Crop Management
Participants in Saskatchewan’s crop insurance program will pay lower premiums for less coverage in 2020. Average crop insurance coverage this year is $224 per acre, down from $230. Premiums on average will drop to $7.40 from $8.61. Agriculture Minister David Marit announced this year’s program this morning. Changes to the program include expanding the insurable […] Read more
Crop Management
USDA soybean forecast up, corn to hit record
By Glen Hallick, MarketsFarm WINNIPEG, Feb. 21 (MarketsFarm) – With spring planting approaching, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its agricultural outlook on Feb. 21. The department predicted increased acres for soybeans and corn, but a slight decrease in wheat acres in 2020/21. After dropping by approximately 14.7 per cent in 2019/20, […] Read more
Softening feed barley market to stabilize
Winnipeg,(MarketsFarm) – Feed barley bids in Western Canada have softened over the past few weeks, but should stabilize as the spring approaches. “I don’t think there’s a lot of potential to push this thing much higher, and I don’t think the bottom will fall out either. What you see is what you get,” said Matt […] Read more
Bayer announces new mode of action
Bayer recently announced products it has in its research and development pipeline, including a new mode of action for post-emergence weed control. The company had previously announced that it’s developing new molecules it said will provide new modes of action for in-crop weed control. However, in a news release, it said it now has a […] Read more
Durum stocks dwindle as exports pick up
Producers are expected to delay planting decisions until they see how markets respond over the next several months
Exports of Canadian durum have picked up considerably in the past six months and could push Canada’s ending durum stocks to their lowest level in years. But it remains to be seen whether low domestic ending stocks — potentially below a million tonnes — will entice western Canadian growers to increase durum plantings this spring. […] Read more
Canaryseed growers get aphid spray advice
App helps farmers determine economic threshold levels for spraying based on aphid numbers and canaryseed prices
A free smartphone app that monitors cereal aphids is being adapted to detect the pesky little critters in canaryseed. Like wheat, barley, oats and rye, knowing if and when to spray can be difficult with canaryseed. And just like cereals, decisions are driven by estimating aphid populations in canaryseed crops, which can be affected by […] Read more
Producers struggle with seeding decisions
If you’re uncertain about what to plant this spring, you’re not alone. Given the markets and a wet, late harvest last fall, a lot of producers are uncommitted, a veteran crop specialist says. “It’s kind of up in the air,” said Scott Chalmers, manager of the research farm in Melita, Man., who has worked there […] Read more
Warning issued on crop rotations
Saskatchewan crop insurance data shows more than 70 percent of the northeast is rotating between wheat and canola
Go long or end up short, said Patrick Mooleki. Short-term economic gains will lead to long-term pain if farmers don’t start using more diverse crop rotations, said the Agriculture Canada research scientist. “As much as they consider the economics, they should also consider the long-term effects of the short-term rotations they are following,” Mooleki said […] Read more
Device makes auger positioning less stressful
A tractor driver pulling an auger can remotely steer the auger tires left or right while driving either forward or backward
BRANDON — Bigger augers present bigger challenges manoeuvring into position. But for the thousand-plus farmers who’ve invested in a Triple Star Auger-Steer, it’s not the daunting task it used to be. Most inventions you read about in The Western Producer originated with a farmer who was trying to solve a problem. It’s the same with […] Read more
Old ground-drive air carts get sectional control
This system from Intelligent Ag helps producers make sure their older carts are not left behind in the technology rush
BRANDON — New technology in seeding equipment is geared for larger air carts, including zone control. However, does that makes old carts obsolete because they cannot access the new technology? In most cases, older carts become obsolete because they’re left behind in the technology rush, according to Alan Macdonald of Intelligent Ag. Macdonald was at […] Read more
