Understanding Seed Treatments and Seedling Disease
Seed treatments can play an important role against disease, helping to give the newly emerging crop a better start.
Dr. Kelly Turkington, a plant pathologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe says seed treatments can effectively control seed-borne diseases such as Fusarium, spot blotch pathogens in cereals, and loose smut in barley.
Detour season arrives: construction causing travel changes in Portage
Manitoba's second season of the year has arrived: construction season.
That includes 24th St NW, which has been broken open for some water and sewer work.
With that in mind, there will continue to a blockage on the street for at least another couple of weeks.
The hope, according to workers is that the work will be completed shortly, with them transitioning to work on the east end of the parking lot in front of the mall in the coming days.
PCRC offers free voting transportation for local elections
If you need need help to get to a polling station on election day, April 28, you can access free transportation services provided by the Portage Community Revitalization Committee (PCRC). It aims to boost voter turnout by removing barriers for those unable to travel independently.
Mari Kozar, executive director of PCRC, emphasizes the organization’s commitment to civic engagement. "We always want to encourage voting and get people involved in elections," she says. "Hearing about candidates and platforms ensures voters make informed decisions."
Two Portage men arrested in Winnipeg for drug trafficking
North District police arrested three men on drug-related charges following a traffic stop in the William Whyte neighbourhood late Saturday.
On April 20, 2025, at approximately 11:45 p.m., officers patrolling Selkirk Avenue halted a 2019 Dodge Ram travelling without headlights. During the stop, investigators reported discovering evidence of drug trafficking, leading to the arrests of three male occupants.
A search of the vehicle uncovered:
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Approximately 1.3 grams of crack cocaine (estimated street value: $160).
Canadian Wild Pig Summit Returns for Second Year
The second annual Canadian Wild Pig Summit is set to take place on April 29th. This virtual event will feature a morning of presentations focusing on wild pig monitoring programs and recommendations from Indigenous communities regarding the Canadian Invasive Wild Pig Strategy.
Organized by Manitoba Pork, Squeal on Pigs Manitoba, and Animal Health Canada, the summit aims to address the growing wild pig population in Western Canada. These animals pose significant dangers to people and livestock and cause considerable environmental damage.
Western Dairy Expo Kicks Off in Saskatoon
The Western Dairy Expo begins today in Saskatoon, bringing together dairy producers from across Western Canada to showcase the best of the best in the dairy industry.
The event runs through Saturday at Prairieland and is also being live-streamed.
The Expo starts at 2 pm today with junior events, featuring showmanship and a junior show where kids under 21 will present heifers.
Scoreboard/Line-up - Thursday, April 24th
'To honour him': Canadian Bishops, Métis leader, Governor General attending funeral for Pope Francis
Donald Bolen, the archbishop of Regina, is travelling to Vatican City for Saturday’s funeral of Pope Francis – a journey, he says, is to honour a pontiff who mirrored his vision and his compassion.
"When (Francis) put out a book called 'The Name of God is Mercy,' I smiled. Because my episcopal motto is 'mercy within mercy within mercy' — very much that same understanding,” Bolen said in an interview.
"I had enormous respect for Pope Francis through his pontificate.”
Manitoba’s wild pigs not headed for population boom, expert says
Signs say Manitoba’s wild pigs aren’t headed for a population boom, says Wayne Lees, co-ordinator for Squeal on Pigs Manitoba.
“We’ve always heard that, you know, these pigs are going to explode in population,” Lees said. “Our field experience didn’t really support that, so we wanted to start challenging some of these assumptions.”
WHY IT MATTERS: A study from Squeal on Pigs Manitoba appears to show a slower population growth of wild pigs in Manitoba than originally expected.
Portage compost site misuse sparks resident frustration
Residents and officials in Portage la Prairie are again raising alarms over misuse of the city’s yard waste compost site, with prohibited items like plastic waste, household garbage, and even a used vape littering the area. This marks a recurring issue first highlighted by PortageOnline in July 2019, as community members urge better compliance with site rules to protect the facility’s purpose.