Russia will have plenty of wheat to export despite reports of a heat wave damaging production prospects in the winter wheat area, say analysts. Neil Townsend, director of CWB Market Research, is forecasting 57.6 million tonnes of wheat production, which while smaller than last year’s harvest would still be the fourth largest crop in recent […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Terminal will transform grain export: G3
A proposed state-of-the-art export terminal planned for Vancouver will transform grain transportation logistics in Canada, says the man leading the project. “The facility that we envision in Vancouver will be able to unload a 130-car unit train in under six hours, which is a complete step-change to the industry with respect to efficiency,” said Karl […] Read more
Australia’s huge pulse acreage estimates may be overstated
Australian farmers are planting more chickpeas and lentils than they normally do but that doesn’t concern a Canadian grain analyst. Pulse Australia estimates growers will plant 955,603 acres of desi chickpeas, which would be 34 percent more than the previous five-year average. It is calling for another 601,692 acres of lentils, a 42 percent increase […] Read more
Directors at Broadacre farm resign
The directors of Broadacre Agriculture have resigned less than three months after a judge approved a plan to keep them on board. According to court documents, three of the directors quit on June 2 and a fourth on June 3. Broadacre has been operating under court ordered bankruptcy protection since Nov. 4, 2014. It had […] Read more
Aster yellows not a risk, thanks to wind
Aster yellows disease and diamondback moths are not expected to be big problems this year because of favourable spring wind patterns, says a researcher. Agriculture Canada and Environment Canada have created a model that measures wind trajectory at 50 locations across Canada. “To date, we haven’t had a lot of winds that have a lot […] Read more
Weather plays havoc on wheat protein
The rain damaged red winter wheat crop in the U.S. could lead to strong protein premiums
A global shortage of high protein wheat will likely persist in 2015-16 due to harvest rains in the U.S. hard red winter wheat region. “The conditions that we’ve had right now do not seem conducive to a high protein crop,” said Justin Gilpin, chief executive officer of the Kansas Wheat Commission. “That’s certainly what the […] Read moreExcessive rain then drought may force India to import wheat
One production forecast is for 80 million tonnes, down from 95.9 last year
India’s wheat crop is in trouble but it is next year’s crop that really intrigues Bruce Burnett, CWB’s weather and crops specialist. Weather forecasters are in agreement that El Nino has arrived and that likely means a second consecutive year of disappointing monsoon rains for the world’s second largest wheat producing nation. “To have (India) […] Read moreGrain groups pleased by new terminal plans
The grain sector is buoyant about news that Port Metro Vancouver is likely getting a new grain terminal, although some wonder how much impact it will have on exports through the port. “For farmers we’re pretty excited about it,” said Gary Stanford, president of Grain Growers of Canada. “It’s just another outlet to get our […] Read more
Official disputes GM critic’s claim on herbicide use
CropLife Canada argues that genetically modified crops have actually reduced the need for multiple applications
The proliferation of genetically modified crops has led to increased herbicide use, according to the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network. The group says Canadian farmers bought 50.3 million kilograms of herbicides in 2011 compared to 21.9 million kg in 1994, the year before GM crops were commercialized. That is a 130 percent increase in herbicide sales […] Read morePulses survive recent frost
Canada’s pulse crops not only weathered last month’s killing frost but are actually thriving, according to one of the country’s largest lentil processors. Simpson Seeds is headquartered in Moose Jaw, Sask., which was the epicentre of a widespread frost on the May long weekend that delivered freezing temperatures right across the prairie region. The thermometer […] Read more
