Winnipeg, June 2 (CNS Canada) – Favourable weather has allowed Manitoba’s winter cereals to flourish, says the head of an industry group.
“People are bragging about their fall rye,” said Jake Davidson, executive director at Winter Cereals Manitoba, Inc.
“Wheat is also excellent.”
A mild winter followed by a relatively warm spring with few cold snaps across Manitoba and Saskatchewan helped crop development, Davidson said.
Crops are well ahead of last year’s pace.
“This is the kind of year where farmers drive down the roads and see winter wheat and say ‘I wish I had some of that,’” Davidson said.
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But hail has less of an impact on marturing winter wheat, compared with freshly emerging crops.
Fall rye brings Manitoba producers about $5.59 per bushel, while winter wheat fetches about $5.17 per bushel, according to Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation.
Winter wheat demand has been relatively strong over the past year, Davidson said, but in part because the market doesn’t produce huge quantities.
“Rye in itself is an interesting product because you’ve got to kind of dig to find your marketing channel,” Davidson said.
Rye is mostly moved by smaller brokers. It often goes to the U.S. for milling.
“There’s not that much that goes to Gimli to make booze, so it is a little tricky to move,” Davidson said.
Gimli, Man., is the home of the Crown Royal rye whiskey distillery owned by Diageo.
Harvest will likely start about mid-August, Davidson said.
