The facility, previously owned by U.S.-based Scoular, has been bought by Orenda Commodity Services Ltd. out of Ste. Agathe. The deal includes all of Scoular’s sunflower and wild bird food blending business, according to a Jan. 20 release from the Nebraska company.

“Running two facilities, that’ll do two things,” said Nicolas Nordick, assistant general manager with Orenda. “It’ll obviously grow our throughput in a year, and what it’ll also do is it will give us a bit of flexibility if ever there is breakdowns or whatever. We can keep servicing our customers and also our producers as well. We can keep receiving loads in either facility.”

WHY IT MATTERS: Local farmer contracts with Orenda are expected to jump significantly with a new sunflower facility under the company’s umbrella.

According to the Jan. 20 release, the new owners are a family-owned, “vertically integrated operation with farming roots in the Woodlands (region),” who create custom seed mixes for both bird food and human consumption. The Winkler plant is set up for both streams, Scoular said.

According to Orenda’s website, their business spans special crops commodity marketing, farm sourcing, processing, custom bird food blending, packaging and shipping. As well as sunflower varieties, the company cites crops like millet, milo, safflower and canary seed.

Smooth transition expected

Winkler facility staff will carry over into the new ownership, according to Nordick.

“There’s a very solid crew down in Winkler that mesh really well with our crew in Ste. Agathe — a lot of long-term employees, and that is just very rewarding for us on our end, being the new kids on the block, that they are willing to stay on,” he said.

The company expects farmer contracts will jump with the addition.

“If we’ve got two mouths to feed, we’ve got to service that many more pounds, so it’ll keep growing for sure,” Nordick said.

According to the Jan. 20 release, Orenda employs 80 staff across four locations in Manitoba.

The post Manitoba sunflower plant gets local owners appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Why it matters: Canadian canola could see increased European demand if more Ukrainian rapeseed is processed domestically instead of making its way into export channels.

Ukraine is the world’s leading exporter of sunflower oil, but production may decline significantly in the 2025/26 season as drought and high temperatures in the southern regions of the country have significantly reduced the sunflower harvest.

ASAP Agri analyst Victoria Blazhko told the Latifundist agricultural website that Ukraine’s 2025 sunflower seed harvest could total 10.4 million tonnes from about 12 million tonnes in 2024.

The consultancy has consistently lowered its harvest forecast to 10.4 million tonnes from 10.8 million tonnes and 11.4 million tonnes due to deteriorating weather conditions.

Blazhko said Ukraine has the capacity to process at least 20 million tonnes of oilseeds a year, and with the low sunseed crop, companies have started processing soybeans and rapeseed. Exports of soybeans and rapeseed were effectively halted at the start of the season due to the introduction of a 10 per cent export duty.

She said that rapeseed processing was likely to reach a record 1.4 million tonnes compared to 490,000 tonnes last season, while soybean processing was expected to rise to three million tonnes from 2.8 million tonnes.

“Domestic processing is increasingly replacing exports, and the balance in the market is shifting in favour of processing factories,” Blazhko said.

In previous seasons, Ukraine has exported most of its rapeseed and soybean harvest.

Analyst APK-Inform said last month Ukrainian sunflower oil output could decrease to 5.13 million tonnes in 2025/26 from 5.24 million tonnes in 2024/25 and 6.63 million tonnes in 2023/24.

APK-Inform also said Ukrainian soybean exports could fall to 2.43 million tonnes in 2025/26 from 4.16 million tonnes in 2024/25, while exports of rapeseed may fall to 2.35 million tonnes from 3.14 million tonnes in 2024/25.

— Reporting by Pavel Polityuk

The post Ukraine increases rapeseed, soybeans processing as sunflower crop falls, analyst says appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

The pending commercialization of one of their hybrids is a milestone for the Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), the commodity group that represents the province’s sunflower growers. The organization has invested in its own sunflower breeding program. In October of last year, the MCA said they had put licences for two Manitoba-developed hybrids out to tender. U.S. farmer-owned co-operative CHS has opted in for one of those hybrids, the MCA has confirmed.

