PembinaValley

A very strong showing at the plate, in the field and on the mound, capped off by his first career home run, propelled U13 South Central Cubs star Graydon Funk to being named Player of the Month for June.

"I just love baseball," the Morden product says with a smile. "I fell in love with the sport really early. I practiced a lot and I just fell in love with it. I grew up playing it a lot. I practiced a lot at home until I got to U11, then I could get into the more competitive stuff, which I really like."

They’re getting ready to scale some impressive heights at Soaring Eagle H.D. Truck Parts.

Ryan Ness of the Canadian Climate Institute says he's been following the "terrible tragedy" of deadly flash flooding unfolding in Texas, where more than 100 people have died.

But he's also worried Canada isn't doing enough to prevent such disasters here, saying the country needs to invest in flood mapping, infrastructure and early warning systems.

"Luckily, there are many ways that we can protect ourselves, but we have to make the effort," said Ness, who is the research director for adaptation at the policy research organization.

The first of several disturbances this week brought another round of precipitation to parts of the Pembina and Red River Valley on Monday, the third time its rained in some locations since Canada Day.

"That may not sound that notable," explained CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. "But some places in May and June only had rain two or three times over the course of the respective month. After the area was starting to talk about getting dry, for much of the region, we are catching up on that moisture deficit we had since the start of Spring."

The 2026 Census of Agriculture questionnaire has now been published on the Statistics Canada website.

The census is conducted every five years with the last Agriculture Census being done in 2021.

For the 2026 Census of Agriculture, new categories have been added under the commodity questions to identify emerging agricultural products. 

Questions on agricultural practices have been expanded to include environmental practices and environmental sustainability.

The Calgary Stampede is officially underway, along with the rodeo, midway and live entertainment... the event also showcases agriculture and Alberta's ranching history

It's a chance to step back in time and experience life on the farm and ranch, with the Vintage Tractor Pull and Blacksmith showcase;  to the Heavy Horse, Cutting Horse, and Team Cattle Penning competitions; Chuckwagon races, to the Junior Steer Classic, the International Youth Livestock Supreme Championship and Scholarships, the World Stock Dog Championships, and International Livestock Auctioneer Championships.

Waterhemp has been changed to a Tier 2 weed in 28 Manitoba municipalities where the invasive weed is now too established to eradicate

There’s too much waterhemp in parts of Manitoba for total destruction to be feasible in those areas, according to Manitoba Agriculture.

The invasive species has been downgraded from a Tier 1 to a Tier 2 noxious weed in 28 municipalities where it has dug a foothold, Manitoba Agriculture has said.

Industry is applauding the federal government’s progress toward a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank after it awarded supply contracts to two companies.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Biogenesis Bago SA will supply vaccine products and develop the vaccine bank.

Canadian Cattle Association Saskatchewan director and former Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association president Garner Deobald, who formerly worked for Boehringer, said both companies are well respected and were good choices.

“I think it is important, for sure, to be ready,” he said.

The Manitou Agricultural Fair was a hub of family fun last weekend, with the community coming together to organize a wide range of activities, from 4-H and horse shows to trying out farm equipment.  

Wildfires that had receded in northern Manitoba have begun to roar back, forcing a wave of new evacuations and a major hub for people living in the north to declare a state of emergency. 

The province reported 81 active fires on Monday with 16 of those threatening communities, leaving some residents to leave their homes immediately, flee a second time or prepare to leave on a moment's notice. 

Fire is threatening the northern city of Thompson and its 13,000 residents, resulting in officials declaring a local state of emergency effective until Aug. 6.