November 2015

Organic prices

Below are the highest organic grain prices (spot market prices unless otherwise indicated) gathered recently by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Sources include farmers and buyers who have shared recent sales prices and theUSDA National Organic Grain & Feedstuffs Report. Prices do not include transportation unless otherwise indicated. Conventional prices come fromRayglen Commodities. USDA prices are in US dollars, the rest of the prices are Canadian.

In the US, organic feed soybean prices have sunk to the lowest level in three years, presumably as a result of the large harvest in India which is responsible for 45% of the organic soybeans exported to the US. Canada can lay claim to only 7% of US organic soybean imports.

For vegetable prices, check outCyber-Help for Organic Farmerslists wholesale prices for organic fruit (fresh and frozen) and vegetables (Vancouver).

Soybeans - feed$25.17/bu del. to e. ON
Soybeans - food$28.85/bu del. to e. ON; conv. $10.70-12.25/bu
Oats - milling$6.50/bu (Feb - summer 2016, $6.75); conv. $2.60-2.70
Corn - feed$ 10.42 (USDA), $11.43 del to e. ON; conv. $3.25/bu
Wheat - feed$12.25/bu del to e. ON; conv. $3.50-5.32/bu
Wheat - winter$14-15/bu (Prairie)
Wheat - durummid to high $20's (Prairie)
Barley - feed$8.00 (Prairie, fob farm); conv. $3.10-3.87/bu
Mustard seed - yellow$0.98/lb. (Prairie, #1, fob farm); conv. $0.40-0.50/lb
Mustard seed - brown$0.80/lb. (Prairie, #1, fob farm); conv. $0.32-0.35/lb
Lentils - large green$0.85/lb. (Prairie #1, fob farm); conv. $0.45-0.55/lb
Lentils - French green$0.80 (Prairie #1, fob farm)
Lentils - red$0.82 (Prairie #1, fob farm); conv. $0.37-0.40/lb
Peas - feed$17.69/bu del. to e. ON; conv. $8.50/bu

Organic Premium this Month(based on highest organic and conventional prices)

Lentils - large green155%
Lentils - red205%
Oats - milling240%
Mustard - yellow196%
Mustard - brown229%
Corn - feed321%
Barley - feed207%
Wheat - feed230%
Soybeans - food236%
Peas - feed208%

Market opportunities

Bioriginal is actively buyingorganic flaxandhempfor the 2015 crop year. Send an 8 lb. sample to Sandy Jolicoeur, or call 306-975-9251 or 306-975-1166.

Grain Millers is looking fororganic oatsat $6.50/bu fob farm,organic yellow mustardat $0.98/lb. (#1, fob farm),organic brown mustardat $0.80.lb(#1, fob farm),organic red lentilsat $0.82/lb. (#1, fob farm),organic French green lentilsat $0.80/lb. (#1, fob farm),organic large green lentilsat $0.85/lb. (#1,fob farm). ContactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for the oats,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for the specialty grains andThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.if you are interested in submitting wheat samples.

Register for Prairie Organics: Think Whole Farm

Join Manitoba's organic sector for two days of in-depth training at the University of Manitoba in WinnipegFebruary 18th and 19th.

Keynote addressesby Martin Entz of the University of Manitoba, Kathleen Delate from Iowa State University, Matthew Holmes from the Canada Organic Trade Association and Caroline Halde from Laval University.

18 breakout sessionson organic livestock, crop and vegetable production

Unwind and meet old and new friends at theThursday evening networking sessionat CanadInns.

Participate in one-on-oneBusiness to Businessmeetings to connect with buyers in the Retail/Food Services and Grains sectors (free for organic and transitioning producers).

Connect with input suppliers, grain buyers and other organic businesses at theorganic trade show. Entry to the trade show is free.

Stay atCanadInns Destination CentreFort Gary 1824 Pembina Highway. Mention "Prairie Organics" and receive a special conference rate of $116 per night for a King Suite and $106 per night for a standard room (2 Queen beds).

A two-day pass is $125. This includes lunch and snacks for two days. Student and one-day passes are also available. Note that most of the sessions on vegetable production are onFebruary 18th.

For those of you who cannot make it to the Conference, sessions in Richardson Auditorium will be streamed live by webcast. You will be able to ask questions on-line and watch from the comfort of your own home. You will need access to high speed internet in order to stream the webcast.

Sponsorship, exhibitor and B2B opportunities are still available. ContactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.if you're interested.

Clickhereto visit the conference website.

Register for on-line course on organic weed control

Organic extension and weed management specialist Brenda Frick is once again teaching an on-line course on weed management through the University of Saskatchewan beginning in January 2016.

Clickherefor more information and to register

Draft 2015 Canada Organic Standards

Click here to view new drafts of the recently updated Canada Organic Standards. Note that these are not theofficialversions of the COS.

CAN/CGSB-32.310-2015
CAN/CGSB-32.311-2015

Invitation to MB small scale food producers

In January of 2015, areportwas released entitled “Advancing the Small Scale, Local Food Sector in Manitoba: A Path Forward”. This report was a result of the efforts of a small scale food working group. The mission of the working group was to recommend ways to build and strengthen the small scale food and processing sector in Manitoba. One of five primary concerns identified by the group was categorized as ‘policy, advocacy and governance’. The working group felt producers in this important sector are not being heard, and that there is no unifying organizational structure or strategy without which the sector will continue to be sidelined.

The focus of this event is to further develop a recommendation that came out of the above noted report tofacilitate a process to allow small scale producers to organize themselves.

