Bean crops are struggling in some key production regions around the world but don’t expect rising prices, says an analyst. Stat Publishing reported from the China Pulse Import and Export Industry Conference that there will likely be a 20 percent reduction in Chinese bean acres and an even bigger decline in production due to drought […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
U.S. firm claims success with non-GM herbicide tolerant flax
Flax Council of Canada had backed out of project after initial collaboration, but is now interested in it again
Flax growers could be planting herbicide tolerant varieties by the end of this decade, according to a company developing the product. “We have plants growing that are surviving glyphosate in our greenhouse currently,” said Dave Voss, vice-president of commercial development with Cibus. The company’s non-genetically modified herbicide tolerant flax project was originally funded in part […] Read moreStraight-cut canola becomes more common
Benefits include time efficiency and higher yields, but not all varieties are well suited to the practice
More farmers are straight cutting their canola, according to a survey commissioned by BASF. Nineteen percent of the 400 surveyed growers straight cut some of their canola last year, up from 12 percent in 2013. Danielle Eastman, western herbicide brand manager with BASF, estimated three million acres, or 16 percent, of the canola crop will […] Read more
El Nino’s bark is worse than its bite
The impact of a strengthening El Nino on world crop production has been overstated, say meteorologists. This year’s El Nino is the second strongest since 1950 when researchers began measuring the intensity of the event by monitoring temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc., has seen numerous media […] Read more
Expected warm fall eases harvest worries
A severe frost isn’t anticipated early this year, which bodes well for prairie crops, many of which are earlier than normal
Despite snowfall around Calgary and some localized frost in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan last week, forecasters are suggesting that frost damage should not be a prevalent issue for grain and oilseed producers this harvest season. The mercury dipped as low as -2 C in some parts of Alberta’s Peace River region early Aug. 22. […] Read more
Record wheat forecast pressures prices
A rebound in crop yields in the Middle East and Africa, a currency devaluation and low freight rates could increase Black Sea market share
Black Sea wheat will make in-roads into new markets in 2015-16, keeping downward pressure on wheat prices, say analysts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts a record 42 million tonnes of exports from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Russia’s largest markets are in the Middle East and North Africa, specifically Egypt and Turkey. Ukraine’s wheat is […] Read more
Pulse processors post profit
Two major pulse processors are running out of crop and eagerly awaiting new supplies from this year’s harvest to fill what is expected to be a strong upcoming export program. “I have to tell you, carry-out stocks this year are negligible,” Murad Al-Katib, president of AGT Food and Ingredients, said in a transcript of a […] Read more
Pulse, canola processing facilities for sale
A large Canadian pulse processing company is trying to quit the business while another looks to expand its asset base. Legumex Walker has officially put its pulse and special crops processing plants on the market. The plants are located on the Prairies, the U.S. Midwest and Pacific Northwest and China. “In the second quarter of […] Read more
Regulatory approval for herbicide delays non-GM canola variety
Commercial introduction of a new non-genetically modified, herbicide tolerant canola in Canada has been pushed back a year. Cibus originally hoped to make its sulfonylurea (SU) canola available to Canadian growers in time for next year’s spring planting. “Right now we’re planning on the 2017 planting season,” said Dave Voss, the company’s vice-president of commercial […] Read more
Canada still relies on U.S. for export sales
Analyst says Canada needs to do more market development for crops like oats and canola and for livestock and meat
There has been a lot of talk lately about the importance of China, but the United States is still far and away Canada’s top customer of agricultural products. The U.S. bought $24 billion worth of goods last year, which was 51 percent of Canada’s agricultural exports, according to a report by the U.S. Department of […] Read more
