Winnipeg — Farmers with flax in the ground should be pleased come autumn. Statistics Canada revised its seeded acreage estimate downward in late June and that, combined with lower carry-out stocks and several other factors, should bring strong prices. “Given the demand in the market from China, the United States and potentially even the European […] Read more
Flax
U.K. grain dryer makes strides on the Prairies
To better preserve grain quality and start harvest earlier, some farmers, especially those in wetter regions, have begun using what they feel like is a more robust drying system. Unlike some dryers, the continuous double-flow dryer can dry any type of grain and run all day with little supervision. The technology was made by Alvan […] Read more
Promise of flax ‘milk’ may boost crop’s prospects
Dragging flax out from its tiny corners of the grocery store and into the main cases and shelves would probably help move more of the crop to consumers. There are signs that could begin to happen, especially if a major American dairy producer begins pushing flax “milk” production and sales. “Seeing a food processor interested […] Read more
Parliament passes transportation bill; royal assent pending
It will require more transparency from the railways
After months of political back-and-forth, Bill C-49 is finally a done deal. The Transportation Modernization Act passed through the Senate yesterday just hours after the House of Commons voted to reject two final amendments the Senate had proposed. It still requires Royal Assent, but that is expected soon and certainly before the Commons rises for […] Read more
Mega surprise on mega ag mergers
You know there’s something up when you give farmers the chance to complain about grain companies and they don’t take it. I had that experience recently when I ran a Twitter poll asking farmers about their experiences with grain companies and whether that relationship had gotten worse in recent years. To my surprise few farmers […] Read more
On-farm grain stocks higher, says StatsCan report
Rail delays this winter and unfavourable market conditions are said to be the factors behind the higher stocks
Stocks of major crops in storage on prairie farms stood at nearly 29 million tonnes as of March 31, according to Statistics Canada’s Stocks of Grain and Oilseeds report, released May 11. That number included nearly 4.8 million tonnes in storage on Manitoba farms, 14.1 million tonnes in Saskatchewan and 10.2 million tonnes in Alberta. […] Read moreMarkets ignore latest supply and demand report
The lower stocks reported in last week’s supply and demand estimates should have generated a bigger market response, said the chief commodities economist at INTL FCStone. “The numbers that came out of the report should have rallied prices or caused some selloffs, but the market’s response was very mundane,” said Arlan Suderman. Last week’s United […] Read more
Intercropping study reveals benefits
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Early results from a study of intercropping in organic systems show some benefits. Myriam Fernandez, researcher at Agriculture Canada’s Swift Current Research Centre, told a recent low-inputs and organic workshop that a couple of combinations worked to reduce weed seedbanks and produce a higher yield. The study was initiated to improve […] Read more
Goodbye canola, hello wheat and hay
No matter how you cut it, we’re having a short growing season. Rotations that looked good last autumn, when the first seed and fertilizer were purchased, don’t look so hot today. Given the investment in land and equipment, it’s not likely that many growers can afford to chemfallow. The economic realities of 2018 demand cash […] Read more
Canola pencils out best this year in Alta.
More canola, more cereals and fewer pulse crops are likely to be planted in Alberta this year, the provincial agriculture department predicts. Mark Cutts, crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture, said reports indicate barley acres will increase by seven percent, durum by five percent, spring wheat by four and oats by about two percent. “Cereal crops, […] Read more
