Seed Early with Caution
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WET ON TOP, GOOD THINGS DRY DOWN COOKING IN BELOW SWAN RIVER Getting to the root of Food processing centre encourages Britain’s drought » PAGE 34 food entrepreneurs » PAGE 12 April 19, 2012 SerVinG mAnitobA FArmerS Since 1925 | Vol. 70, No. 16 | $1.75 mAnitobAcooperAtor.cA Seed early with caution Whether they survive or fail, these early seeding plots will provide some valuable data on seeding dates By Allan Dawson CO-OPERATOR STAFF /CARMAN xtension agronomist Anastasia Kubinec wasn’t heeding her own advice to farmers the first week of April. She was seeding — but not because she’s banking on Epulling in a bin-buster. Rather, she’s betting on a bust. Kubinec, Manitoba Agriculture and Rural Initiatives’ oilseed specialist, wants to dem- onstrate the risks of seeding too early, espe- cially frost-sensitive plants such as canola. But it’s risky. If canola sown in plots at the University of Manitoba Ian N. Morrison Research Farm, in early April does well, the project could have the opposite effect. Either way, the results will be on display at this year’s Crop Diagnostic School. “It’s a calculated risk,” she said in an interview April 5. And that’s just what farm- ers who seed early do too. Farmers have been calling Kubinec about seeding canola early and some have gone ahead. “I don’t necessarily agree with what they’re doing,” she said. “But this year is totally out of whack and who knows what’s going to happen?” Yield limits Earlier-seeded crops generally yield more than later-seeded ones. There is a limit, but given an early spring and the inability to see the future, it’s impossible to determine exactly when it hits. A killing frost over the next five weeks is likely, according to Kubinec. Unlike wheat, the growing point for canola is above the MAFRI’s Anastasia Kubinec installs a temperature probe near early-seeded crop trials at Carman. PHOTO: LAURA RANCE See SEED EARLY on page 6 » Cereal Research Centre axed It’s a big win for Morden and Brandon By Allan Dawson tion as part of a five to 10 per ence partnerships, said infra- CO-OPERATOR STAFF cent cut in AAFC’s budget. structure should not be con- “I don’t think it’s a “What I’m not seeing is a fused with research priorities. secret... the centre in griculture and Agri-Food vision for the future from a pub- “I don’t think it’s a secret... the Winnipeg is a facility Canada’s Cereal Research lic agricultural research point centre in Winnipeg is a facility A Centre will be shuttered of view going forward,” said that has probably gone 10 years that has probably within two years, but a senior Keystone Agricultural Producers past its useful life,” he said. gone 10 years past department official says much president Doug Chorney. “I’m “There just wasn’t $150 mil- its useful life.” of its work will continue. just seeing a reaction to a prob- lion available to go out and Industry leaders are less lem, not an explanation of what rebuild or replace the structure confident in the wake of last the vision is for the future and in Winnipeg.” week’s announcement to close that’s a big concern to me.” Wheat breeding, genomics STEPHEN MORGAN the facility that earned Western Stephen Morgan Jones, JONES Canada its breadbasket reputa- AAFC’s director general for sci- See CRC on page 6 » PERCEPTION: DISSECTING THE PIG INDUSTRy’s IMAGE PROBLEM » PAGE 9 Publication Mail Agreement 40069240 2 The Manitoba Co-operator | April 19, 2012 INSIDE ON THE LIGHTER SIDE LIVESTOCK Making perfumes Manitoban at the helm sans the whale barf Martin Unrau Ever wonder why perfume new president of CCA 33 is so expensive? CROPS It’s a fighter Winter wheat can germinate in the spring too 17 FEATURE Staff These are collected and mal byproduct and the use of refined for their fixative prop- such in cosmetics has been niversity of British erties. Called ambergris, the problematic, not to mention it Soil Conservation Columbia researchers scented compound is added comes from the sperm whale, U have identified a gene to high-end perfumes to help an endangered species.” Week in balsam fir trees that could the fragrance stay on the skin Even though much of the substitute for ambergris, a longer. ambergris approved for use Young farm family perfume fixative made from The discovery was led by today is manually collected from Manitoba are 18 whale barf. Prof. Joerg Bohlmann and along the shorelines of known soil champs When sperm