This year’s chickpea crop is going to be far bigger than Agriculture Canada is anticipating, says a Saskatchewan processor and exporter of the crop. Agriculture Canada is forecasting 197,600 acres, up 18 percent from last year’s plantings. It is the only major pulse crop that is expected to see an increase in acreage. “I feel […] Read more
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Chickpea acres expected to jump this year
Root rot declines
Root rot was not as big a problem in 2017 as it had been in previous years, says Agriculture Canada. “The big story of 2017 was obviously that it was a much drier year and we did see the effect of that dry year on root rots,” said Syama Chatterton, research scientist with Agriculture Canada. […] Read more
Got fusarium? Turn to worms
Insects and disease are two enemies of the prairie wheat farmer, but researchers feel there is a unique case where one can help deal with damage inflicted by the other. Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have determined they can fatten up mealworms on a diet of fusarium-damaged wheat and then safely feed the mealworms […] Read more
Soybeans’ trade war fallout uncertain
Some analysts believe Canada would benefit if China targeted U.S. soybeans in brewing trade war; others not so sure

A brewing trade war between the United States and China could create turbulence for Canada’s soybean sector, says an industry executive. U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. trade representative to apply tariffs on about US$50 billion of Chinese imports in response to what he claims is intellectual property theft by China. China recently […] Read more
2017 dryness cuts into fababean acres
Fababean acres may be down this spring, but the prognosis is much better in the two-to-five-year time frame, says a promoter of the crop. Brad Goudy, owner of Proactive Producers Ltd., the largest provider of zero-tannin fababeans in Western Canada, expects some farmers will be abandoning the crop after disappointing results in 2017. “Guys who […] Read more
Golden Rice gets OK from Canada
Health Canada has approved the sale of a genetically modified crop that isn’t intended for sale in this country, and that has a GMO critic wondering what is going on. On March 16, the federal department gave the regulatory nod to Provitamin A Biofortified Rice Event GR2E, otherwise known as Golden Rice. “It was determined […] Read more
Agricultural technology attracts venture capital money
A record amount of venture capital money flowed into agrifood technology companies around the world in 2017. Investors spent US$10.1 billion on the sector, up 29 percent from the previous year, according to a report by AgFunder, an online venture capital platform. The company tracks investment in start-up businesses in the agrifood industry, which remains […] Read more
New flax processor a boost for growers
The plant, which will be able to crush 25,000 tonnes a year, is expected to supply flax oil to customers in China
Flax growers will have a new outlet for marketing their crop this fall. Ming Hai Inc. is building a $2.5 million flax crushing facility between Saskatoon and Dundurn, Sask., that is expected to be operational by September. Once at full capacity the plant will crush 25,000 tonnes of locally sourced flax per year. It is […] Read more
Chinese corn shortage could cause rally
Analysts believe demand is outstripping supply, which could deplete the country’s reserves and boost grain prices

China’s corn market has shifted from surplus to deficit, which is drawing down the government’s stockpile and could eventually lead to a sustained price rally for corn and other grains, say analysts. According to the Dim Sums web blog, futures markets analysts in China estimate there will be a supply-demand corn deficit of 48 million […] Read more
Price transparency promised
Farmers Business Network started operating in Canada in December and says it has already signed up members who farm more than 1.5 million acres
ANAHEIM, Calif. — A U.S. company promises to bring chemical and fertilizer price transparency to Canada. Farmers Business Network (FBN) launched in Canada in December and has already signed up members who farm more than 1.5 million acres of cropland combined. Charles Baron, cofounder of the business, describes FBN as a farmer-to-farmer network where growers […] Read more
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