Last year was one of the toughest years farmers can remember, plagued with drowned-out seeding, weather-induced quality demotions, and sluggish rail service. But the prices for the 2010 crop made it worth the hassle. “At the end of the day we will see one of the highest overall returns in history, including the second-highest wheat
Small Crop Offers Good Return
CWB Has Staff Retention Plan
The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has a staff retention plan, but the marketing agency’s president and CEO isn’t discussing the details. “These are confidential matters between the staff and the CWB,” Ian White said in an interview Aug. 26. “All we’re doing is trying to… is give staff and ourself the best chance of retaining
Big Canadian Crop Coming, Says StatsCan
While Canadian farmers will produce more wheat and a record-large canola crop in 2011, according to Statistic Canada, Manitoba’s crop production will be well below average. StatsCan estimated in its Aug. 24 report based on a July 11 survey all-wheat production of 24.076 million tonnes, up nearly four per cent from a year ago, and
Sunflower Acres Look To Rebound In 2012
Manitoba sunflower crops are looking good, the problem is there just aren’t that many this year. More than half of the province’s sunflowers are grown in southwestern Manitoba National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) president Kelly Dobson said Aug. 19, during a tour of the Manitoba Crop Evaluation Trials’ (MCVET) sunflower plots. A wet spring
Late Blight Found In Tomatoes
The first case of late blight, the bane of Manitoba tomato growers last year, was confirmed last week on garden tomatoes in Ashern. Five cases of the fungal disease responsible for the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, have been detected in potatoes, including in a “sentinel” plot at the Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre near
Winding Down The Canadian Wheat Board
The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) will be “wound down” if the federal government delivers on its promise to end the board’s single-desk marketing authority next Aug. 1, says CWB chair Allen Oberg. Ottawa, not farmers, should cover the millions of dollars in costs, including employee severances, pensions and delivery contact defaults, the board said in
Feds Short Beef Producers On Aid
Drowned-out Manitoba cattle producers are feeling hung out to dry after last week’s $448-million excess moisture aid announcement by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. The federal government is so far refusing to cost share greenfeed or forage restoration, as was anticipated when the provincial government announced $194 million in aid for Manitoba farmers June 30. The
Churchill’s First Grain Ship Arrives
Churchill’s port may not survive the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board, says Manitoba’s minister through Churchill, then this port doesn’t have a very bright future.” Last week, the MV Pacific Bulker loaded approximately 27,000 tonnes of Canada Western Red Spring wheat destined for Nigeria. Wheat and barley represent most of Churchill’s traffic, Struthers noted.
Time To Line Up Winter Wheat Seed
With an estimated three million unseeded acres in Manitoba, a lot of farmers are expected to seed winter wheat later this month. “The supply (of winter wheat seed) will be good but the demand will be high,” Todd Hyra, SeCan’s business manager for Western Canada said in an interview Aug. 5. “I’d say call your
Falcon wheat to remain a Red Winter, for now
CDC Falcon, Manitoba’s most popular winter wheat, remains a milling wheat in the Canada Western Red Winter wheat (CWRW) class until at least Aug. 1, 2013 — and possibly longer. Todd Hyra, SeCan’s business manager for Western Canada, says some farmers are confused about future changes to the CWRW class. CDC Falcon is still a