Fungicides have paid off in a big way this year, says a grower from Radisson, Sask. “There is a drastic difference between what was sprayed with fungicide and what wasn’t. It surprised me,” said Corey Loessin. He said there is a shocking amount of disease in cereal crops that haven’t been sprayed considering it was […] Read more
News
Fungicides give prairie crops a boost: grower
Dirty pipe blamed for recall of Fonterra’s whey protein
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) — The chief executive of New Zealand’s Fonterra said his future was up to the board of the world’s biggest dairy exporter after human error resulted in some of its products being contaminated and shipped around the world. Theo Spierings tried to reassure customers and worried parents who feed their infants […] Read more
Britain’s wheat imports may soar after wet year
LONDON, U.K. (Reuters) — The smallest wheat harvest in Britain for more than a decade was to begin in key growing regions recently, as disastrous wet weather hit a second successive crop, opening the way for a flood of imports in coming months. Planting last autumn was wrecked by rain, which also ruined the quality […] Read more
Experts study bird flu virus risk
LONDON (Reuters) — Scientists plan to create mutant forms of the H7N9 bird flu virus that has emerged in China so they can gauge the risk of it becoming a lethal human pandemic. The genetic modification work will result in highly transmissible and deadly forms of H7N9 being made in several high-security laboratories around the […] Read more
Loon’s breeding success slowly declining, warns report
A Canadian wildlife organization is raising questions about the future of an iconic Canadian bird, linking pollution to the declining reproductive success of the common loon. In a document published last month, Bird Studies Canada reports that while the population of loons on Canadian lakes remained stable between 1992-2010, the number of young raised to […] Read more
Crop modelling system mixes weather with political, economic climates
Developing agriculture New tool may help international farmers identify appropriate management practices
CHILLIWACK, B.C. — A team of scientists has developed a new crop modelling system that it hopes will improve forecasts to better predict how to feed a burgeoning world population. The new model blends crop simulations with climate conditions, while adjusting for political, social and economic influences. Bruno Basso of the department of geological sciences […] Read moreYara doubles its savings projection
OSLO, Norway (Reuters) — Norwegian fertilizer maker Yara expects synergies worth $50 million a year from a Brazilian acquisition, around twice as much as it predicted earlier, the firm said last week. “When we first announced the deal, we went with a more conservative estimate of the synergies, but raised the figure after having more […] Read more
Australia looks to improve grain competitiveness
Grading changes | New rules increase bushel weights for country’s top quality milling wheat
The Australian grain industry has increased bushel weights for top quality milling wheat — a move aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Australian grain that is sold on international markets. Grain Trade Australia announced earlier this year that minimum test weights for Australian milling wheat will increase to 76 kilograms per hectolitre from 74 kg/hl […] Read moreYearling sale draws high prices
CHAIN LAKES, Alta. — The results of Canada’s largest yearling sale held Aug. 9 in Alberta could be a sign of what is coming for beef markets this fall. “We have always been near the top of the market in Canada,” said Justin Keeley, one of the sale organizers. The Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange held its […] Read more
Discoveries spark hope for root rot resistance
Morden, Man. — Root rot resistance has shown up in odd places, and that makes researchers hopeful more can be built into both small- and large-seed pulses. “We were surprised,” said Agriculture Canada scientist Bob Conner during a Manitoba Pulse Growers Association tour about resistance being found in both old varieties and large seed bean […] Read more
