These are uniquely challenging times when it comes to agricultural markets, says Mike Jubinville.

Jubinville, a senior market analyst with MarketsFarms, provided some of his insight to those attending Dauphin Agricultural Society’s Farm Outlook 2023, Mar. 9.

Cheaper choices, the weather and the needs of China as it emerges from it’s “draconian” COVID restrictions are just a few of the things producers will have to keep in mind when marketing their crops this year, he said.

“I do find it’s a really unusual time right now where central bank policy around the world is creating a scenario of high inflation and we’re combating it with rising interest rates and other economic influences,” Jubinville said. “But this has all happened at the same time where actually the supply of our grains and oil seeds are relatively tight.”

We should also expect to see a lower Canadian dollar value in the coming year as we head into a recession of unknown depth or duration, he said.

Still influencing markets, he added, is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“Obviously this conflict with Russia is ongoing and it continues to grind along and I suspect it probably gets worse before it gets better,” Jubinville said. “This is creating an anxiety in the world for food users globally recognizing how significant this Black Sea region, which is responsible for 30 per cent of all the wheat exports in the world transversing through Black Sea, is and there is an anxiety of securing food supply.”

Get the full story in this week's Total Market Coverage Dauphin Herald!

There was no defending champion in the first event in the 2023 version of Roblin’s annual Men’s Bonspiel.

The spiel returned after its Covid induced hiatus March 9 to 11 with 14 rinks taking to the ice at the curling rink with Werner Troxler running Greg Clark out of rocks to take the first event.

More details and pics of the winning rinks in this issue.

Retirement is something many look forward to, as a chance to do those things a person just doesn’t have time for when working full-time.

Len Addis, his last day of work was March 11, has hung his hat up at the Roblin Liquor Mart after 30 years of service. Addis was a natural when it came to working in the public, so the job was suited to his skill set.

Read all about it in this week’s issue.

The family of a Roblin woman who worked tirelessly to raise funds for the hospital and personal care home is absolutely mortified that mom can’t get a room in Crocus Court.

“We just can’t believe it,” said son-in-law John Titanich. “Especially after all that she’s done for this community.”

Read the rest of the story in this week’s Review.

After an exciting round of Chase the Ace that saw the pot grow and the cards shrink, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19 The Pas executive has taken a moment to reflect on another fantastic round. “We definitely want to thank the volunteers, members, non-members, staff and of course our patrons that have been with us from the beginning of this current CTA,” Legion President Angie Nikolychuk commented, adding a congratulations to the latest winner Monica Ross. This round of Chase began back in 2020 with a pot of approximately $17, 000 and grew to the $245,878 that Ross’ won March 4th.
Reflecting back on the event, Nikolychuk said the first Chase the Ace was different than the current one. At the beginning patrons had to buy a drink on a Saturday night to receive a ticket. “It was a very slow growing pot, but we also saw that it was not a great way to promote the event. So once that was given away, we relooked at our options and worked with Lotteries Manitoba to hold the event as it is now done,” she explained.

The excitement of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19’s Chase the Ace has come to end with Monica Ross taking home almost a quarter of a million dollars. Ross’ ticket was pulled and because it was the last card in the 54 card deck this round, she was a guaranteed winner. Despite not having to “guess” where the ace was, a smiling Ross nevertheless placed the free drink chip on the face down ace, more as a matter of ceremony than requirment.
“Before I even went up, I had like five other peoples (tickets) that each had sent me $20. I wrote their names, took the pictures, here’s your tickets, wrote my name on mine and when they called the number, I looked and I could see I think its in this one. Then I showed someone at my table is this the number they called, they were like ya that’s it,” Ross explained.

The Swan Valley Cheetahs Gymnastics Club displayed the skills of the gymnasts across all ages with a showcase on Sunday afternoon (March 12), the first time it’s been hosted inside their new building.

Swan River had an extra ice skating surface this season, located on the south side of the Swan River Centennial Arena, intended for easy-going family skating sessions.

