGregor, Man. farmer closed his eyes and exhaled deeply as Judge Arnold Connor announced his acquittal on two charges of failing to show a Canadian Wheat Board licence when exporting wheat and barley. “Oh, I’m happy! I’m happy!” a jubilant Sawatzky […] Read more

WINNIPEG – The Cinderella crop will lose a lot of seeding dates with farmers this year as her older cereal stepsisters cut in for a dance. According to a Statistics Canada planting intentions report released last week, farmers will likely seed a lot fewer acres to canola this year in favor of lower-maintenance and high-priced […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Pssst. Wanna buy a prolific pig? A group of farmers in Manitoba and Ontario are now selling Chinese hogs legendary for their reproductive abilities. And they say when a European-cross gilt is bred with a Chinese boar, the elusive perfect pig may be the result. “We’re going to develop a Canadian pig that […] Read more

BRANDON, Man. – Members of Manitoba’s farm lobby group are getting ready for a barrage of questions about a new checkoff on grain sales starting next week. Keystone Agricultural Producers has armed its farmers with an answer sheet for the tough ones, including: From where do you people get the right to take money off […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Tom Jackson’s hunger strike has become a family affair as he makes his way across the country with his protest against the monopoly powers held by the Canadian Wheat Board. While picketing outside the wheat board, Jackson said his wife Lucy joined him in fasting on April 24, and son Daniel, 12, started […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Lorne Hamblin is putting an optimistic spin on the flood in the Red River Valley. “With a nice sunny day and a lakefront home, what more could you ask for?” joked Hamblin, who lives and farms between Morris and St. Jean, Man. The Red River was expected to crest by May 1 at […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Farmers can use grain futures to hedge their price risk. Theoretically, they could use fertilizer futures the same way. But fertilizer market experts are divided on whether diammonium phosphate and anhydrous ammonium futures, traded on the Chicago Board of Trade, are practical tools for farmers looking to protect themselves from rising prices. The […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Retail fertilizer prices in Western Canada are linked to the futures prices in Chicago, but farmers have to know what to look for, says a merchandiser with Kansas City-based DeBruce Fertilizers. Will Talbert said while there is a relationship between prices here and futures on the Chicago Board of Trade, there are a […] Read more