CNS Canada — Hog prices might have regained some value in recent days, but many producers are still a long way from profitability, according to the chair of Manitoba Pork. That’s why lenders such as Farm Credit Canada, who show they understand the needs of producers who are dependent on commodity markets, are appreciated, said

Hog producers continue struggle toward profitability

Manitoba auctions attract lots of lighter cattle
Feeder markets are expected steady through to Christmas
Harold Unrau, manager of Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart, has some advice for cattle producers who might be looking at thinning their herds. Look for other options first — sell calves early, maybe even potential replacement animals, depending on the situation — before selling cows. “It’s a bad time to reduce your herd, because butcher cows

Feed weekly outlook: Manitoba corn seems headed for lower yields
CNS Canada — Manitoba’s corn crop harvest is getting underway earlier than expected, which could point to potential yield problems. While it’s too early to provide firm yield estimates, Morgan Cott, field agronomist for the Manitoba Corn Growers Association, said some high-moisture corn was already harvested in mid-September, and regular grain corn harvest got underway

Sunflowers look good overall, bumper crops for some
CNS Canada — Luc Remillard expects to be one happy farmer next week. He’s expecting to get into sunflower fields on land he farms with his father in Manitoba’s southern Red River Valley. “It’s right up there with any bumper crop that we’ve had the valley here,” he said. Remillard, who farms near St. Joseph,

Mustard crops middling, should fare better than 2017’s
CNS Canada — Kevin Hursh expects he’ll soon hear some good news on his brown mustard crop. “It was probably my only crop that is going to make me a little bit of money,” he said. He’s still waiting to hear about grading based on the samples he shipped off to the lab, but he’s

Feed weekly outlook: Downgrades likely for Alberta crops
CNS Canada — Snow and wet weather through a large swath of northern and central Alberta are causing havoc for farmers and will likely put more feed grains into the market. But normal harvest price discounts are still not as great as expected, said Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton. Feed grain prices

Manitoba cattle values steady with Ontario, U.S. interest
Producers face both higher feed costs and a falling loonie
Manitoba cattle auctions reported strong prices this week amid good interest from the U.S. and Ontario. Prices slipped slightly, but remain at relatively strong levels, according to Manitoba Beef Producers general manager Brian Lemon and Brian Perillat of cattle market analysis firm Canfax. “Prices are still down a bit. But they are still softening from

Grain firms warn of competitive fairness on Churchill assistance
CNS Canada — The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) wants assurances that any government incentives used to upgrade the rail line to Churchill, Man., and the port there are not used to support competing businesses. Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the WGEA, said the organization’s membership of major grain-handling companies are concerned their competitors could

Ontario bean production seen well above StatsCan estimate
CNS Canada — Ontario bean growers are voicing skepticism of Statistics Canada’s Aug. 31 bean production estimates. Estimates by the Ontario Bean Growers organization suggest farmers are poised to harvest about 101,495 tonnes this year — 28.5 per cent above the Statistics Canada number of 79,000 tonnes. OBG chair Jim Gowland said his organization reaches

First widespread frost lands on Prairies
CNS Canada — Farmers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are waiting nervously for damage reports from Tuesday night’s frost. In Manitoba, fields between Riding Mountain National Park and Duck Mountain Provincial Park were hit with sustained frosts. “There are a few areas where they had a long duration of a light frost and that’s as bad