After a five-game losing streak put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, a five-game winning streak has turned the tide for the Dauphin Kings.

After a 7-4 victory in Niverville, Mar. 5, the Kings skated into Waywayseecappo, Mar. 7, with a one-point lead over the Wolverines. A 4-0 victory extended that lead to three points and that is where they sit entering the week after both teams won two games over the weekend.

While the Wolverines swept a two-game set with the Winnipeg Blues, the Kings were completing a season series sweep over the Portage Terriers, scoring a 7-5 win, Friday in Portage, followed by a 4-3 shootout victory, Saturday in Dauphin. Then on Monday Dauphin took down the Freeze in Winnipeg 6-2.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the biggest difference between the losing streak and winning streak is the players buying in and believing in each other.

“I think the trust in their teammates is a long time over due. And the work ethic and just little things that wins hockey games that we weren’t doing before,” he said. “We were playing hope hockey in that stretch. We were on the wrong side of pucks, the wrong side of battles, thinking offence instead of thinking creating offence from the back end. Our defence has been so solid and Sheffield got hot. The guys realize now we have a special group here.”

The Kings were missing six players from the lineup on Saturday, including defenceman Anthony Bax who was handed a three-game suspension for a cross checking major on Friday.

The other five players are all out with injuries.

“We’re a MASH unit. We need Radar, Hawkeye and BJ down here,” Hedley said.

Blake Boudreau is out with a shoulder injury, Jamie Valentino sprained an ankle while running during warmups before Friday’s game. He tried to play, but only lasted three shifts.

Mathew Gough is also injured and Jayden Harris is still on the injured list, as well, and Sheffield left Friday’s game with an injury.

To fill the gap, the Kings called up APs Madden Murray and Havryil Simchuk, who scored the only goal in Saturday’s shootout, while Murray was stopped in his attempt, which would have won the game for Dauphin.

“Madden Murray and Simchuk didn’t look out of place at all,” Hedley said.

Simchuk has been practicing with the Kings all year, so Hedley was aware of the talent he brings to the ice.

“We knew he’s got some skill and he’s patience,” he said.

The Kings conclude their regular season on Saturday in Winkler against the Flyers.

Hedley feels the league needs to change its playoff format and return to one division. There is a possibility the Wolverines could finish the season with 30 wins and still miss the playoffs.

“Wayway should be in the playoffs. They’re 11 points ahead of Niverville. It’s terrible. It’s not a good look on the league, at all,” he said. “I just think the playoff format needs to be looked at.”

Kings court:

Defenceman Owen Wareham was named to the league’s first all-star team along with Winkler defenceman Trent Sambrook. The forwards are Lucas Brennan of Selkirk, Briley Wood of Neepawa and Ryan Botterill of Portage, while the goaltender is Kobe Grant of Swan Valley. Named to the second all-star team were goaltender Tresor Wotton of Waywayseecappo, defencemen Brandon McCartney of Portage and Adam Rajsigl of Swan Valley and forwards Tyson Smith of Selkirk, Travis Hensrud of Steinbach and Carson Baptiste of Waywayseecappo. Selected to the rookie all-star team were goaltender Adam Comeau of Winkler, defencemen Carson Reed of Niverville and Warren Clark of Steinbach and forwards Carter Cormier of Selkirk, Nolan Chastko of Virden and Luke Janus of the Winnipeg Blues.

Fort Dauphin Museum will help the community celebrate its 125th birthday this summer, thanks in part to a grant through the Community Celebrations program of the Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund.

The museum received $5,000 to help organize the July 11 birthday party.

Through the program Manitoba government awarded $323,000 to 67 community events across Manitoba, Department staff evaluated grant applications based on project goals and eligibility, feasibility, and community impact.

The $100-million fund was established in August 2022 to support arts, culture and amateur sport.

Funding is distributed through three programs:
• large capital projects;
• small capital projects and special initiatives; and
• community celebrations.

Applications for the Community Celebrations program are reviewed quarterly.

The current intake for the program is open until Mar. 15.