Manitoba cooperator

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Digging Deeper

Digital Detection

4-H’ers examine soil health » PG 18

A high-tech read on animals » PG 14

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | Vol. 75, No. 32 | $1.75

August 10, 2017

Brandon University launches new drone training New course gives students opportunity to become certified drone pilots BY LORRAINE STEVENSON Co-operator staff

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randon University will be one of the first postsecondary institutions in Canada to offer an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pilot ground school when it introduces a course credit for taking the program this fall. Pilot training schools now offer similar training but not university course credits.

Publication Mail Agreement 40069240

See DRONES on page 7 »

manitobacooperator.ca

Hemp industry looks to overcome growing pains Hemp yields have jumped as agronomy and varieties improve, but now processors on are the hunt for new markets to deal with oversupply risk BY ALEXIS STOCKFORD Co-operator staff

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emp is no longer a complete novelty — but it isn’t exactly mainstream either. It occupies the somewhat risky middle ground of being better established, but still niche. There’s plenty of interest in growing it, but that capacity could swamp markets that are still developing. Market research by Man­ itoba Harvest, one of the province’s major hemp processors, showed less than three per cent of Canadians and less than one per cent of Americans have tried hempbased foods. “Even though it’s been legalized here in Canada for almost 20 years, it is still an emerging market,” Kelly Saunderson, public affairs manager with Manitoba Harvest said. “We’re still very much building consumer demand for it.” Hemp acres have risen dramatically, but not steadily, in Manitoba since the crop was legalized in 1998. From 2001 to 2006, industrial hemp See HEMP on page 6 »

Jeff Kostuik, central region director of operations for Hemp Genetics International, speaks on hemp agronomy and variety improvements during a field day in Melita July 25.   Photo: Alexis Stockford

COUNT ON US Esso ® is a registered trademark of Imperial Oil Limited. Imperial Oil Licensee. CPS CROP PRODUCTION SERVICES and Design is a registered trademark of Crop Production Services, Inc. |

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