Who Should Attend

Please join us if you identify yourself as a small scale food producer, based out of or with operations in Manitoba, or consider yourself to be part of the small scale food production value chain.

November 24 9 am-3:30 pmSt. Norbert Community Centre, 3450 Pembina Highway. Coffee, snacks and lunch will be provided.

Seating is limited. There is no charge, but please pre-register by contactingThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.at 204 781-2199.

Organic news bytes

Pesticide Peddler Monsanto Wins 2015 Rubber Dodo Award

Monsanto, producer and seller of Roundup and its toxic active ingredient glyphosate, is the recipient of the Center for Biological Diversity’s 2015 Rubber Dodo Award, given annually to those who have done the most to destroy wild places, species and biological diversity. Glyphosate is now used in more than 160 countries, and more than 1.4 billion pounds are applied each year. It has been classified as a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organization and its heavy use, particularly on herbicide-resistant GMO crops, also developed by Monsanto, is considered a leading cause of the recent, drastic 80 percent decline in monarch butterflies.

Clickherefor the story

French court Finds Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning

In appeals court in Lyon, France has upheld a 2012 ruling against Monsanto, in which the agribusiness giant was found guilty of the chemical poisoning a farmer named Paul François.

Clickherefor the story

Effect of Organic Diet Intervention on Pesticide Exposures in Young Children Living in Low-Income Urban and Agricultural Communities

An organic diet was significantly associated with reduced urinary concentrations of nonspecific dimethyl OP insecticide metabolites and the herbicide 2,4-D in children. Additional research is needed to clarify the relative importance of dietary and non-dietary sources of pesticide exposures to young children.

Clickherefor the scientific article

Firm sees profits in non-GM soy

There is money to be made growing non-genetically modified crops, according to a company that sells them.

SunOpta’s cost-revenue comparison shows that U.S. soybean growers would be better off growing non-GM varieties next year rather than conventional soybeans.

That is because of the price premiums farmers receive for growing non-GM crops and to the lower seed costs.


Clickherefor the story

Events

Business InfoCentre Seminars in November

Clickherefor details on seminars customized for the operators of small businesses offered by the World Trade Centre.

November 104:30-9 pm2015 Getting your Food Product into a Grocery Store, GrandviewThis MAFRD workshop will help you understand retailer expectations as well as food safety and packaging and labelling requirements. Cost is $20 and includes a meal. ContactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

November 13 10 am 2015Revised Canadian Organic Standards: Livestock Production

Clickhereto register.

November 174:30-9 pm2015 Getting your Food Product into a Grocery Store, Portage la PrairieThis MAFRD workshop will help you understand retailer expectations as well as food safety and packaging and labelling requirements. Cost is $20 and includes a meal. ContactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

November 1810 - 11:30 amPrairie Organic Grain Initiative Monthly Stakeholder Circle TeleconferenceGuest presenters Beth Robertson-Martin Sourcing Lead General Mills and Robert Beuchemin, President la Meunerie Milanaise and Roger Rivest, Owner Roger Rivest Marketing. RSVP toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

November 19 2015 Harvesting Value: Business Opportunities in Value-Added Agriculture MNP Convention Hall, Keystone Centre

Agriculture is a key driver of our economy – how can we generate more profit from our primary production? How can we add value to these agricultural products and generate business, jobs and economic development for Manitoba?

Harvesting Value is one day forum with dynamic keynote speakers, experienced business leaders and agri-processors and resourceful agencies that will help you to identify the opportunities in value added agriculture and the steps to get them started. A diverse and experienced roster of presenters will generate thought provoking and stimulating discussion and raise awareness of the possibilities that exist.

$125, includes lunch.

Clickhereto register or call 204 571-5340

November 20 10 am 2015Revised Canadian Organic Standards: Preparation and Processing

Clickhereto register.

November 24 9:30 am - 3:30 pmManitoba Small Scale Producers MeetingSt. Norbert Community Centre, 3450 Pembina Highway. See details above to register.

November 30 9 am -4 pm2015 MAFRD HACCP and GMP Training, Conference Room, Agricultural Extension Centre, 1129 Queens Avenue, Brandon MB

November 25-27 2015Agricultural Excellence Conference, Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Farmer, Regina, SKClickherefor details.

Who should attend
 Anyone involved in food production and handling
 Food producers looking to implement GMPs or HACCP
 Food safety consultants

Registration is free but pre-registration is required. EmailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or call 204-391-3064.

December 8-10 2015, Western Canada Conference on Soil Health, Radisson Hotel, Edmonton, ABSpeakers include Jay Fuhrer, Dr. Martin Entz, Dr. Allen Williams, Gabe Brown, Neil Dennis, Dr. Jill Clapperton and more.

Clickherefor more information or call 780 612-9712.

January 20 2016 2016 Organic Agriculture Research SymposiumAsilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA

Clickherefor details

February 18 12:15 pmPlan to attend the Manitoba Organic Alliance Annual General Meeting at Prairie Organics: Think Whole Farm Conference at the University of Manitoba. All organic producers in the province are automatically members of MOA. Come and find out what's going on with your organic association.

February 18 12:15 pmManitoba Organic Alliance AGM at Prairie Organics: Think Whole Farm.

February 18-19 2016Prairie Organics: Think Whole FarmThis two day conference at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg will feature a trade show, four keynote speakers, 18 break-out sessions profiling leading thinking in organic livestock, grain and vegetable production. There will also be pre-arranged business to business meetings with buyers in the Food Services and Grains sector.

Clickherefor more information and to register

March 11-12 Direct Farm Marketing ConferenceCanad Inns, Portage la Prairie

Clickherefor more informatio