News & Farming Articles - Manitoba Co-operator

Record grain movement in May

Another month, another record

By Allan Dawson June 12, 2020

Canada’s two major railways moved a record amount of grain in May. For CN Rail May marked the third monthly record in a row having shipped 2.5 million tonnes of grain up from 2.4 million in May 2014, it said in a news release June 1. CP Rail moved 2.8 million tonnes of grain in May, beating its previous record set in May

The twisted frame of a cultivator tells the tale of a bad experience with a frost boil this spring near Somerset.

News, Other

The year of the frost boil

The ground in rural Manitoba had some extra obstacles this spring, and farmers say it’s been hard on equipment

By Alexis Stockford June 12, 2020

Les McEwan knows all about headaches caused by frost boils. He had just turned onto the gravel road after working up one of his fields near Somerset in mid-May. He was going slow, still folding up the wings of his cultivator. “I felt the tractor hit the soft spot in the road and I’m thinking, ‘Gee, I better be

Fields near St. Laurent show frost damage after cold temperatures May 30.

Forages, News

Weather divides first blush look at hay

The first hay fields are being cut and producers in the west are looking at some of their first good hay stands in several years, although the eastern part of the province is less cheery.

By Alexis Stockford June 12, 2020

Hay producers have some hope that the last two years of difficulty are behind them, at least in the western part of the province. Initial reports suggest hay stands look promising in most of the province, although some frost damage was noted in the east as of the end of May. Why it matters: Manitoba’s

Canadian potato growers could soon benefit from the AgriRecovery program, and a surplus food-buying program for food banks.

News

Details on food buyback coming soon

Market disruptions are widespread, the federal agriculture minister says

By Allan Dawson June 12, 2020

The Canadian government is close to announcing more details on its program to buy surplus food, such as potatoes, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told reporters during a video conference on June 9. “It’s a matter of days before we inform everyone of the criteria of the programs but we have already started to work with the different industries that have services that

The frost that hit much of agro-Manitoba May 30 only caused light damage for the most part but it's one more stress along with growing flea beetle feeding in canola, cutworms in various crops, packed soils and hot dry winds. This frost damaged canola seedling was photographed near Starbuck May 31.

Crops, News

MASC records more than 480 reseeding claims so far

Flea beetles, wind, crusted soil and frost have been the main perils

By Allan Dawson June 11, 2020

After the harvest from hell last fall Manitoba farmers are struggling with spring seeding setbacks. As of June 4 the Manitoba Agricultural Service Corporation (MASC) had received more than 480 reseeding claims representing 130,000 acres, due to perils including frost, flea beetles, crusted soils and hot, dry winds, or a combination of some or all,

Livestock, News

Livestock price insurance a hard sell

Producers say it’s too expensive, too complex and lacks the supports seen in the crops sector

By Geralyn Wichers June 11, 2020

Despite current market uncertainty, cattle producers remain reluctant to buy price insurance. About 10 per cent of calves in Manitoba are insured annually under the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP), said David Van Deynze, vice-president of innovation and product support with MASC. By comparison, about 90 per cent of annual crop acres are insured. WLPIP began in Alberta in 2009 and came to

Crops, News

Flooded southeast Manitoba crops under threat

Initial reports suggest many farmers could soon be filing crop insurance claims

By Allan Dawson June 10, 2020

The final fate of flooded fields in southeastern Manitoba has yet to be determined, but initial reports aren’t good with the likely result that many affected insured farmers will submit crop insurance claims. “Approximately 20 to 30 per cent of the land in southern districts (of eastern Manitoba) was still unseeded and will now likely

A food sector representative says the industry is facing ‘extraordinary cost pressures’ that need to be addressed with either government support or food price increases.

News, Other

Food and beverage sector misunderstood by regulators

Food-processing plants were designed with food safety in mind, not social distancing

By D.C. Fraser June 10, 2020

Officials from Food and Beverage Canada told a parliamentary committee that the COVID-19 pandemic shows there is a “fundamental misunderstanding of how Canada’s food system operates” among senior policy-makers. The comments were made during a digital meeting of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on May 8. James Donaldson, who sits on the board

Crop Report, Crops, News

Seeding nearly complete across province, flea beetle spraying ongoing

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for June 9

By Manitoba Agriculture June 10, 2020

Southwest Region Very hot and windy conditions started the week. Blowing soil in much of the southern parts of the region on Thursday and Friday. Rain fell over the weekend, which was much needed in some areas. There is some standing water in low-lying areas from thunderstorms near Brandon. There are also reports of a

News, Other, Weather

Rain pounds southeast, leaves Interlake wanting

By Geralyn Wichers June 9, 2020

Flooding caused by torrential rains over the weekend caused the RM of Stuartburn in southeastern Manitoba to declare a state of emergency. In announcement on June 8, the municipality advised residents that multiple roads were washed out and they should travel with extreme caution. CBC reported on June 9 that 20 roads were washed out

Daily Network News

New strategies needed for Canadian agriculture to stand out in global trade

Feed Grains Weekly: Cash prices for wheat, barley largely flat

The Canadian GMO mustard wars: Dijon vs canola