Farmers in southeastern Saskatchewan are pushing forward with plans to build a new shipping and logistics hub capable of handling grain, crude oil and just about anything else that needs to transported by rail. Mark Bratrud says Comtrax Logistics Solutions is gaining momentum following a successful share placement involving local investors. Bratrud, president and founding […] Read more
Barley
VIDEO: Canada’s agricultural markets update – June 28, 2017
D’Arce McMillan, The Western Producer markets editor, monitors trends in the North American and global agricultural markets. Each week he hosts a market video about crops. The video is designed to help viewers understand the forces responsible for changes in the trade. If agricultural markets are important to you, we have you covered.
Rain slows progress, but spraying underway in Manitoba
Cool temperatures have delayed growth of some crops in Manitoba. Despite cool, windy and wet conditions that hit many regions and delayed herbicide and fungicide operations last week, most farmers have managed to get in fields and complete one herbicide application, with second applications just underway, according to the weekly crop report from Manitoba Agriculture […] Read more
Amazon purchase of Whole Foods in sync with consumer trends
News that Amazon is buying Whole Foods Market for US$13.7 billion probably did not make a big impact in the minds of prairie grain farmers busy monitoring for pests and spraying weeds. However, it could create a food retail sector shake-up that would vibrate down the food chain. The stock markets and business analysts were […] Read more
Crop report – June 22, 2017
Manitoba SOUTHWEST Seeding is 95 to 100 percent complete. Precipitation varied from two to 35 millimetres, and wind speeds reached 146 km-h in some areas. Some dairy producers have taken the first cut of alfalfa with below normal yields. NORTHWEST Seeding progress is 90 to 100 percent complete with the exception of The Pas, which […] Read more
Rain welcome across most of Manitoba
WINNIPEG — All regions of Manitoba received rainfall, ranging from 15 to 55 millimetres, during the week ended June 19, with the moisture generally beneficial for crops, according to the latest provincial crop report. However, cool weather has slowed corn and soybean growth. Crops in most areas have received one herbicide application with fungicides starting […] Read more
Closed rail line another blow to Churchill port
Severe spring flooding that washed out a section of the Hudson Bay Railway line between Gillam and Churchill, Man., last month has dealt another crippling blow to efforts to resume grain shipments through the Port of Churchill. “It’s a major blow to the whole situation,” said Elden Boon, a farmer from Virden, Man., and president […] Read more
Build your own handling system
Expanding your farm’s size has benefits when it comes to economy of scale. But just like higher grain yields, the higher volume can create a schmozzle with your grain handling system. Buying or renting new land nearly always means spreading the farm further afield. That can leave you with grain bins scattered far apart. Or, […] Read more
Small shops compete for big bin business
The bin industry is a crowded place. While large corporations dominate the bulk of business, smaller companies carve out special niches to create their own unique products. Two of those companies are Novid Inc. in Rosenort, Man., and JTL Industries in Neilburg, Sask. Since their incorporation in 2003, Novid has grown to become North America’s […] Read more
Is natural air drying right for your bins?
Using forced natural air to dry tough grain is a bit like farming. There’s never a guarantee of success but a little bit of know-how can go a long way. John Ippolito, a regional crop specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, says there are several factors that determine whether forced natural air has the ability to remove […] Read more
