SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Durum wheat produced in Western Canada continues to have a solid reputation among semolina millers, pasta makers and consumers in Europe. But maintaining that reputation will take additional care and vigilance as Europe moves toward tighter food safety regulations related to vomitoxin levels and pesticide residues, said an industry leader from […] Read more
Brian Cross
Stories by Brian Cross
Soil nutrient research to get equipment boost
U of S’s ag college receives funding for two stable isotope mass spectrometers that will track nutrient movement in soil
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s soil science department will soon have access to new equipment that will allow them to more accurately trace the movement of important soil nutrients. The university plans to acquire two new stable isotope mass spectrometers, machines that will boost research capacity at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. Funding […] Read more
Interest rate hike pressures cost of farm borrowing
The cost of borrowing continues to rise in Canada, placing additional strain on the finances of individuals and businesses. On Jan. 25, the Bank of Canada increased its overnight policy rate to 4.5 percent and said it will continue its policy of “quantitative tightening” in an attempt to cool domestic inflation rates and keep a […] Read more
Senate takes leading role in nation’s agriculture
Black finds improved path for upper chamber’s approach to food and farming policy and awareness in Canada
The chair of Canada’s Senate agriculture committee has an important message for grain farmers, ranchers and stakeholders in the Canadian agriculture industry. Talk to us, says Rob Black. He wants to know what’s working in the ag industry, and what’s not. And most importantly, keep in touch. Related story: Asking questions on readers’ behalf “Keep […] Read more
With two more, grain handler G3 well on its way to four
G3 Canada is on track to become Western Canada’s fourth largest grain-handling company this year based on total primary elevator capacity, with the addition of nearly 84,000 tonnes of new space in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Construction continues at G3’s two newest elevators locations at Melfort, Sask., and Rycroft, Alta. The two elevators, expected to take […] Read more
Don’t farm, just own
The old rules about needing to own land to farm, or not holding farmland unless you did, don’t apply
Growing and marketing crops in Western Canada has always been a risky business. Between weather issues, market volatility, high input costs, regulatory restrictions and now rising interest rates, the risks associated with dryland crop production are mounting every year. What’s a producer to do with cash rental rates approaching $200 an acre in some areas […] Read more
Drought may lift feedgrains
The U.S. Department of Agriculture continues to make downward adjustments to its estimates of South American corn production — a factor that should bode well for feed barley prices in Western Canada. In a Jan. 12 bulletin, the USDA reduced its estimate for total Brazilian corn production in the 2022-23 marketing year by one million […] Read more
Wheat demand continues to increase
The global appetite for wheat has been on a steady upward trend for the past two decades or so. That, combined with the war in Ukraine and dry conditions affecting production in some major wheat exporting nations, should set the table for continued support of global wheat prices. “We’ve had this situation where (global) production […] Read more
Members of Sask. cereal commissions approve merger
SaskWheat will be responsible for managing levies collected from growers of winter wheat, fall rye and winter triticale
Spring wheat growers and winter cereal growers in Saskatchewan will soon be paying producer levies to the same provincial commission. At annual general meetings held last week in Saskatoon, members of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat) and the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission (SWCDC) approved resolutions to amalgamate their organizations. Once the merger is […] Read more
Call and put options may help manage volatile prices
If you still aren’t using options to manage commodity price risk on your farm, then this month might be the perfect time to start. That’s the message from Craig Turner, senior risk management consultant at StoneX. In a recent online marketing event hosted by Farm Management Canada, Turner said options — calls and puts — […] Read more
