Shock and disappointment rippled through rural Manitoba last week when
farmers learned that the Manitoba Co-operator was laying off staff.
Many farmers expressed concerns that the layoffs of prominent editors
and reporters at the Co-operator would mean the loss of agricultural
news and views that have been expressed for more than half a century.
Brandon farmer Don Bromley said the newspaper’s editors were
free-minded and its news content did not seem swayed by the influence
of the publication’s owner, Agricore United.
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“From the producer’s point of view, that’s valuable,” said Bromley. “I
can’t say that for Grainews sometimes.”
Through its Farm Business Communications division, Agricore United also
owns Grainews.
Wilf Harder of Lowe Farm, Man., expressed disbelief when told about the
layoffs.
The Canadian Wheat Board director said he was dismayed that Agricore
United’s farmer directors did not stop the layoffs.
Speaking as a farmer and a former director of Manitoba Pool Elevators,
which owned the newspaper until mergers made it part of Agricore
United, Harder said the latest move shows Agricore United is less
concerned about the well-being of farmers and more concerned about its
non-farming shareholders.
Cliff Harrison, a farmer from Domain, Man., said he doubts producers
can expect balanced coverage from publications guided by Farm Business
Communications, adding farmers need more than a “cookie cutter type of
press reporting.”
