Crop Management
Glacier FarmMedia – Manitoba rancher Herman Bouw was casually perusing a gardening seed catalogue when a particular ornamental grass item caught his eye. The plant was listed as squirrel tail grass, but Bouw thought it looked awfully similar to a species with a more cursed name on the Prairies. A comparison of scientific names confirmed […] Read more
Crop Management
Bad weather derails smooth grain movement
Glacier FarmMedia – At the midway point of the 2023–24 transportation year, grain shipments are moving at a good clip. “In the last 12 to 18 months, we’ve seen some really good performance from both of the railroads,” said Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corporation, Canada’s grain monitor, at last month’s CropConnect conference in Winnipeg. […] Read more
Hot summer looms as El Nino moves to La Nina
HOUSTON, Texas — John Baranick has the unenviable task of coming up with a weather forecast for the United States during a period of uncertainty. The world will be transitioning from a super El Nino weather event to a La Nina event this spring and summer. Related stories: Volcanoes can have complex effect on weather […] Read more
Native insect acquires new taste for soybeans
The soybean tentiform leafminer has been seen in Manitoba creating leaf injuries on the lower and upper surface
A tiny North American moth species that has been seen in Canada has been developing a new appetite for soybean plants on the U.S. Plains. The species, Macrosaccus morrisella — now officially named the soybean tentiform leafminer — was detected feeding on soybean crops in eastern Minnesota in 2021 and has since taken its newfound […] Read more
Rising U.S.-Chinese tensions raise concerns about trade
HOUSTON, Texas — The trade relationship between China and the United States is deteriorating and poses a threat for U.S. farmers, say analysts. “They are shifting away from the United States rather than sending their money here,” StoneX chief economist Arlan Suderman said during a live taping of the U.S. Farm Report at the 2024 […] Read more
VIDEO: Updates from Canadian Crops Convention
Despite continuing problems with weather across much of Western Canada, the country managed to produce an 18 million tonne crop in 2023, something which would have been unimaginable 20 years ago, when the goal was to get up to seven million tonnes per year. Canola Council of Canada President Chris Davison highlighted the growing balance […] Read more
Alta. program prepares for more drought
CALGARY – A five-year program will provide $125 million in drought and flood protection for Alberta municipalities and Indigenous communities as the province faces what could be its worst drought since 2001. “Today, due to a strong El Nino not seen in over seven years, we’re seeing warmer temperatures coupled with even less precipitation,” said […] Read more
Corn, soy futures may have bottomed out
HOUSTON, Texas — Grain analysts believe corn and soybean futures prices have bottomed out. DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman told growers attending the 2024 Commodity Classic conference that corn ending stocks in the United States are forecast to be about the same level they were in the 2015-20 period. Related stories: Corn and soybean prices […] Read more
Sask. crop insurance premiums drop
WINNIPEG — Saskatchewan farmers made about 14,200 crop insurance claims in 2023, which correlates to $1.85 billion in crop insurance payments. That is significantly less than 2021, a year of extreme drought in Western Canada, when Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. paid out $2.3 billion worth of claims just for annual crops. Thanks to another year […] Read more
Corn and soybean prices may be ready to rally
An analyst points to 'strong evidence' for higher old crop prices; booming renewable diesel industry seen as a positive
HOUSTON, Texas — Old crop corn and soybean prices in the United States will likely rally this spring, according to an agricultural economist. That would also be good for Canadian grain and oilseed prices if it happens. The highest corn prices so far this year occurred during the first two days of January, and they […] Read more
