Downside to record cattle prices spurs call for industry co-operation

Downside to record cattle prices spurs call for industry co-operation

AUCTIONS | For auction markets, this fall run looks to be more like a fall marathon

Prices at Manitoba’s cattle auctions continued to be among the strongest ever seen during the week ended Sept. 28 — and as the fall run got fully underway, the province saw large numbers of cattle come in for sale. “It’s very busy,” said Tyler Slawinski, auctioneer for Gladstone as well as the Ashern Auction Mart.

Manitoba cereal harvest completed

Canola crop seen as good to fair

Dry and warm weather during the week ended Monday helped Manitoba growers advance the harvest to levels not usually seen at this time of year. Harvest progress in the province was at 85 per cent complete as of Monday, compared to the five-year average of 73 per cent. With the exception of spring wheat at


File photos of Yukon ranchland. (StockstudioX/iStock/Getty Images)

Prairie Forecast: Building western ridge to bring warming trend

Issued Oct. 4, covering Oct. 4-10

Last week’s weather forecast played out close to what the weather models were predicting. Western regions saw cooler-than-average temperatures move in, while eastern regions saw a brief return to summer-like temperatures. This pattern was a response to an area of low pressure that spun up over the central U.S. during the second half of the

Manitoba’s incumbent NDP ag critic Diljeet Brar and Tory ag minister Derek Johnson appeared with Green Party leader Janine Gibson and Liberal candidate Neil Stewart (l-r) on Sept. 12, 2023 at a forum hosted by the Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Geralyn Wichers)

Manitoba legislature’s agriculture leaders to return under new management

NDP scores majority over incumbent Tories

Manitoba’s incumbent agriculture minister and lead opposition agriculture critic are headed back to the legislature — but under a new seating plan. Opposition leader Wab Kinew’s New Democrats are expected to form a majority government coming out of Tuesday’s provincial election, unseating incumbent premier Heather Stefanson’s Progressive Conservatives. Just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, NDP candidates


File photo of black beans. (Nhattienphoto/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: ‘Average’ dry bean crop in Manitoba

Won't be close to last year's 'pretty phenomenal' crop

MarketsFarm — As Manitoba’s pulse harvest neared completion, a provincial pulse specialist says it will vary as to whether dry bean growers are satisfied with the result. Dennis Lange said that 96 per cent of Manitoba’s dry bean crop has already come off the field. In the central region, 97 per cent of its dry



File photo of cattle in an Alberta feedlot. (Geralyn Wichers photo)

Klassen: Feeder market falters at record highs

Risk premiums in market seen eroding

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2 to as much as $8 lower on average. Calf markets were relatively unchanged to $10 lower. There was moderate demand for top quality grass yearlings but plainer types experienced softer buying interest. Pre-conditioned calves held value but unweaned bawlers appear to set back $5-$10. Seasonally,

File photo of Lake Winnipeg at Grand Beach Provincial Park. (IanChrisGraham/iStock/Getty Images)

Prairie Forecast Update: Wet weather for southern Manitoba, southeastern Saskatchewan

Update issued Oct. 2, covering Oct. 2-4

The strong area of low pressure that the weather models have been forecasting to impact the eastern half of the Prairies on Tuesday and Wednesday is starting to take shape. The latest model runs show the low pushing northward into western Manitoba early on Tuesday morning and then moving off toward northwestern Ontario by late


Comment: The rules keep changing on Crown land

Changes from the old community-based allocation system equate to flexible red tape

CROWN LAND Changes from the old community-based allocation system equate to flexible red tape

In 2018, the provincial Progressive Conservatives began instituting new regulations under the Crown Lands Amendment Act, in response to a request from the Manitoba Beef Producers who, in 2017, asked for the agricultural Crown land lease allocation system to be changed from its long-standing community and Manitoba farmer-centred points-based system to a pure auction system.

Yields for 2023 bean crops are trending below five- and 10-year averages.

Bean crops take yield hit

Lack of summer rains lowered early harvest soybean and dry bean yields, judging by the first beans to hit the bin

HARVEST Lack of summer rains lowered early harvest soybean and dry bean yields, judging by the first beans to hit the bin

Acres are up but yields are trending down for soybeans and dry beans across the province this year, according to Manitoba Agriculture pulse specialist Dennis Lange. “The key word this year is variability,” he said. “It all depends on when you got that rain, or if you got that rain. “If you got that rain, generally, harvest