An international research project involving scientists in Canada and Mexico is hoping to reduce financial losses in durum caused by two common diseases: wheat rust and fusarium head blight. The Canadian Wheat Alliance (CWA) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico will collaborate on the project, which involves scientists at CIMMYT, […] Read more
News
Research initiative tackles wheat rust, fusarium head blight
CWB issues payment adjustments for 2011-12 pools
Western Canadian wheat farmers received an unexpected bonus this spring from an unexpected source: the Canadian Wheat Board. Farmers who marketed wheat and durum in the CWB’s 2011-12 pool programs received cheques last month for grain that was planted nearly three years ago and sold before July 31, 2012. The payments — 86 cents per […] Read more
Spotlight falls on forgotten crop
Rye has arrived | Crop is first successful hybrid cereal to be registered in Canada
Rye is a rock star in cereal circles. It’s the first hybrid cereal registered for commercial release in Canada, in a crop breeding world where much attention is being paid to hybrid wheat and other cereal development. Pedigreed seed producer FP Genetics of Regina is the first to bring a hybrid cereal into its lineup. […] Read moreEgg executives plead guilty
world in brief Food Safety CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — Quality Egg LLC and two top executives have admitted selling substandard eggs containing a “poisonous” substance and bribing a United States federal inspector in a food-safety scandal that sickened thousands. The Iowa-based company, once among the largest producers of shell chicken eggs in the U.S., along […] Read more
People vs. computers: climate forecasting heats up
Traditional methods challenged | New algorithms may offer stability to industries affected by climate change
HOUSTON (Reuters) — Computer scientists are picking a new fight with old school meteorologists, They claim to have finally cracked the code on weather forecasting at a pivotal, profitable moment for the field as climate change roils commodity markets and industries. Banks and traders are reporting outsized profits and losses, on everything from natural gas […] Read moreAnalyzing capital structure enables better investment decisions
There are several things to look for when analyzing farm profitability. Gross margin and the farm’s spending on labour, power and machinery are obvious measures, but this week I want to talk about land, building and finance (LBF), which focuses on the capital structure of the business. Rental costs of land and buildings, interest costs […] Read more
Seed treatments more effective at pea leaf weevil control
Treating seed appears to be the best management practice to combat pea leaf weevil, according to researchers. Hector Carcamo of Agriculture Canada told those at a June 12 crop walk organized by Farming Smarter that spraying isn’t likely to increase yields, even if pea leaf weevil infestations reach the economic threshold. The threshold is generally […] Read more
No serious signs of stripe rust in Alberta yet
Disease monitoring | Wheat growers urged to select varieties that carry resistance to disease
A report of stripe rust near Olds, Alta., is likely disease that overwintered rather than a sign of a 2014 outbreak. Agriculture Canada research scientist Denis Gaudet told a group assembled for a June 12 Farming Smarter crop walk that only one area of the province has reported stripe rust this year. No sign of […] Read moreFCC CEO named
Michael Hoffort is poised to take the helm of Farm Credit Canada after 26 years with the organization. Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz announced Hoffort’s appointment as FCC president and chief executive officer June 16. His five-year term begins July 1. Hoffart, a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan who also holds Professional Agrologist Designation, has […] Read more
Certified seed shortage hinders hemp expansion
Strong demand | Contract prices are up to 85 cents per pound compared to 70 cents last year
Hemp will likely top out at 90,000 acres this year, falling short of earlier predictions of more than 100,000 acres in Canada. Russ Crawford, Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance president, said a lack of certified seed has restricted acreage expansion. “That has become the bottleneck,” he said. “Our guess is we’re somewhere between 85,000 and 90,000 […] Read more
