Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: No. 4

Conditions as of May 24, 2016

Excellent field and weather conditions allowed seeding operations to continue across Manitoba. Provincially, seeding progress is estimated at 88 per cent complete. Many areas of Manitoba received precipitation over the weekend which was of benefit to crops, hay and pastures. However, additional precipitation would still be welcomed to assist with crop germination, emergence and growth.

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Improving margins support feeder market

Average western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $3-$5 above week-ago levels, with top-quality larger groups trading as much as $8-$10 higher. While current pen closeouts remain underwater, the deferred positions are somewhat brighter, which has rejuvenated buying enthusiasm. Most risk management strategies rely on cattle feeders staying in the game all year. There appears to



(LDCom.com)

Ex-Dreyfus CEO leaves board in latest shakeup

Paris | Reuters — Global agricultural trader Louis Dreyfus Co. announced board changes on Thursday in which former CEO Serge Schoen will leave the group, another step in a leadership shakeup under main shareholder Margarita Louis-Dreyfus. Schoen oversaw rapid growth at the trading house as CEO between 2005 and 2013. Last year, Louis Dreyfus promoted


Editorial: What’s in a name?

Editorial: What’s in a name?

The newly elected Pallister government wasted little time putting its stamp on government in this province. Almost as fast as you can say Ralph Eichler, the provincial department responsible for agriculture got a new name this month: Manitoba Department of Agriculture (MDA). It has a nice simple ring to it. But it also reflects a

Forecast: An unsettled long weekend en route

After a pretty chilly weekend it looks like summer is going to try and move back in during this forecast period, with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures expected. This forecast period will begin with an area of high pressure building to our southeast and an area of low pressure over far Western Canada. Together,



(Bayer.com)

Bayer offers to buy Monsanto in global ag chem shakeout

Reuters — German drugs and chemicals group Bayer AG made an unsolicited takeover offer for U.S. seeds company Monsanto, aiming to create the world’s biggest agricultural supplier and integrate pesticides and seeds markets. Monsanto disclosed the approach on Wednesday before Bayer confirmed its move, though neither gave the proposed terms. Sources said Bayer would pay


This wheat was seeded three weeks ago, but hasn’t germinated. MDA’s Lionel Kaskiw says farmers shouldn’t plant too deeply trying to hit moisture, especially with small seeded crops such as canola and flax, because if the seed germinates it might not survive emergence or be weak.

Manitoba farmers hope for rainy May long

While most city folk are looking forward to a warm, sunny long weekend, many Manitoba farmers are praying for rain. In the meantime, farmers should avoid the temptation to seed deeply to reach moisture, according to Lionel Kaskiw, a Manitoba Department of Agriculture (MDA) farm production advisor based in Souris. ‘I still think if you