Manitoba’s potato crop seen surviving flood

The rising Assiniboine River is expected to take out significant potato acreage around Portage la Prairie, but one industry official said the overall effect on Manitoba’s crop would be minimal. Brian Wilson, a potato specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives at Carman, said there would obviously be some producers who would be affected, […] Read more

Canola basis levels to fluctuate

Canola basis levels in Western Canada have been fairly unattractive and stable of late, but one analyst believes there could be a narrowing within the next month or so. Mike Jubinville, president of Pro Farmer Canada in Winnipeg, said it looks as though basis levels could begin to narrow once the calendar hits mid-June and […] Read more





Too early to write off Manitoba corn acres

High prices have persuaded Manitoba producers to plant more acres to corn this year, according to the latest Statistics Canada report, but wet conditions and flooding may restrict how much in fact goes into the ground. In its April 26 planting intentions report, StatsCan announced Manitoba producers intended to plant 190,000 acres to corn in […] Read more

Canola crush margins edge lower

After rallying early in 2011, canola crush margins have declined as the Canadian dollar has soared past the US$1.05 level during the first third of the calendar year. Ken Ball, a broker with Union Securities in Winnipeg, said the strength of Canada’s currency has a significant impact on canola crush margins. “Every cent off the […] Read more


Manitoba sunflower acreage to plummet

With many producers planning on seeding large amounts of canola and wheat this spring amid historically high prices, the crop that appears to be taking the largest hit in Manitoba because of this is sunflowers. In the 2011 planted area intention report from Statistics Canada released Tuesday, the government agency said only 65,000 acres are […] Read more