Ag News

In this week's Bean Report, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) Production Specialist Jennifer McCombe-Theroux gave an update on crop progress.

Canola has been one of the crops that have benefitted greatly from the better growing conditions this year, with yields and production improving drastically.

Statistics Canada estimated that Saskatchewan would see a 43.2 per cent increase in production year-over-year to 9.7 million tonnes, while yields are projected to increase by 50.8 per cent to 37.7 bushels per acre.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced an initial list of designated regions in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba where Livestock Tax Deferral has been authorized for 2022 due to extreme weather conditions.

The Livestock Tax Deferral provision allows livestock producers who are forced to sell a significant amount of their breeding herd due to drought or flooding to defer a portion of their income from sales until the following tax year.

Statistics Canada's latest crop yield estimate is showing that Western Canada is poised to make a rebound this year.

Last year's drought caused yields and total production to plummet, which has been made up this year in many areas with good growing conditions.

Wheat is projected to increase 55.1 per cent and Canola is rising 41.7 per cent, with others close by.

Leftfield Commodity Research Vice President Jon Driedger says that the overall figures are echoing what he's seen from earlier trade estimates.

Overall, it's been a good year for Manitoba's potato crop.

Vikram Bisht is an industry development specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.

"In many fields, the crop looks very good," he said. "There were some late planted fields that are going to be setting the overall production a bit behind and that is because of the early rains, planting wasn't done in time."

Bisht says the delayed crop may have an impact on overall yields.

Early potato harvest has begun for processing 'direct from field'. Bisht notes growers have been happy with early yield results.

Manitoba Pork is commending Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the federal government on last week's announcement of a new $45.3 million investment to help prevent and prepare for a potential outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). 

ASF has not yet been found in Manitoba or in Canada, however its presence would have devastating impacts on the sector and to both the provincial and Canadian economy.

Hensall Co-op has announced the recipients of the second annual Hensall Co-op Strong Communities Initiative.

The Tiger Mountain Pool Inc. (Treherne, Manitoba) will receive $10,000 towards their Treherne Aquatic Centre Shade Structures project, which will allow for an additional shade sail and awnings to be added. This is a busy community aquatic centre that houses swimming lessons, public swimming, aquafit, and coordinates a youth Swim Club.

With the 2022 harvest started in many areas across the country, the federal government has compiled all the information it has to try and get a glimpse of how much is coming off the fields in terms of yield.

For the most part, numbers seem higher than they were in 2021 following a severe drought in the prairies, though some areas seem to still be working with little moisture.

Meanwhile, in Eastern Canada, much of southern Ontario experienced drier-than-average conditions, while eastern parts of Ontario and most of Quebec received higher-than-average rainfall.

A storm was brewing over Saskatchewan during the weekend and finally started up in the central region of the province.

That then moved down to the southeast, delivering some very uncalled-for rain that may set back farmers who were going through harvest.

Just under half an inch was recorded on Sunday at Environment Canada's monitoring station near Estevan, with Moose Jaw getting around half that.

The system did bring solid moisture, says Environment Canada Meteorologist Danielle Desjardins.

In 2022, Canadian farmers are projected to produce more wheat, canola, barley, oats, soybeans and corn for grain, according to recent yield model estimates using satellite imagery and agroclimatic data. Increased production was largely driven by better growing conditions in Western Canada.

In parts of the Prairies, higher-than-average precipitation and more moderate temperatures have resulted in better crop conditions than in 2021.