whales con- post-doctoral research asso- sperm whale habitats in the sume sharp objects, such as ciate Philipp Zerbe at UBC’s Atlantic and Pacific oceans seashells and fish bones, their Michael Smith Laboratories. and in the Caribbean, it is still gut produces a sticky sub- Details are published in the costly. stance to protect their diges- April 6 issue of the Journal of “We’ve now discovered CROSSROADS tive organs. Biological Chemistry. that a gene from balsam fir is They then regurgitate the “The use of ambergris in much more efficient at pro- mixture — much like cats the fragrance industry has ducing such natural com- throwing up fur balls — and been controversial,” says pounds, which could make Everyone the vomit, reacting with sea- Bohlmann, who is a profes- production of this bioproduct benefits water, turns into rock-like sor of botany and forest sci- less expensive and more sus- objects that wash ashore. ences. “First of all, it’s an ani- tainable,” says Bohlmann. Local economic spinoffs from social enterprise 37 READER’S PHOTO Editorials 4 Grain Markets 11 Comments 5 Weather Vane 16 What’s Up 8 Classifieds 23 Livestock Markets 10 Sudoku 28 ONLINE Visit www.manitobacooperator.ca for daily news and features and our digital edition. (Click on “Digital Edition” in the top right corner.) At our sister site, AGCanada.com, you can use the “Search the AGCanada.com Network” function at top right to find recent Co-operator articles. Select “Manitoba Co-operator” in the pull-down menu when running your search. www.manitobacooperator.ca PHOTO: JEANNETTE GREAVES PUBLISHER Bob Willcox NEWS STAFF Reporters ADVERTISING SERVICES SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES [email protected] Allan Dawson Toll-Free 1-800-782-0794 204-944-5751 Classified Advertising: [email protected] Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. U.S. Subscribers call: 1-204-944-5568 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ 204-435-2392 Phone (204) 954-1415 E-mail: [email protected] EDITORIAL DIRECTOR John Morriss Toll-free 1-800-782-0794 Subscription rates (GST Registration #85161 6185 RT0001) FOR MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1927 [email protected] Shannon VanRaes Canada 204-944-5754 [email protected] ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR 1666 Dublin Avenue 204-954-1413 Arlene Bomback 12 months – $51.45 (incl. 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Canadian Postmaster: [email protected] Return undeliverable Canadian addresses (covers only) to: PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Shawna Gibson TM 204-981-3730 [email protected] Circulation Dept., 1666 Dublin Ave., CANOLA INK 204-944-5763 Winnipeg, MB. R3H 0H1 The Manitoba Co-operator | April 19, 2012 3 The Dig In Challenge is seeking 500 families in Manitoba to spend the next five months learning how to source locally grown food and learning new foods skills. FOOD MATTERS MANITOBA SUPPLIED PHOTO Manitobans challenged to DIG IN Initiative of Food Matters Manitoba challenges Manitobans to spend $10 a week of their grocery money on a local food purchase By Lorraine Stevenson to change their eating habits, describing what they produce 101” workshop hosted by the CO-OPERATOR STAFF said Morrow. while making themselves Manitoba Master Gardeners “Our main goal is “Ultimately we just want available to those who might Association. n urban-based food people to make lifestyle want to learn more about Another hosted by Men- to really promote issues think-tank is changes towards eating local their type of farm, or, if avail- nonite Central Committee healthy, local, A challenging Manito- food,” she said. This isn’t able, buy any foodstuffs the takes a “make Manitoba deli- sustainable and bans to make this the year they another 100-mile diet project, farm is direct selling. cious” approach by offering fair food in the start buying more local food or push to get people making That’s where people without tips and help with canning and and connecting with the peo- drastic changes in their life- links to farmers can “dig in” to preserving. Fruit Share, a vol- province and to ple who grow it. style, she stressed. what it means to connect with untary Winnipeg-based organi- connect consumers The Dig In Challenge is a “We’re asking people to agriculture, by talking directly zation, will host another work- with farmers and five-month initiative of Food make small changes that with farmers, said Morrow.