Corn acres in Manitoba are forecasted to increase in 2013 but by less than expected because there isn’t enough seed to meet demand, say dealers.
For example, NorthStar Genetics Manitoba has already booked its Maisex corn sales for next spring.
“We were basically sold out from the time we had access to our allocation, so there’s a definite shortage of corn seed this year,” said Ray Wytinck, general manager of NorthStar.
Growers who want a corn seed variety suitable for their area may not be able to buy it, so the shortage will restrict corn acre expansion in Manitoba.
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“The bottom line, there isn’t enough supply to meet demand,” Wytinck said. “I’ve hearing it across the board that there isn’t any more corn (seed) available. So I think it is going to limit the amount of acres in Manitoba.”
Based on Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. statistics, producers insured 273,000 acres of corn in 2012, a record for the province.
Scott McIntosh, an account manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred in Carman, Man., said his company is also sold out of certain corn varieties. Like Wytinck, he said the shortage will limit corn expansion, but acres should increase by 10 to 15 percent in 2013.
Seed dealers in Manitoba are short on corn seed because most companies produce seed in Ontario. The drought in parts of Ontario this summer cut into corn yields, including the production of seed, said Les Carriere, district sales manger for Hyland Seeds in Carman.
“Some (companies) got caught up in the dry weather we had and production didn’t pan out like it should have. They were forced to cut back supply.”
The lack of supply has combined with increased demand, sparked by above average yields and high corn prices, to cause the shortage, Carriere said.
In general, there isn’t sufficient corn seed for what Carriere described as the “northern tier genetics,” needed in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Supplies of varieties that need 2,000 to 2,300 corn heat units during the growing season are “very, very tight.”
“Our shorter genetics … they’re in great demand because they are an earlier maturing variety and have a dry down that makes things more manageable for producers.”
Producers may not be able to acquire the corn seed they want but Carriere still thinks acres will rise in Manitoba next year.
What are corn heat units?
Corn is a crop that likes heat, but not too much heat. The Corn Heat Unit (CHU) calculation assumes that maximum growth occurs at 30 C and growth rates decline at higher temperatures.
As well, CHU assumes that growth doesn’t occur if night temperatures drop below 4.4 C, or if daytime temperatures are below 10 C.
Corn hybrids grown for silage require 2,000 to 2,100 CHU. Typically, grain corn hybrids require 2,200 to 2,400 CHU to reach maturity.
Manitoba’s Red River Valley receives, on average, 2,500 to 2,600 CHU per year. Western Manitoba usually receives 2,200 to 2,400 CHU during the growing season.
Source: Manitoba Agriculture
