Warren McCutcheon is too young to recall much about the 1988 drought, but based on stories he’s heard, he suspects a combination of factors resulted in many Manitoba farmers faring better after the 2021 drought. The 1988 drought, dubbed at the time ‘the worst since the Dirty ’30s,’ triggered $790 million ($1.57 billion in today’s
Worst crop in 15 years not bad financially for some
Good prices and good crop insurance coverage helped
Seed summit surprise
Seeds Canada says its meetings on changing seed regulations are intended to let more stakeholders provide input
[UPDATED: Jan. 31, 2022] Seeds Canada is hosting an online Seed Summit next month, even as the federal government’s own regulatory review forges ahead. “It’s just including more of the stakeholders that haven’t been included before,” Seeds Canada’s executive director Barry Senft said in an interview Jan. 19 (register at seedsummit.ca). The summit’s announcement in
Canada’s ‘Cinderella crop’ keeps on delivering for farmers
The crop that built a reputation for its high-quality food oil, is expected to see big demand close to home as a low-carbon, renewable fuel
Canada needs more canola. There’s the traditional food market for canola oil, but the renewable fuel market is catching fire — and that’s good for farmers and Canada’s economy, says Chris Vervaet, executive director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA). But more canola seed is needed to take full advantage of the new crushing
Canada’s chief grain inspector knows the grain industry
Derek Bunkowsky says having been a farmer and grain buyer helps him do his job at the Canadian Grain Commission
Derek Bunkowsky, chief grain inspector for Canada, is committed to fulfilling his statutory duties. After all, it’s his signature that is on the Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC) Certificate Final guaranteeing the grade of every bulk export of Canadian grain leaving the country by ship. “I take that very seriously,” Bunkowsky said in an interview Dec.
‘Pleased’ common reaction to ag-minister Bibeau’s mandate letter
But KAP says it wants Ottawa’s plans to encourage cuts in fertilizer and chemical pesticides to be based on science
The word “pleased” comes up often in reactions to Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s Dec. 16, 2021 mandate letter from Prime Minister Trudeau. The 1,921-word document instructs Bibeau to meet agricultural industry challenges, work on reconciliation with First Nations people and maintain constructive relationships with opposition MPs and journalists. “Canadians expect us to work hard, speak truthfully
The drought of 2021 won’t soon be forgotten
Dry weather and near-record heat ended a string of bumper Manitoba crops
Late last winter a farmer friend shared his concern about the 2021 growing season. We’d had almost no snow in southern Manitoba and the previous fall and summer had been dry too. It felt like drought. He was right. As someone present for both I’d say 2021 was the worst drought here since 1988. This
More flexibility proposed for CGC’s binding grade and dockage option
Current regulations for in-person, immediate requests no longer work in the age of the hired trucker
The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is proposing to give farmers more flexibility when it comes to disputing grades and dockage assigned by licensed primary elevators. Under Canada Grain Act regulations if farmers don’t agree with the grade and dockage the buyer assigns, the farmer can ask the CGC to determine it — a process referred
Container crunch coalition calls for government action
TRANSPORT | Shippers say market has ceased to function and Port of Vancouver has become container storage yard
Canada’s shipping container crunch is hurting not just farmers but the entire economy. So says a cross-commodity coalition urging the Canadian government to take the lead in fixing it. “It’s not a normal functioning market,” Greg Northey, Pulse Canada’s vice-president of corporate affairs, said in an interview Dec. 15. Pulse Canada and several farm groups
Contact MCGA if you get more than one election ballot
Despite its best efforts, sometimes a farmer will show up more than once on the Manitoba Canola Growers Association's checkoff list
If a Manitoba canola farmer received more than one ballot for the Manitoba Canola Growers Association’s (MCGA) election they should contact the MCGA’s office for clarification, MCGA executive director Delaney Ross Burtnack said in an interview Wednesday. One Manitoba farmer told the Manitoba Co-operator he received two ballots for the election underway, in which five
Grain movement to Vancouver picking up
Railways seen recovering from B.C. damages faster than many had expected
Western grain movement to the Port of Vancouver was at 60 per cent of normal as of Dec. 15 and is expected to continually improve, Mark Hemmes, Canada’s grain monitor and president of Quorum Corp. said in an interview Wednesday. “I think by next week it’s going to look a lot better,” he said. “Is
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