Harvest losses bedevil sunflower growers

Sunflowers pose challenges during harvest as drier conditions lead to increased shatter and seed loss

Drier temperatures can help once sunflower seeds are in the bin, but are a challenge when they’re still in the fields. “It’s getting to be more of an issue every year,” Bud Pittenger told producers during the annual Special Crops Symposium in Winnipeg. “The sunflowers are drying down so much faster nowadays … there is

Nutraceutical firm seeks borage growers

Borage has been prized for its curative powers since ancient times. In Roman times, the naturalist Pliny regarded it as an antidepressant, and a famous herbalist from the 16th century wrote that a syrup made from borage “comforteth the heart, purgeth melancholy, and quieteth the phrenticke or lunaticke person.” For Prairie farmers who may fit


Hemp industry receives federal funds

The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance will get federal support to finance research into hemp varieties suited to different regions and to promote hemp products on international markets. “Investments like these will help Canadian farmers tap into growing demand for hemp, diversify their businesses, and capture new revenue sources,” said MP Blaine Calkins, (Wetaskawin), on behalf

Continued care of your chrysanthemum

Maybe it was because of the lovely warm, sunny autumn that we enjoyed, but for whatever reason, retail shops and garden centres were filled with potted chrysanthemums in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Even after Thanksgiving, there was an abundance of potted mums available for people to use in their autumn décor. The colours


Letters — for 2012-11-01 00:00:00

Expense to farmers considered inconsequential Regarding the opinion piece by Ronald Doering in the Oct. 25 Manitoba Co-operator, the statement “Adventitious presence does not meet the definition of an (adulterating) ingredient (and therefore)… Health Canada… would not favour a “contains” or “may contain” (food label) statement,” this is a corporate-friendly, citizen-unfriendly, double-standard con job! Note

Ample heat, subsoil moisture helps sunflowers soar

National Sunflower Association of Canada looking at possible introduction 
of bird-repellent products used south of the border

It was a great summer to be a sunflower. “Yields are coming really good this year,” said Denis Touzin of Keystone Grain. “They like heat, and we had the heat.” With an unusually dry fall making a pre-Thanksgiving harvest possible for the first time in years, early reports are pegging yields at 2,500 to 3,200


Harvest nears completion, pastures are done

Weekly Provincial Summary  Good harvest weather allowed for excellent harvest progress across Manitoba. Harvest continues on the remaining flax, soybean, grain and silage corn, industrial hemp, alfalfa seed and potato acres.  Sunflower harvest is just underway across Manitoba.  The earliest seeded winter wheat has emerged but precipitation would help with germination and stand establishment.  Precipitation

New flax growers website

The Manitoba Flax Growers Association has launched a new website to provide price and marketing information, industry news and research updates. The new web address is www.mfga.ca. “Our vision is a sustainable, vibrant industry with premium prices so Manitoba farmers choose to grow flax,” said association chair Eric Fridfinnson in a release. “Our new website


Western Canada wheat high in protein, but supplies plentiful

Western Canadian farmers are harvesting a spring wheat crop that looks to be well above average in protein content, but they are unlikely to command much of the usual premium this autumn due to abundant supplies, analysts say. After two years of flooding, Western Canada is set to produce its second-biggest all-wheat crop in 16

First frost of the season but no damage to crops

Weekly Provincial Summary  Hot, dry conditions across most of Manitoba allowed for excellent harvest progress.  In some areas of Manitoba, frost was reported early Sunday, Sept. 9 but no reports of crop damage have been received.  Harvest of spring cereals is 95 per cent complete. Canola harvest ranges from 70 to 100 per cent complete.