Reading Time: < 1 minute Warm and dry weather over the past week provided favourable conditions for seeding operations in most of the province. Provincially, seeding progress has increased 30 per cent from a week ago, to 67 per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average (2013-2017) of 83 per cent. Regionally, seeding progress is most advanced in the Southern […] Read more
Seeding makes good progress, surface soil moisture levels declining
Alberta crop conditions as of May 22, 2018
Canola stocks comfortable, eyes on new crop
CNS Canada — Canadian canola stocks are rather large heading into the new growing season, but attention now is firmly on new-crop production. Statistics Canada on Friday pegged canola supplies in the country as of March 31 at 9.1 million tonnes, the second-largest on record for that time of year and about 1.1 million tonnes […] Read more
ICE to move canola trade to U.S. exchange
The business of trading and clearing canola futures is poised to leave Winnipeg for New York City this summer. Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the operator of canola exchange ICE Futures Canada, announced Tuesday it will be “transitioning” the trading and clearing of canola contracts to New York-based ICE Futures U.S. and ICE Clear U.S. ICE […] Read more
Grain trade skeptical of StatsCan’s acreage outlook
CNS Canada — After predictions of record canola area and a drop in pulse acres, traders and analysts are doubtful of Statistics Canada’s predictions for smaller canola acres, much larger wheat acres and only minor reductions in pulse acres. “It’s unusual for everybody to just be this out of whack on this report,” said Ken […] Read more
New cropping business tools available
Reading Time: < 1 minute The 2018 versions of Cropping Alternatives and the new Crop Budget Calculator tool are now available. They allow producers to project costs, margins, and break-even yields for potential crops. Cropping Alternatives “forecasts margins based on benchmark yields, current cost of production, expected revenues, and costs by soil zone. With this information producers can get an […] Read more
It’s a sure sign of spring — the ‘Blue Book’ is here
It’s 600 pages of info on pesticide products, and an invaluable guide for producers across the province
Reading Time: < 1 minute This year’s edition of the ‘Blue Book’ is now available. “An important part of the annual update includes newly registered pesticide products,” said crop specialist Mark Cutts, co-editor of the book, officially known as Crop Protection 2018. “This year’s edition includes new additions to the four main pesticide types: herbicides, insecticides, seed treatments, and foliar fungicides. […] Read more
Get the lowdown on plant growth regulators and crop varieties
PGR fact sheet looks at lodging and staging while crop fact sheets examine performance in Alberta
Reading Time: 2 minutes New fact sheets on plant growth regulators and crop varieties are now available. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are synthetic compounds that can modify plant growth and development by altering plant hormonal activity. While PGRs are popular in other regions of the world like Western Europe, their use in Western Canada is relatively new. “The plant […] Read more
Prairie flax market flat, acres set to decline
CNS Canada — A flat flax market in Western Canada has buyers feeling indifferent about this year’s prospects. “There’s no big hurrahs right now on flax… I hate to say it, I’m a very optimistic type of person, but it’s kind of a flat market right now,” said Ben Friesen, senior market manager at Scoular […] Read more
Peace Country farmers told the time to halt clubroot is now
Workshops are being held across the region to arm farmers with best practices for combating the devastating canola disease
Reading Time: 2 minutes Clubroot was found in the Peace last summer — and that’s prompted an all-out effort to mobilize the farm community to do everything possible to halt the spread of the disease. Officials from the ag research group SARDA and local municipalities along with ag fieldmen are hosting workshops at seven different locations so producers can […] Read more
Richardson won’t renew canola, flax, soy funding
One of Canada’s biggest grain companies is stepping out of three Canadian oilseed industry organizations — and taking its funding when it goes. Winnipeg-based, privately-held Richardson International has announced it will not provide funding in 2018 for the Canola Council of Canada and the Flax Council of Canada, nor will it renew its funding commitment […] Read more
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