MBC120830

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MAKING THE MOST FROM COMPOST Making manure more work better »

AUGUST 30, 2012

SHRINKING SEA ICE SETS NEW » PG 32 RECORD

PG 8

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | VOL. 70, NO. 35

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MANITOBACOOPERATOR.CA

$1.75

New nationwide lamb co-op ready to launch

Weanlings euthanized near Austin The situation is being investigated By Allan Dawson, Shannon VanRaes and Laura Rance

Producer-owned and -controlled co-op to offer five-cent premium over Ontario price

CO-OPERATOR REPORTERS

CO-OPERATOR STAFF / RIVERS

By Daniel Winters

A

P

rovincial officials are investigating a suspected case of animal abuse after 1,300 piglets found in a state of “severe distress” were euthanized at a hog production facility near Austin late last week. The Chief Veterinarian’s Office (CVO) responded to a call reporting the inappropriate treatment of hogs

Publication Mail Agreement 40069240

See WEANLINGS on page 6 »

new, federally incorporated co-op that pledges to eliminate the $20-$25 western freight discount on lambs and breathe new life into the Canadian sheep industry will be ready to launch this fall. The Canadian Lamb Producers Co-operative (CLPC) grew out of the Saskatchewan Sheep Development board’s 2010 Canadian Lamb Initiative, which tested the feasibility of a producer-owned and -controlled marketing arm. Since then, meetings have been held in seven provinces across the country that were attended by over 400 lamb producers. So far, 150 have signed on. Terry Ackerman, the former general manager of the dairyb a s e d O r g a n i c Me a d ow Co-operative in Ontario who is now tasked with setting up the co-operative, said the goal is to recruit at least 300 initially, and 650 within two years. The past six months were spent negotiating with seven provincial governments from British Columbia to Prince

Competitors at the Manitoba Sheep Association annual show and sale in Rivers. Producers from across Canada are establishing a new marketing co-op for lamb, a move that might make the sheep sector more attractive to young entrepreneurs. PHOTO DANIEL WINTERS.

Edward Island to allow the venture an exemption from having to release a prospectus before soliciting membership shares. “As soon as we’re given permission to sell them shares, then we’ll take their money and start buying lambs,” said Ackerman. “That should be within 60-90 days by the time we get everything ironed out.”

The co-op will be the only federally incorporated cooperative in the agriculture sector, and will own and control a corporate entity called the Canadian Lamb Company, staffed by professionals in charge of marketing value-added products such

“There’s one thing that farmers agree on: Do not allow farmers to run the business.” TERRY ACKERMAN

See LAMB CO-OP on page 6 »

WINTER WHEAT: McVet winter wheat data is in » PAGE 18

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12-08-24 3:37 PM


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