(Resource News International) — A number of crops in Manitoba have been hampered by the continuous wet conditions, but the exception appears to be corn, which was reported to be in pretty good if not excellent shape.
“To tell you the truth, Manitoba’s corn crop is actually looking pretty good,” said Manitoba Corn Growers Association vice-president Myron Krahn of Carman, Man.
He acknowledged there are crops in select areas of the province that were planted a bit later and have had poor drainage. As a result some corn fields were yellowing.
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However, because most of the province’s corn crop was planted early this spring because of unexpectedly warm conditions, development was way ahead of normal.
“The corn fields have received a lot more heat units than (they) did at the same time a year ago and with the steady intervals of precipitation, the crops are easily a couple of feet taller and more developed,” Krahn said.
“Where the crop is good, it’s good, but where the crop is bad, it’s bad,” he said.
Krahn noted that with the corn crop being so far advanced in most areas of the province, there should not be any issues with an early frost this fall.
Another positive for Manitoba’s corn producers is that cash bids for the commodity have also taken a turn for the better, he added.
“A lot of that has had to do with the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) acreage and stocks report, which sent US corn prices spiralling upwards,” Krahn said, noting that Manitoba outlets also have had to raise bids in order to keep pace with U.S. values.
Krahn estimated producers in Manitoba planted roughly 167,000 acres of grain corn and 60,000 to 70,000 acres of corn for silage this spring.
In 2009 producers in Manitoba intended on seeding 195,000 acres to corn, but actual total plantings were only in the 165,000-acre range.
During 2009, Husky Energy purchased most of the corn produced in Manitoba for its ethanol plant at Minnedosa, Man.
Krahn noted cash bids from that outlet were now $3.95 a bushel, compared with $3.50 a bushel just a couple of weeks ago.
