Portage

Sixty-six per cent of Canadian exporters rely solely on United States, but economists say that can be hard on the bottom line
 

For someone running an agricultural or agri-food business in Saskatoon, Kelowna or Halifax, it’s easier to sell products to customers in Canada than to someone in Vietnam.

It may be easier, but exporting will make the business more productive and profitable.

 Australia hopes its crop will recover from last year’s drought and frost, while Canada’s production is expected to be down

The 2025-26 red lentil market hinges on what happens with Australia and Canada, say analysts.

If those two countries have average yields, supply and demand will be well balanced, Chuck Penner, an analyst with LeftField Commodity Research, recently told delegates attending the Global Pulse Confederation’s Pulses 25 conference in Singapore.

Canada and the United States are both looking at sizeable crops, while conditions are also favourable in Russia and Kazakhstan

There is potential for a big increase in green lentil production in 2025-26 after several years of tight supplies, says an analyst.

Canada will lead the way with an estimated 842,000 tonnes of production, Chuck Penner, analyst with LeftField Commodity Research, told delegates attending the Global Pulse Confederation’s Pulses 2025 conference in Singapore.

When the first bull bursts from the chute, the energy at the MacGregor Stride Centre is electric. For nearly three hours, fans are treated to non-stop action, as riders test their grit against powerful animals in one of the region's most anticipated events. But the North Norfolk Bull Bash on June 7 is more than just a rodeo – it’s a cherished community gathering and an essential fundraiser that supports vital local services.

The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and J4 Agri-Science have announced a new partnership aimed at developing new and enhanced  Faba Bean varieties. This initiative is expected to bring significant improvements to the crop's potential and provide farmers with more options for their rotations.

A remarkable wave of generosity swept across Manitoba this week as communities united for the Manitoba Day of Caring for Wildfire Evacuees — a special, province-wide broadcast that brought together more than 30 radio stations to support those displaced by ongoing wildfires.

Held on Thursday, June 5, the unprecedented collaboration mobilized listeners from Brandon to Steinbach, Thompson to Winkler, and nearly everywhere in between. By the end of the broadcast day, donations had reached $306,073.26 — an incredible show of care and compassion from Manitobans.

The Portage Hurricanes are wrapping up their first full volleyball season on a high note, and the players and coaches say they’re seeing the sport take off again in the area.

Coach and executive director Cam McLean explains the program was created to bring volleyball back to young athletes and help them build toward future opportunities.

“We started this year in a full season,” McLean says. “Our program is designed to try and get young kids back into the sport of volleyball and hopefully position them to go after scholarships down the road.”

Canada’s dwindling farmland base and rising rental costs threaten the country’s agricultural sustainability, researchers warn

Canada’s agricultural sector faces mounting pressure as the country continues to lose farmland to urban development, while some existing acres sit vacant.

That’s according to new research released by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.

Competition for sales is expected to heat up as Russia expects a bigger crop following last year’s disappointing harvest
 

Canada will likely be facing more competition in pea export markets this year.

Russia’s production is expected to rebound after a disappointing 2024-25 harvest, said Gaurav Jain, analyst with AgPulse Analytica.

He is forecasting 5.01 million tonnes of production in 2025-26, up from 3.92 million tonnes last year.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew promoted his province Friday as the route for a future trade corridor, which could include a pipeline, in order to get goods from Western Canada to overseas markets.

"The politics are (that) something needs to get built in Western Canada. I think everybody understands that," Kinew told a breakfast meeting of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.