SOUTHPORT, Man. – Soybeans are winning over farmers in Manitoba, especially those in the Red River Valley, but as the crop expands, producers are urged to consider where the best marketing opportunities lie. Clint Masse, a special crops trader, believes good opportunities exist in producing soybeans for human consumption under contracts that guarantee identity preservation. […] Read more
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Lots of options for soybean sales
Wasps let loose on lygus bugs
Wasps may be drafted as the next deadly weapon against lygus bug infestation. Hector Carcamo of Agriculture Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre is working to identify lygus bug predators so canola and alfalfa producers can reduce their input costs by letting nature take care of the pest. “The new work involves assessing what natural enemies the […] Read more
Slaughter stipulation dropped
Federal agriculture minister Bob Speller has changed the rules of the cull cow compensation to eliminate the need to slaughter cattle before money can be sent to farmers. He promised cheques will start landing in cattle producer mailboxes by early March. “This will allow producers to access funds sooner, will ensure equal access to the […] Read more
Farmers like shopping locally for inputs
Prairie farmers prefer to buy their inputs from co-operatives and independent retailers rather than large grain companies, according to a new survey. Winnipeg marketing consulting firm Blacksheep Strategy Inc. polled more than 1,000 farmers and found an affinity for supporting locally owned and operated retailers when buying seed, fertilizer and pesticides. Three-quarters of those surveyed […] Read more
Fire destroys Alberta hog barn
A fire at one of Peace Pork’s northern Alberta finishing barns killed more than 9,000 hogs Feb. 5. Investigators are unclear how the fire started. Peace Pork owner Rocky Morril said if the concrete in the 7,300 sq. metre barn near Girouxville hasn’t been damaged, he will start building a new barn immediately. “I would […] Read more
Ethanol plants get boost
Just three days after learning it would receive funding from Ottawa designed to spark ethanol expansion, Husky Energy announced Feb. 16 it would proceed with a 130-million-litre plant at Lloydminster, Sask. The project received $7.8 million from the $78 million available in the first round of the program. Husky’s Minnedosa, Man., proposal received $6.4 million, […] Read more
Feeder financing plan under way
A Manitoba loan program for feeder cattle could strengthen calf prices in that province. The BSE feeder financing initiative announced Feb. 12 is meant to help producers fill feedlot space with one-year loans of up to $175,000. The money is intended to help producers buy and feed cattle, regardless of whether they are being fed […] Read more
Dairy sector wants BSE pain noted
When MPs gathered in the House of Commons on a wintry evening last week to stage an emergency debate on the impact of BSE on Canadian agriculture, more than 100 dairy farmers sat looking down from the galleries. They were in Ottawa for a Dairy Farmers of Canada conference and were organized to walk the […] Read more
Cull cow prices may see rally this spring
Producers who are hanging onto their cull cows hoping for a market rally might see a modest price increase this spring. Anne Dunford, senior analyst with Canfax, says Canadian feedlots are far from full and a shortage of finished steers and heifers is expected to develop this spring. That might cause packers to seek more […] Read more
Phosphorus works for long time
While expensive, phosphorus fertilizer is often necessary for wheat, barley, corn and other crops to produce profitable yields. Now, U.S. Department of Agriculture research has shown that phosphorus does not have to be applied annually to get good yields. Soil scientist Ardell D. Halvorson conducted several long-term experiments on fields in Montana, Colorado and Nebraska. […] Read more
