Two John Deere combines harvest a crop while a John Deere tractor pulls a grain cart that the first combine is unloading "on the fly" into.

Tips for planting a successful fall crop

Seed expert says farmers who start planning early and have everything ready to go at seeding will have a smoother time

Growing crops that overwinter, such as a fall hybrid rye or winter wheat, is a different way of farming in some ways than a spring crop, so producers need to be aware of that, Greg Stamp says.


Increase crop-research funding

Increase crop-research funding

There’s much talk these days about diversifying Canadian agriculture’s exports away from their reliance on the sector’s two biggest, and currently most unpredictable, customers.



An estimated 37.2 per cent of Russia's winter wheat crop is rated in poor condition versus four per cent last year and the five-year average of 7.3 per cent. | Getty Images

Russia’s troubled winter wheat may move prices

The crop has a higher risk of winterkill because of plants' already weakened condition and may have trouble recovering

SASKATOON — Winter wheat crops have deteriorated in Russia but are improving in the United States and the European Union. An estimated 37.2 per cent of Russia’s crop is rated in poor condition versus four per cent last year and the five-year average of 7.3 per cent. Related stories: It is the worst rating in […] Read more

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects drought conditions to “persist and worsen” across the central and southern Plains of the U.S. | File photo

U.S. winter wheat drought expected to worsen

Key growing area for the crop is said to be the driest in a decade and is expected to be drier than average this winter

SASKATOON — Drought is likely to persist or worsen in the winter wheat growing regions of the United States this winter, according to one of the world’s premier weather forecasting services. A slowly developing La Nina will influence U.S. weather patterns in the December to February period, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s […] Read more

Russian farmers have only managed to seed 20.8 million acres of winter wheat, which is 11 per cent behind last year and the slowest pace in 11 years, according to SovEcon analyst Andrey Sizov. | Getty Images

Dryness delays winter wheat seeding in Russia

Poor soil moisture and limited rainfall mean the crop could enter dormancy in poor shape, resulting in lower yields

SASKATOON — Winter wheat planting is progressing slowly in the world’s largest exporting region. Russian farmers have only managed to seed 20.8 million acres of the crop, which is 11 per cent behind last year and the slowest pace in 11 years, according to SovEcon analyst Andrey Sizov. Related stories: Ukraine’s growers have planted 2.4 […] Read more


Winter wheat harvest north of Neepawa, Man. on August 17, 2023. A wider fall window for sowing could make the crop more feasible after harvest.  |  Robin Booker photo

Opening the winter wheat window

Research bumps winter wheat crop insurance deadline a whole month to allow more farmers to plant the “cover crop”

Winter wheat growers traditionally like seeding into canola stubble, something that becomes a problem when harvest runs late and pushes up against the crop insurance seeding cut-off date of September 1. The equation can be made worse by some growers deliberately planting canola later to avoid frost damage and flea beetles or to chase higher […] Read more

Planting in France, which is the largest producer of the crop, has been delayed due to excessive moisture. The French ministry of agriculture is forecasting a five percent drop in seeded area in that country, according to Annachiara Saguatti, analyst with Arete, an Italian agri-food intelligence company. | Getty Images

EU winter wheat crop gets off to slow start

SASKATOON — The European Union’s winter wheat crop is off to a less than ideal start, according to analysts. Planting in France, which is the largest producer of the crop, has been delayed by excessive moisture. The French ministry of agriculture is forecasting a five percent drop in seeded area in that country, according to […] Read more