Agritruth’s Adam Gurr (l) and Stephen Vajdik hope to generate robust, field-scale data on everything from nutrient management to varieties and product testing.

Going big with on-farm research

The plots may be supersized, but the questions that privately owned Agritruth Research looks to answer could have come from any farmer in Western Canada

Reading Time: 6 minutes If you go driving down Highway 110 east of Brandon, Man., you probably won’t notice you’re passing a research farm. There are no chemical or seed company signs dotting the field edge, nor any grids of those tiny, distinct plots that are normally a dead giveaway that agricultural research is underway. There is no small-batch […] Read more

In 2007, mean protein in western Canadian peas (both yellow and green) peaked at 24.7 per cent.

Pea protein a focus ahead of new processing plant coming to Manitoba

Construction won't begin until next year, but researchers are on the hunt for ways to boost protein content in yellow peas

Reading Time: 4 minutes Pea researchers have a new focus on protein as plans for the world’s largest protein-based pea-processing plant move ahead in Portage la Prairie. The Roquette plant has been big news for Manitoba’s pea industry. In January, the French-based specialty food and pharmaceutical excipient supplier announced $400 million for the plant, expected to employ 150 people […] Read more


Line of black Angus cattle looking at the camera with blank blue sky

New mentorship program looks to connect Angus breeders

New Angus breeders will be given the opportunity to pick more experienced brains on industry concerns, business development and day-to-day decisions through a mentorship program

Reading Time: 3 minutes What kind of advice can an Angus breeder in the Maritimes give to a breeder in Manitoba? If their management practices are similar enough, they might be about to find out. Participating long-term breeders will be paired off with industry newcomers this summer after the Canadian Angus Association launched its national mentorship program June 10. […] Read more

(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Manitoba confirms fourth PED case of year

Reading Time: 3 minutes Another finisher barn in southeastern Manitoba has tested positive for porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in the province’s fourth on-farm case of the disease this year. Manitoba Pork Council general manager Andrew Dickson said barn staff noticed symptoms Sunday. Tests were taken the following day with results confirmed Tuesday. “That doesn’t mean every pig in the […] Read more