Q: In a couple of weeks, my former girlfriend and our four-year-old daughter will be moving to the city. I cannot blame them. My daughter’s mother has tried to get decent employment here, but our town is too small to have much in the way of jobs. The problem is that once they move, I […] Read more
Farm Living
Staying connected
Funds boost co-op movement
Co-operative development in Western Canada took a leap forward Jan. 27 with the launch of Co-operatives First. A five-year, $5 million commitment from the Co-operative Retailing System will give start-up funding to the non-profit organization. Co-operatives First is the result of two years of research and $1 million from Federated Co-operatives Ltd. “This project aimed […] Read more
Farm life all about the animals, say horse lovers
Dogs and cats roam among Fjord-Percheron crosses, Belgian-Quarterhorse crosses and miniature horses that grab the spotlight in parades
SHELLBROOK, Sask. — One- and two-tone ponies huddle together, their breath making clouds in the cold winter air as Larry and Evelyn Keyowski approach them for a pat. Horses in all sizes are a staple on the Keyowski farm in north-central Saskatchewan, along with collections of covered and open horse drawn sleighs, wagons and antiques. […] Read more
Laos attracting more tourists, but remains laid back
We silently rose above the rice fields just before dawn, the only sound an occasional blast from burners on the hot air balloon. Our pilot made fine adjustments to the heat until our almost vertical ascent caught the high gentle breeze that took us slowly along the Nam Song River Valley. We looked down over […] Read more
An organized kitchen makes cooking fun
It’s a new year and a perfect time to organize the pantry, cold room and freezer by replenishing food stocks and cleaning out the old. A well-stocked kitchen is key to impromptu and easy meal preparation. I keep chicken carcasses, beef and lamb bones along with cuttings of carrots, celery and onion in freezer bags […] Read more
‘All I could do was keep breathing’
RIDGETOWN, Ont. — “Get her done” is a mantra long familiar to Arick Baker. It’s also what led to the young Iowa farmer spending four and a half hours buried in a grain bin one summer day in 2013. “If we would have stopped and thought it through, this wouldn’t have happened,” Baker told the […] Read more
Tardiness poses issue
Q: Things are not going well for us. My husband is late for just about everything to which we are committed, and it drives me crazy. When I try talking to him about it, he accuses me of nagging him. Then the fight is on. This is getting out of hand, but neither of us […] Read more
Listening to rhythms of the Earth
Researcher plants hundreds of microphones to eavesdrop on animal activity and other interactions in the environment
An Alberta researcher is listening for climate change. However, instead of standing beside a field in the hopes of seeing and hearing a bird, Erin Bayne has mounted hundreds of computerized microphones around Alberta to listen to wildlife year round. “There are all kinds of animals that make sounds at all times of the year. […] Read more
Pulses packed with plenty of protein
The United Nations has declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses. The aim is to increase awareness of the potential role pulse crops can have in the eradication of hunger, reduction of chronic health conditions, global food security and environmental sustainability. There is much to learn about pulse crops and their potential as this year […] Read more
Manitoba Ag Days
Manitoba Ag Days kicks off this week, running Tuesday through Thursday January 19 to 21. Producers from across Canada and the central United States will gather in Brandon to take in the latest agricultural production expertise, technology, and equipment. Western Producer reporters will have daily coverage of the show, and you’ll be able to follow […] Read more
