Insights and Stories of Alexis Stockford

Oct. 20, 2017 at 10:10 am CDT

Cranberry has long been touted as a booster of the human immune system — and it turns out that benefit may also apply to chickens. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research scientist Moussa Diarra has been exploring cranberry as an alternative to antibiotics during the critical first weeks after hatching. “In […]

By Alexis Stockford

Aug. 18, 2017 at 9:28 am CDT

There are some unusual crop combinations springing up southwest of Melita. Experimental intercrops are among the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization (WADO) projects this year, including flax intercropped with soybeans and hemp intercropped with legumes. Pea-canola, an emerging combination already used on some Manitoba farms, and the already established wheat-legume mix […]

By Alexis Stockford

Jul. 21, 2017 at 1:13 pm CDT

To the uninitiated, the field of quinoa stretching out in front of Percy Phillips looks like acres upon acres of lambs’ quarters and, in fact, the common weed is a close genetic relative. This, however, is no patch of weeds. The 10-acre field near Portage la Prairie is one of […]

By Alexis Stockford

Jun. 16, 2017 at 10:48 am CDT

Residents in St. Lazare are back shovelling their steps, but it’s caterpillars, not snow, they’re clearing away in buckets. Droves of forest tent caterpillars have moved through southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan this spring, stripping foliage off deciduous trees and shrubs and leaving behind masses of squashed larvae and fecal matter. […]

By Alexis Stockford

May. 17, 2017 at 3:09 pm CDT

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 […]

By Alexis Stockford