WHY IT MATTERS: Locally developed genetics could make confection sunflowers more attractive to growers.

A limited amount of seed is expected to hit the market for growers to access for the 2026 growing season.

It’s a major milestone for the group’s breeding program. It marks the first time a homegrown confection hybrid will be broadly accessible to Prairie growers.

“It’s a win for farmers and for the MCA,” said Katherine Stanley, the group’s research program manager for special crops.

Road to seed market

The MCA has registered two hybrids so far, after more than a decade of research and farmer investment: MCA 359239 and MCA 359306. CHS has chosen to produce MCA 359239, marketing it under the simplified name MCA 359.

The second hybrid is still available if other seed producers show interest but, for now, Stanley is just thrilled to have reached this milestone.

“We’re super excited to see one of our hybrids that performs really well under Manitoba conditions making it out into the field,” she said.

CHS’s sunflower division, based in North Dakota, will handle seed production and marketing. While seed volumes will still be scaling up next year, Stanley said interest from Manitoba producers has already been strong.

Made in Manitoba, for Manitoba

Confection sunflowers are one crop that has long struggled with outdated genetics. The most widely grown confection hybrid in recent years has been Nuseed’s 6946 DMR. It was registered more than a decade ago and developed primarily for U.S. conditions. It also lacks herbicide resistance traits.

Manitoba is Canada’s biggest producer of confection sunflower seeds, but in recent years, through a combination of marketing and agronomic challenges, the edible varieties have taken a backseat to sunflower varieties produced for oil.

The new MCA-developed hybrid is designed to change that. MCA 359 carries Group 2 herbicide resistance and early maturity. The breeding program also focused on disease tolerance and wind resistance—traits that matter in Prairie fields vulnerable to lodging and disease pressure.

“Manitoba farmers who are interested in growing confections, now have a crop that can perform for them,” Stanley said. “That’s our No. 1 outcome.”

According to MCA performance trials published in the Seed Manitoba 2025 guide, MCA 359 yielded 109 per cent compared to the check variety, Nuseed’s 6949 DMR. It also matured about two days earlier and stood roughly two inches taller than the check, offering growers a small but practical edge.

Unlike oil-bound sunflowers, confection crops are also sold with minimal processing. Appearance and flavour are critical.

“There’s a lot more things that need to be considered,” Stanley said. “Even things like the seed colour and the number of stripes, whether it is black or gray-black, never mind all the flavour profiles and the per cent nut meat.”

Because Manitoba’s confection sunflowers are typically shipped to North Dakota for processing and often blended with U.S. product, Canadian hybrids must visually match their American counterparts. That adds another layer of complexity to breeding work. Stanley said MCA’s goal was to give farmers a variety that could compete agronomically, while meeting the strict aesthetic standards of the confection trade.

With MCA 359 poised for commercial release, Stanley said the alliance will keep refining its breeding efforts as long as farmers see value in the crop.

The post Made-in-Manitoba sunflower hybrid heads to market appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Rain delayed harvest progress throughout much of Manitoba, with Kane in the central region receiving the most at nearly 78 millimetres, while Poplarfield in the Interlake got four.

Harvest progress

The weekly provincial crop report said combining of winter wheat and fall rye is 100 per cent complete. The winter wheat yielded 50 to 80 bushels per acre and the fall rye ranged from 60 to 100.

Of the other reported crops being combined around the province:

• Field peas 99 per cent done, yielding 30 to 75 bu./ac.

• Spring wheat 79 per cent harvested, yielding 50 to more than 60 bu./ac.

• Barley 77 per cent finished, yielding 60 to 70 bu./ac.

• Oats 63 per cent complete, yielding 100 to 150 bu./ac.

• Canola 18 per cent finished, yielding 30 to 60 bu./ac.

Of those Manitoba crops yet to see their harvests get underway, the corn was in the R5 (dent) stage, flax reached the brown capsule stage, and the majority of sunflowers have finished flowering. Also, the dry beans are in the R8 to R9 growth stages and most soybeans are at R6 to R7.

