ICE November 2022 canola (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and 100-day moving average (green line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Time gap too large in StatCan report

Canola's potential yields shrank in meantime

MarketsFarm — There has been about a one-month gap in between Statistics Canada having gathered its data for next week’s principal crops report and actually releasing the report. That’s something trader Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg finds irksome. “They’re using computer models of some kind. You would think they could get this out […] Read more

ICE November 2022 canola (candlesticks, right column) with 20- and 50-day moving averages (yellow and green lines) and CBOT December 2022 soyoil (black line, left column). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola could take a nosedive

'I think (farmers) are undersold'

MarketsFarm — A huge drop in canola prices could be looming, according to analyst Wayne Palmer of Exceed Grain in Winnipeg. Palmer pointed to Prairie farmers and said, “I think they are undersold.” He surmised too many farmers have held off from selling their canola, in hopes of getting a great price the next time […] Read more



Know your timing between spraying and swathing

Know your timing between spraying and swathing

Reading Time: < 1 minute The industry association Keep it Clean reminds that insecticide and fungicide applications must meet pre-harvest interval (PHI) requirements, which is the minimum acceptable number of days between applying a product and swathing or straight-cutting the crop.  While most fields are still several weeks away from PHI being an immediate concern, pre-planning maximizes options.  Keep it Clean’s […] Read more


Honeybees in Western Canada aren’t threatened by neonic use in canola but overwintering losses are a huge issue, says Dr. Sarah Wood, the new pollinator research chair at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

Neonicotinoids, reducing bee mortality are priorities for new research chair

Bees produce billions in benefits for Prairie farmers but they face a host of challenges

Reading Time: 4 minutes Pollinators and beekeepers on the Prairies have a new champion — the first-ever research chair concentrating on the health of these essential workers in fields and pastures. “I’ll be focused on improving honeybee health to improve sustainable agriculture,” said Dr. Sarah Wood, an associate professor of veterinary pathology at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College […] Read more



Growing up on the family farm near Kinsella inspired Logan Skori’s foray into the promising world of gene editing.

Young Alberta researcher aims to feed the world through protein-boosted crops

The world needs a lot more protein and gene editing could be the solution, says Logan Skori

Reading Time: 3 minutes A young Alberta plant scientist is using gene editing to develop high-protein crops with an eye on feeding underdeveloped countries and meeting food industry demand for plant-based protein. Logan Skori grew up on an 1,800-acre mixed farming operation near Kinsella. His favourite childhood memory, which inspired his academic career, is riding in a combine with […] Read more

Factors like crop rotation, trash management, seedbed preparation, seeding date, seeding rate, fertility and weed control can have a significant impact on canola emergence.

Slow canola emergence: farmers call for standardized vigour testing

Dozens of farmers took to social media this spring to voice concern over alleged slowly emerging canola, but as harvest approaches, so far there are no answers

Reading Time: 3 minutes Planting canola is expensive. Some estimates are as high as $450,000 per 1,000 acres, not including land and equipment costs. So imagine the concerns of many farmers this spring when they encountered slow emergence with some canola hybrids. The most expensive crop ever planted threatened to crush the dreams of farmers eager for a comeback […] Read more


Renewable diesel is a clean-burning fuel chemically identical to regular diesel and can lower greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent.

It’s good to be green — canola cleared under new ‘clean fuel’ regulations

Canola sector fought hard for rules that wouldn’t tie growers in red tape

Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers are closer to having a major new canola market — large-scale biofuel production — following the release of federal Clean Fuel Regulations intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The regulations indicate prairie growers have finally made the cut after years of negotiations between canola industry representatives and government. Canola is now fully accepted as […] Read more