The industry believes consumer interest in plant-based meat alternatives could prompt a significant growth in U.S. acres
An American research project led by scientists at North Dakota State University in Fargo is aiming to boost the protein content in new field pea varieties by an average of two percent. The Plant Protein Enhancement Project recently received a grant worth more than US$1 million from a U.S. funding organization called the Foundation for […] Read more
Brian Cross
Stories by Brian Cross
Farmers urge grain companies to co-operate on contracts
Western Canadian Wheat Growers urges producers to honour contracts but also asks handlers for flexibility in some cases
The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is encouraging farmers and grain companies to work together to find co-operative solutions in cases where producers don’t have enough grain to fill production contracts. WCWGA president Gunter Jochum, who farms west of Winnipeg, said his experience in dealing with grain companies has been positive. Grain buyers in his […] Read more
Strong crop prices bode well for fertilizer market: Nutrien
High grower margins in most parts of the world expected to be an incentive to increase acreage and focus on higher yields
Global demand for fertilizer products continues to be positive, despite reduced production forecasts in many parts of the world, according Nutrien’s chief economist and head of market research. Jason Newton said continued uncertainty about the size of U.S. corn and soybean crops, combined with reduced production estimates for Russian wheat, Brazilian corn and all crop […] Read more
Rare inbound grain shipment recorded at Thunder Bay
Year-to-date grain shipments through Ontario’s Port of Thunder Bay are sharply lower than they were a year ago, the port authority said this week. Thunder Bay’s total grain shipments from Jan. 1, 2021 to through the end of August were just a shade more than four million tonnes, the port authority said in a news […] Read more
Railways say they’re ready for this year’s crop
CP and CN submit annual grain plans to Ottawa, outlining plans for weekly grain car allocations over the next 12 months
Canada’s two major railway companies said last week they are prepared to move this year’s western Canadian grain crop to export position, regardless of its size. “There’s a lot of uncertainty as to what the final outcome of the crop is going to be, given the hot, dry conditions that Western Canada (has been) experiencing,” […] Read more
Durum growers lock up the bins as prices rise
Grain quality concerns could drive prices even higher in the short term as recent rain interrupts harvest operations
Only time will tell how much top quality durum will be harvested in Western Canada and the northern United States this fall. But if current markets are any indication, production and supplies will fall well below normal. Growers on both sides of the border will be watching durum markets closely and timing their sales carefully, […] Read more
New federal funding will reward carbon storage efforts
The federal government has launched a new $200 million fund aimed at rewarding Canadian farmers who adopt farm management practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new fund, dubbed the On-Farm Climate Action Fund, will provide financial support to farmers for techniques that fall into three general categories: cover crops, nitrogen management […] Read more
Harvest estimates paint a gloomy picture
Harvest has begun in Western Canada and along with it speculation about the size of this year’s crop, particularly in Western Canada. Last week, Farmers Business Network Inc. (FBN), offered an inkling of farmer insight on what this year’s crop might look like in Western Canada with a survey. They asked growers in Canada’s three […] Read more
Canadian rivals vie to win approval of U.S. railway
Calgary-based Canadian Pacific Railway has sweetened its bid to acquire Kansas City Southern Railway, an American company based in Missouri. CP’s latest bid to acquire the U.S. freight carrier is described as a cash and stock offer, valued at about US$31 billion — an amount that includes the assumption of roughly $3.8 billion in existing […] Read more
Safer varieties may help kickstart fababean revival
Academics at the University of Saskatchewan say fababeans could soon become an important option in sustainable crop rotations, thanks to new research that will make the crop safer to eat. Earlier this year, a research team that included academics from the U of S, published a paper explaining how fababeans produce vicine and convicine, a […] Read more