Manitoba Ag reported spring wheat conditions have remained very firm at 80 to 90 per cent good to excellent, with fair ratings holding at 10 to 20 per cent.

Forages, pastures

With the recent frosts, producers are cautioned to watch for elevated levels of nitrates in greenfeed, crop silage still standing or in cereal regrowth.

Rainy cool weather slowed regrowth on pastures and hay lands with the frost delaying it even more. Cattle producers continued to make their way through their second cut of hay, with poor yields. Dairy producers were working on their third cut, with yields better than their second cut.

Pastures across Manitoba are reported to be in good shape with cattle remaining on them. However, rivers and dugout water levels are quite low.

The post Manitoba farmers focused on harvesting appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Combining reached 29 per cent completion, the province’s weekly crop report said. The winter wheat and fall rye harvests were 99 per cent complete, while field peas were at 95 per cent. Barley and spring wheat were at 65 and 59 per cent, respectively, while oats were at 41 per cent. Canola was 10 per cent combined.

The most rainfall was recorded at Kane in the central region at 60.3 millimetres, with Dominion City in the east and Newdale in the southwest receiving 31.2 and 30.9 mm, respectively. Several areas across Manitoba received no rainfall.

Total precipitation accumulations this season were below 60 per cent compared to the 30-year average in the Interlake and parts of the Northwest and Eastern regions. Parts of the Southwest have accumulated higher than normal precipitation levels since May 1.

Spring wheat conditions ranged from 80 to 90 per cent good to excellent, while producing 50 to 60 bushels per acre. Winter wheat yields ranged from 50 to 80 bu./ac., while fall rye was at 60 to 110. Barley was at 60 to 70 bu./ac., while oats were at 100 to 150. Most corn was in the R5 (dent) stage of growth.

Canola yields were from 45 to 60 bu./ac. as swathing and desiccation were ongoing. Flax was in the brown capsule stage and most sunflowers have completed flowering. Avian Control, a bird repellent, received emergency registration in sunflowers to reduce damage by blackbirds. However, the treatment, which can be applied up to the day of harvest, can cause damage such as leaf discolouration.

Field pea yields ranged from 30 to 75 bu./ac., averaging approximately 60 bu./ac. Dry beans were in the R7 and R8 stages, while most soybeans were in the R5 and R6 stages.

Warm weather and improved moisture conditions in some areas allowed pastures to regrow, providing extra grazing days for livestock. Second cut harvest yields for beef producers were below-average and dairies were on their third cut, which were seeing higher yields than the second cut. Slough hay and straw yields appeared to be average. Silage corn harvest is set to begin in two weeks as most corn were in the dent stage.

Cattle on pasture were in good condition while producers monitor for foot rot, fly pressure and pneumonia. Water levels were mixed, causing some producers to move cattle or haul water. Winter feed supplies were also mixed with some producers sourcing additional feed and others with a surplus selling their own.

The post Manitoba Crop Report: Harvest nearly one-third complete appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Bird repellent product Avian Control has received approval for emergency use, Manitoba Agriculture noted in a recent provincial crop update.

WHY IT MATTERS: Flocks of blackbirds can do significant damage to sunflower fields as they feed heavily in the lead up to migration.

The emergency registration, effective from Aug. 18, 2025, through Aug. 17, 2026, allows producers to apply the methyl anthranilate-based repellent up until harvest day, said a crop pest update issued Aug. 21.

“It’s a new product, and we’re looking to get some feedback on it, too,” Kim Brown, weed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, said during an Aug. 27 webinar hosted by Manitoba Ag. “It’s an emergency registration, which means it may not be a full registration. Going forward, it’ll be evaluated.”

The ag department and the Manitoba Crop Alliance, which represents sunflower growers in the province, have previously worked towards the emergency registration.

Timing critical for blackbird management

The approval comes at a crucial time for sunflower producers.

