Origins of the self-propelled combine
WHEAT BREEDER LEAVES AAFC Looking for new challenges » Page 19
Classic farming machine » Page 22
June 13, 2013
SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | Vol. 71, No. 24
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Where is AAFC’s wheatbreeding program headed? After closing Winnipeg’s Cereal Research Centre, the federal government has invested $85 million in a new wheat research program in Saskatoon By Allan Dawson co-operator staff
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griculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has led Canadian wheat breeding for more than 100 years, but recent actions by the federal government have some wondering about its future role. A year ago, Ottawa announced it will close AAFC’s venerable Cereal Research Centre on the University of Manitoba’s Winnipeg campus because it would cost too much to upgrade it to modern standards. Many researchers formerly housed there are being transferred to Brandon or Morden. More AAFC budget and staff cuts were included in this year’s federal budget including the closing of AAFC’s Regina research farm and dozens of technicians in all areas. Others have quit because they don’t want to move. Some researchers, including current and past AAFC employees, say splitting up staff will make them less efficient, while synergies are lost by moving from the University of Manitoba campus. See AAFC on page 6 »
Agriculture Canada’s Cereal Research Centre in Winnipeg is being mothballed and its research staff transferred to other locations. photo: shannon vanraes
A new market opens up for Manitoba forage-finished cattle A Minnesota buyer is looking north to supply Target stores in the south By Daniel Winters co-operator staff
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Minnesota-based entrepreneur who has landed a contract supplying grass-finished beef to the retail giant Target says he wants to source at least some of it from Manitoba. Todd Churchill, the entrepreneur behind Thousand Hills Cattle Company, plans to start bringing in cattle from Manitoba as early as this fall.
“We expect to see some pretty good growth and we’re interested in using some Canadian grass-fed cattle,” said Churchill. He has been putting beef on Target shelves for four years now, but in the last 12 months, the number of stores where his products are sold has been increased “significantly.” L a s t s u m m e r, C h u rc h i l l toured a number of Manitoba ranches and liked what he saw, although in a telephone interview recently, he was tight
lipped on the number of cattle he’s looking to source. Jim Lintott, a past president of the Manitoba Grassfed Beef Association, said that group has been steadily growing its own supply for local niche markets via direct sales to consumers, farmers’ markets and restaurants. Five years ago, marketing and finding suitable animals for non-grain-based finishing was a struggle, but now he believes that the window of opportunity
is as large as the front doors of a Target mega-store. “This is a really big opportunity, but if it doesn’t get filled, it just disappears,” said Lintott, adding that becoming a part of Thousand Hill’s supply chain could serve as a quick link for local ranchers to grow their niche. Lintott said Churchill may be looking to source around 50 head per month to start, with the See FORAGE on page 7 »