It takes about three seconds to find a report predicting that the global market for plant protein will triple, quadruple or quintuple over the next decade. In 2021, Bloomberg Intelligence said the global market for plant protein was worth US$29.4 billion in 2020 and may reach $162 billion by 2030, which would represent 7.7 percent […] Read more
Flax
Less flax straw burned as local demand grows
The once-common practice of burning unwanted flax straw is happening less frequently in farm fields across Western Canada, according to sources in the industry. Prairie flax producers still don’t have reliable access to “one or two major buyers of flax straw,” said Wayne Thompson, executive director at SaskFlax. But local demand for flax straw is […] Read more
Possible crop choice winners and losers emerge
Price dynamics among the various cropping options could change substantially in the months ahead, but even at this early date some crop choice winners and losers are emerging. Oats has lost its lustre. Prices were record high in 2021. Going into the spring of 2022, oats could be contracted at prices of $6 a bushel […] Read more
Black Sea flax back to compete with Canada
Kazakhstan’s production is up and that will undermine Canadian sales globally, but Canadian crop quality is high
Kazakhstan will be active in the flax market again this year and that could keep a lid on Canadian prices, say grain analysts. APK Inform is forecasting that Kazakhstan will export 470,000 tonnes of the oilseed in 2022-23, which would be a three percent increase over last year. To put that in perspective, Agriculture Canada […] Read more
Kazakhstan flax exports up, quality of Canadian crop will help it compete
Kazakhstan will be an active player in the flax market once again this year and that could keep a lid on Canadian prices, say grain analysts. APK Inform is forecasting that the country will export 470,000 tonnes of the oilseed in 2022-23, which would be a three percent increase over last year. To put that […] Read more
Hail adjusters tackle 1,300 claims to stay ahead of harvest
Crop staging results in higher payouts as the season passes; farmers reminded to leave inspection strips
Hail adjusters are working hard to stay ahead of harvest, said the Canadian Crop Hail Association. Storms are becoming less frequent but can still be destructive. Between Aug. 15 and Aug. 21 member companies of the association said they investigated more than 1,300 claims. Even small storms can cause heavy damage because crops are so […] Read more
Grasshopper hordes wreak harvest havoc
A population explosion in parts of the Prairies damages crops and causes equipment and storage headaches
Swarms of grasshoppers are chewing their way through prairie fields this harvest. The plant-eating pests are also wreaking havoc with machinery and grain storage, testing the patience of farmers trying to get their crops in the bin. “The ground is moving in front of the combine. They’re fluttering and going everywhere. It’s like a cloud […] Read more
Research tackles flax market threat
EU has set limits on cadmium levels, prompting efforts in Saskatchewan to lower presence of naturally occurring metal
The Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission and Agriculture-Applied Research Management are searching for ways to lower cadmium levels in flax after the European Union set a cadmium limit of 0.5 mg/kg in flaxseed imports. Four research farm sites have been testing agronomic methods to find a solution. South East Research Farm in Redvers, Sask., is one […] Read more
Flax prices slide amid favourable growing conditions
One of the most expensive crops grown on the Prairies is losing value. While flaxseed prices in Western Canada are still at or above last year’s prices, they have come down by at least 15 percent since last month. The high-delivered bid for flax in Saskatchewan last week was $28 per bushel, down $5, or […] Read more
Delivery contracts must be improved
Studies have found that only 46 percent of prairie grain farmers feel they are being treated fairly within today’s standard grain contracts. Recent reports have also found that grain contracts are heavily tilted in favour of grain buyers. For many grain farmers, these findings are not a surprise. SaskCrops (an alliance of Saskatchewan producer commissions […] Read more