University of North Dakota research suggests most blackbird damage happens during a narrow window in fall when bird populations peak alongside mature, unharvested crops. In a previous interview with the Co-operator, Manitoba Ag oilseed specialist Sonia Wilson pointed to particular concern during September and October.

The challenge is compounded by the birds’ flocking behaviour. When blackbirds target a field, damage can be swift and severe, with the birds moving collectively and concentrating feeding activity in specific areas.

Avian Control’s manufacturer, Avian Enterprises, claims their research has found pest birds cause up to US$3 billion in annual agricultural damage across North America, with individual crop losses ranging from 20 to 87 per cent in severely affected fields. In Manitoba’s neighbour, North Dakota, sunflower growers lose an estimated $3.5 million annually due to blackbird damage.

How the repellent works

Avian Control works by irritating birds’ sensory systems, forcing them to seek feeding areas elsewhere, according to a white paper publication by Avian Enterprises. It doesn’t permanently harm, the company added.

Unlike traditional scare tactics such as audio devices or visual deterrents, the chemical approach creates lasting behavioral changes in pest bird populations, the paper said.

The repellent creates an ultraviolet “stain” visible to birds but not humans, which serves as a warning signal that trained birds learn to avoid. The product does not penetrate crop tissues, preserving the natural taste of treated sunflowers, Avian Enterprises says.

The active ingredient, methyl anthranilate, occurs naturally in some fruits and flowers and is considered “generally regarded as safe” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The compound has been approved for bird control in the U.S. for several years.

“It’s a bird repellent. It’s not a control,” said John Gavloski, entomologist with Manitoba Ag. “It doesn’t kill blackbirds.”

Brown and Gavloski believe the product may be valuable to producers, if proven effective through field testing. They’re now putting the call out for producers willing to share real-world field experience.

“We’re still looking for more information on this product, so if anyone does use this product, we’d be really interested to know how effective it was,” Gavloski said.

“It’s something that we need to evaluate going forward. But it is a brand-new product,” Brown echoed. “If it works, it would be a great tool to have, because we know that blackbirds can cause lots of issues.”

Avian Enterprises argues that Avian Control breaks away from earlier methyl anthranilate products based on better stability and more ability to withstand rain. Previous formulations had an efficacy window of two to three days, the company said. The newer chemistry is supposed to provide protection for up to 14 days under field conditions.

Filling a gap in crop armour

Manitoba producers currently rely on various strategies to limit blackbird damage, including visual deterrents, harassment techniques with noise makers or drones and sound devices that mimic predator calls. Results though, have been mixed, and some producers have found certain audio deterrents more successful than others.

The chemical repellent is a different tactic that could complement existing management strategies, advocates note, particularly since traditional methods often require constant monitoring and adjustment.

Safety and application guidelines

Manitoba Ag recommends withholding application if rain is expected within 12 hours. The methyl anthranilate may also cause temporary leaf discoloration or burn, prompting recommendations that producers test small areas before spraying the wider field.

“One of the things on the label that’s worth noting is that it’s recommended just to do small groups of plants first and observe things for five to seven days before you do a much bigger area, just in case there is any potential damage to plants,” Gavloski said.

The post Bird repellent gets emergency approval for sunflowers appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Locusts, which can destroy huge areas of crops in a matter of days, traditionally breed in secluded places along rivers or in uncultivated areas, and controlling that is almost impossible in regions neighbouring the frontline.

Why it matters: Locusts are destroying crops in Ukraine, a major global exporter of grain and oilseeds.

The situation is complicated by record high temperatures this summer, the inability to use aircraft for locust control and the absence of birds – locusts’ natural predators – which are avoiding the combat zone.

Local and government officials declined to provide data on the extent of the locust infestation or damage caused so far. Ukraine is the world’s largest sunflower oil exporter and before the war ranked fifth among wheat exporters.

Swarms of locusts are covering roads, fields and bushes in Zaporizhzhia region and farmers say the insects have destroyed up to a third of their sunflower crops.

“We saw a big swarm. And the next day the ‘infantry’ marched in. The small ones, they ate everything that was hanging low, they ate everything,” said Oleh Tolmatov, 46, a resident of Kushuhum village in Zaporizhzhia region.

Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, has partially occupied the southern Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kherson, forcing farmers to abandon their fields.

Grains and oilseeds are traditional crops for these regions.

“The reason for all of this is high temperatures, the reason for all of this is abandoned land, the reason for all of this is the corresponding Russian aggression,” Vadym Chaikovskyi, Ukraine’s Chief Phytosanitary Inspector, told Reuters.

Denys Marchuk, deputy head of Ukraine’s largest farm producers’ union UAC, said that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River by Russian troops two years ago had created huge swampy areas where locusts are breeding.

Kyiv says that Russia blew up the Kakhovka dam in the summer of 2023, draining thousands of square kilometres of the former reservoir and leaving farms and Europe’s largest nuclear power plant without water.

— Reporting by Sergiy Chalyi

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That’s 10 points more than where planting was last week and 10 above the five-year average. Also, it’s 12 points more than where farmers were this time last year.

The Manitoba crop report said the province’s east, northwest and Interlake regions have precipitation accumulations of 60 per cent below normal. However, the southwest and central region are upwards to 140 per cent above accumulations.

Over the last week, Sprague in the province’s southeast corner received the most rain at 4.7 millimetres, far more than the rest of the province. Most other areas had very little to no rain.

Cereals

The report said farmers have finished planting their spring wheat, while oats and barley were at 97 per cent complete. Cereal growth ranged from the two-leaf to five-leaf stage, depending on the crop and when it was planted. Some of the spring wheat was tillering.

As for the winter cereals, the winter wheat was at the flag leaf to boot stage and the fall rye at boot to head emergence.

Corn planting, for grain and silage, was finished and many fields were at the V1 to V2 stage.

Oilseeds

Farmers were still planting their oilseeds, with flax three-quarters finished, canola at 90 per cent, soybeans at 93 per cent and sunflowers just short of completion at 98 per cent. The report said emerged canola ranged from the cotyledon to the five-leaf stage.

Pulses

The province’s field peas were all planted, with the crop at the two to five node stage, while farmers hit 90 per cent sown for their dry beans.

Forages

The report said dairy producers were making their first cut of alfalfa in parts of the Interlake and central regions. However, forages need moisture.

As of June 4, rain is in the weather forecast come the weekend and the latter part of the coming week.

The post Spring planting in Manitoba close to finished appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

The current pace stood 12 points above the five-year average, rather remarkable given the amount of rain Manitoba received over the last eight days.

For cereals, the report said most of the province’s spring wheat has been seeded, while oats and barley catching up. Also, the winter wheat and fall rye were in average to above average condition.

Among the oilseeds, the planting of sunflowers was more than 80 per cent finished, with canola and flax at 30 per cent each.

Manitoba Ag placed soybeans at 40 per cent planted.

For the pulses, field peas reached 96 per cent complete while dry beans were getting started.

The department noted the largest amount of rainfall was 88.5 millimetres in the Morden area, down to 3.2 mm in the Elma area.

The cooler temperatures Manitoba has experienced has slowed forage growth, but that and pasture conditions are expected to improve. However, in the province’s southeast recent wildfires adversely impacted pastures and infrastructure.

Nearly all of Manitoba’s corn for silage or for grazing has been planted.

The ag department reported a number of pests are active, including striped and cruciferous beetles, dingy cutworms, wireworms in the central region. In the Interlake, flea beetles are becoming more common and there have been low counts of diamondback moths in traps.

The post Manitoba seeding 12 points ahead of pace appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

This spring has seen a return of worries seen in other dry years: emergence concerns for oilseeds, seed treatment efficacy and soil crusting.

“It definitely has cooled off from the heat we’ve been getting, and maybe that’ll bring some rain on, but right now there’s no rain in some areas,” said Lionel Kaskiw, a crop production specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, on May 14.

WHY IT MATTERS: Manitoba has suffered string of grass fires and out of control wildfires that have damaged property, led to evacuations in northern and eastern Manitoba and killed two people due to lack of moisture this spring.

