The global market for biostimulants is expected to be worth US$2.8 billion within four years, spurred on by farmers’ desire to improve yields and environmental calls for improved sustainability. These products contain substances or micro-organisms that stimulate natural processes in a plant to promote improved nutrient uptake and efficiency as well as tolerance to stress. […] Read more
Robin Booker
Stories by Robin Booker
Fire in canola hopper bin causes consternation
An extraordinary photo that went viral on social media depicting a Dec. 6 bin fire should serve as a stark reminder of how wrong things can go when storing canola. The cause of the fire is a mystery to its owner, Jim Shirley, who farms about 1,000 acres near Kelvington, Sask. Shirley found out about […] Read more
Soybean glut won’t hurt canola demand
CALGARY — Healthy crush margins in Canada, strong Chinese demand for oilseeds and increased European demand for canola will offset the downward pressure on canola values by a burdensome soybean carryover, said Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture. China is set to import 86 million tonnes of soybeans and 4.5 million tonnes of rapeseed this […] Read more
Video: Farm Forum Event, 2016
The Western Producer’s Robin Booker attended the Farm Forum Event in Calgary, Alberta, December 5 -7. The following video is a collection of conversations he had with presenters at meeting. 0:40 – Marlene Borsch of Mercantile Consulting Venture 3:40 – Jim Bottomley, Entrepreneur, Consultant 5:30 – Randy Allen RWA Financial Services 7:00 – Markus Braaten Agri-Trend 9:10 – Darryl Mathews, Head […] Read more
Bin fire destroys 1600 bushels of canola
This 2300-bushel hopper bin had 1600 bushels of canola in it when it caught fire near Kelvington, Sask.. Most of the canola was taken out with an auger and then holes were cut in the hopper to get more of the canola out. In this picture the hopper’s legs had already been pulled off with […] Read more
Farmers keep canola secrets under wraps
Agri-Trend’s Canola 100 challenge is supposed to be competitive — at least to a point. But it also aims to bring together growers who use cutting-edge growing techniques so they can share knowledge, which benefits the entire industry. “The spirit of the contest is one where the competitors will learn from each other,” said Rob […] Read more
When canola gets to 100 bushels
Of the eighty farmers that participated in the first year of Agri-Trend’s Canola 100 Challenge, 16 decided to pay the $1,000 fee to have their crop verified. “Mother Nature took over and we won’t get the last four or so verified because they are buried underneath snow and rain, but we do have a list […] Read more
Farmer goes all in
Competitor for Agri-Trend Canola 100 challenge tried every trick in the book, but failed to significantly increase his canola yields
When Rene Nielsen decided to enter Agri-Trend’s Canola 100 challenge, he thought it would be a good opportunity to try products and rates that he wouldn’t normally use. Nielsen has grown big canola crops in the past, and after discussions with his agronomist, Matt Gosling, they figured they might be able to pull off a […] Read more
Industry explores alternative labels for blackleg resistance
Concerns are increasing about how long blackleg resistant canola varieties will be able to protect farmers from surging disease pressure. Blackleg can inflict serious economic damage on the industry, and it already costs Canadian growers millions of dollars each year. There are also concerns that the disease can be used against the Canadian canola industry […] Read more
Rocky road for commodities
BANFF, Alta. — Lower commodity prices are going to prove challenging not only for farmers but also for the companies that sell services and products to them, says a senior analyst at Rabobank. “Over the next five years, we see with 75 percent probability corn prices will be at or below $4.10 a bushel,” Kenneth […] Read more
