Prairie producers will be augering billions of dollars worth of grain into storage bins across the West this year, often at remote and isolated bin sites. That could prove to be an irresistible target for grain thieves, said Todd Heroux, a Saskatchewan grain and oilseed producer who lost nearly $60,000 worth of canola in 2010. […] Read more
News
Variable canola yields expected in Manitoba
Low yields on early seeded fields | Some fields were exposed to pests and disease while later crops suffered heat stress
Early reports suggest canola yields could be below average in Manitoba this year. In its weekly crop report, Manitoba Agriculture noted that early canola yields were 20 to 35 bushels per acre, but reports from a grain terminal northwest of Winnipeg indicated that many growers were seeing yields closer to 20 bu. per acre. However, […] Read more
Pulse firm sees demand return
Lentil exports pick up | Alliance Grain Traders Inc. plans to focus on lentil processing
The second quarter of 2012 provided the first positive signal that pulse crop markets have seen in a long time, says one of the world’s largest processors. “The beginnings of normalized demand and normalized product flow appear to be returning,” Murad Al-Katib, president of Alliance Grain Traders Inc. (AGT), told analysts and investors during a […] Read more
To swath or straight cut, that is the question
Timing is key | Swathing eliminates wind damage risks; straight cutting saves time but can cause shatter and pod drop
Growers have important decisions to make as they prepare to harvest what could be one of their most lucrative canola crops. The first decision is whether to swath or straight combine, said Angela Brackenreed, agronomy specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. Swathing is a good option for growers with plenty of acres because timing of the harvest […] Read moreLegumex Walker posts positive second quarter results
Legumex Walker reported improving demand for its special crops and good construction progress on its canola crushing plant in Washington state in its second quarter financial report. The company, created last year from a merger of Roy Legumex and Walker Seeds, posted net earnings of $300,000 in the three months ending June 30, up from […] Read more
North American sunflowers look good; prices also promising
The drought and sizzling temperatures that baked U.S. corn and soybean crops this summer didn’t demolish the country’s sunflower crop, says an industry spokesperson. John Sandbakken, executive director of the U.S. National Sunflower Association, said most of the crop in North Dakota is rated as good. In South Dakota, the other major sunflower state, the […] Read more
Downgraded peas found in early harvest reports
Reports of off color and downgraded peas in the Viking area of central Alberta are likely not representative of pulse crops across the province. Some early pea samples have been downgraded to No. 3 because of off colour and immaturity. Duane Ransom, member services co-ordinator for Alberta Pulse Growers, said he is not surprised to […] Read more
Alta. farmers want answers about proposed Growing Forward changes
Alberta producers are asking for a meeting with their agriculture minister as the clock ticks down to the signing of an agreement that will direct farm programs for the next five years. Federal and provincial ministers meet in less than a month, but farm leaders in Alberta are wondering what happened to discussions with them, […] Read more
Lamb producers take falling prices in stride
Lamb prices have fallen sharply in 2012, but sheep producers aren’t pressing the panic button, says a Manitoba farmer. Diana Neuman, who raises sheep near McCreary, Man., said lamb prices hit the stratosphere in 2011 and a market correction was inevitable. “If prices go back to normal, I’m not that upset. You can’t expect the […] Read more
Producer dies on Manitoba farm
A Manitoba farmer was found dead yesterday near Souris. RCMP from the Souris detachment were called to the farm Tuesday morning, after the body of a 61-year-old man was discovered between a tractor bucket and a hay bale. Manitoba Workplace and Health and the RCMP are investigating the cause of the fatality. Foul play isn’t […] Read more