The May 13 Manitoba Crop report noted that most areas had seen less than half their normal moisture at that point in May.

About 32 per cent of Manitoba’s cropland had been seeded in those conditions, according to Manitoba Agriculture data.

“I think any rains we have been getting have been the spotty-type showers that maybe only hit a small area, “ Kaskiw said.

Turn in the weather

Even as Kaskiw spoke, however, there was hope of rain.

Overland flood warning were issues for parts of western Manitoba due to significant rainfall expected coming into the May long weekend.

May 15, which had the heaviest rainfall forecast, saw up to 47 millimetres fall on the southwest and up to 36 millimetres in the Interlake, although Interlake totals were much more sporadic and some areas registered little precipitation. In the fire-imperiled east, most totals for the day came in under 25 millimetres, while the northwest tapped out at 20 millimetres in most areas.

Central Manitoba, meanwhile, saw the heaviest rain. Over 63 millimetres fell on Somerset, according to Manitoba Agriculture, and accumulations between 30-50 millimetres were widespread.

At the same time, temperatures plummeted from record highs and heat warnings to near freezing.

It’s a trend Kaskiw hopes doesn’t last too long.

“We don’t want the same situation as last year, where we had some emergence problems with canola because of the wet, cool conditions,” he noted.

Canola emergence dependent on moisture levels

The small, shallow-seeded canola seeds need moisture in the top inch of soil, experts noted.

“Having just a bit of moisture for it to be able to pop through is really key,” said Sonia Wilson, an oilseeds specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.

For those that missed rain in the third week of May, rough stubble and crusting may be a problem, she noted.

High clay soils are particularly susceptible to crusting. Light tillage can help, but it will also eat away at moisture, she warned

Warm temperatures have also led to rapid weed growth on oilseed fields.

“Those…weeds, even if they are small, are taking moisture away from those smaller seeded crops as well,” Wilson said.

Oilseed producers facing dry conditions during seeding have a few options, Wilson said.

Producers are generally warned against chasing moisture. Seeding slightly deeper is an option, Wilson noted, but cautioned that it’s a risky choice.

“It’s going to affect the canola emergence, and then also potentially, if it’s emerging poorly, (it could) also lead to a thinner stand and, potentially, more flea beetle damage per plant,” she said.

Wilson recommends seeding from half an inch to one inch deep, though one inch is preferable.

“I would personally shy away from 0.5 inches, just because of the high winds that we’re experiencing as well, and the soil movement,” she said.

Depth should be consistent, and good packing on the seed row is necessary to protect the seeds from high winds. Seed depth should be checked after a pass or two to ensure consistency.

Sometimes, she added, it’s preferable to decrease seeding speed to achieve precision.

Flax and sunflower considerations in dry conditions

Flax is particularly challenged by dry conditions. It’s roots don’t go as deep as some other oilseed crops.

“It really requires having a moist, firm, even seed bed as much as possible to really help support its emergence,” Wilson said.

She puts flax seeding depth as one to one-and-a-half inches deep.

“If there is some moisture in that top one-and-a-half inch, then ensure that there’s really good packing for seed bed and moisture, especially with the high winds we’re seeing. Make sure your flax is packed good,” Wilson said.

Sunflowers should be seeded at one-and-a-half to two inches deep. They can be planted a little deeper than two inches if soil moisture is lacking, webinar attendees heard.

Sunflower seeds can sit safely in the soil before germinating, and the plant has deep roots that will allow it to pull moisture and nutrients from the soil, making them hardier against dry conditions.

“In terms of root structure, to get those seedlings going, it is one of the best crops,” Wilson said. “Check that depth, just to make sure it’s consistent for seeding.”

Seed treatment effectiveness

Seed treatments are also vulnerable to dry conditions.

The product activates at germination. After that, in the case of flea beetles, it’s a race to get the crop growing and thriving before the treatment effectiveness window runs out.

Heavy rains, on the other hand, can risk diluting seed treatments, which can lead to fewer days of protection, webinar attendees hear.

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