Portage

When the first bull bursts from the chute, the energy at the MacGregor Stride Centre is electric. For nearly three hours, fans are treated to non-stop action, as riders test their grit against powerful animals in one of the region's most anticipated events. But the North Norfolk Bull Bash on June 7 is more than just a rodeo – it’s a cherished community gathering and an essential fundraiser that supports vital local services.

The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and J4 Agri-Science have announced a new partnership aimed at developing new and enhanced  Faba Bean varieties. This initiative is expected to bring significant improvements to the crop's potential and provide farmers with more options for their rotations.

A remarkable wave of generosity swept across Manitoba this week as communities united for the Manitoba Day of Caring for Wildfire Evacuees — a special, province-wide broadcast that brought together more than 30 radio stations to support those displaced by ongoing wildfires.

Held on Thursday, June 5, the unprecedented collaboration mobilized listeners from Brandon to Steinbach, Thompson to Winkler, and nearly everywhere in between. By the end of the broadcast day, donations had reached $306,073.26 — an incredible show of care and compassion from Manitobans.

The Portage Hurricanes are wrapping up their first full volleyball season on a high note, and the players and coaches say they’re seeing the sport take off again in the area.

Coach and executive director Cam McLean explains the program was created to bring volleyball back to young athletes and help them build toward future opportunities.

“We started this year in a full season,” McLean says. “Our program is designed to try and get young kids back into the sport of volleyball and hopefully position them to go after scholarships down the road.”

Canada’s dwindling farmland base and rising rental costs threaten the country’s agricultural sustainability, researchers warn

Canada’s agricultural sector faces mounting pressure as the country continues to lose farmland to urban development, while some existing acres sit vacant.

That’s according to new research released by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.

Competition for sales is expected to heat up as Russia expects a bigger crop following last year’s disappointing harvest
 

Canada will likely be facing more competition in pea export markets this year.

Russia’s production is expected to rebound after a disappointing 2024-25 harvest, said Gaurav Jain, analyst with AgPulse Analytica.

He is forecasting 5.01 million tonnes of production in 2025-26, up from 3.92 million tonnes last year.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew promoted his province Friday as the route for a future trade corridor, which could include a pipeline, in order to get goods from Western Canada to overseas markets.

"The politics are (that) something needs to get built in Western Canada. I think everybody understands that," Kinew told a breakfast meeting of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.

Abandoned wells are a significant environmental and safety risk. These wells can act as a conduit and allow contaminated surface water to enter the well and severely impact water quality, posing risk to drinking water supplies, as well as plant, animal and aquatic life.

Abandoned wells, especially large diameter wells, are also physical hazards that can result in injury or death to humans or animals who may accidentally fall in. Proper decommissioning of these wells is crucial to protect our water sources and improve public safety.

Saskatchewan farmers now have 97 per cent of the provincial crop in the ground, but now face the challenge of dry conditions.

The federal government's grain monitor Quorum Corporation released its weekly performance update for Grain Week 42.

Space in primary elevators is good - as road bans remain in effect across the prairies, country stocks dropped to 2.34 million metric tonnes. 

Total Western Port terminal stocks increased to 1.52 MMT in Week 42, utilizing 79% of the working capacity.

West Coast unloads were 6,332 cars and 2,051 for Thunder Bay.

The total average terminal out-of-car time (OCT) increased to 15.2% from 6.0% the previous week.