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
Grain trade skeptical of StatsCan’s acreage outlook
Pulse weekly outlook: Prairie lentils look for spark
CNS Canada — It’s not exactly a banner time for the lentil market. Prices have been steady to slightly lower over the past month as lacklustre interest and Indian tariffs on peas and chickpeas have largely dissuaded farmers from planting pulses in general. “I think the impact and extension of the impact of the Indian […] Read more
Trade predicts fewer pulse acres, another canola record
CNS Canada — With the uncertainty regarding the pulse exports to India, it’s looking like 2018 could see more canola acres planted in Canada. Statistics Canada will release its Principal Field Crop Areas report on Friday (April 27). Last year saw Canada’s canola area at a record 23 million acres, but this year could again […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Monsoon outlook bearish for Canadian crop
CNS Canada — India is forecasting an average monsoon rainfall this year, making the chance of India importing Canadian pulse crops slim. “Given the tariff scheme and the protectionist attitudes India has displayed this year, I think it will take a major weather influence to hurry up the correction to (imports),” said Marlene Boersch, managing […] Read more
Normal monsoon season expected for India
Reading Time: < 1 minute The India Meteorological Department is suggesting this year’s monsoon season will be average, the Times of India reports. The newspaper points to a recent weather bulletin from the agency saying El Niño won’t be a factor during the summer rainy season. The weather pattern — an abnormal warming of the ocean surface in central and […] Read more
Peas are a bit of bright spot in a gloomy year for pulses
Market watchers say peas have some support but India’s tariffs will weigh heavily for quite a while
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s a bad pun, but there is a bit of a case to ‘give peas a chance’ this year. “Peas are looking better than lentils. If I had to bet on one versus the other, I would probably favour peas,” said Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research. “The reason for that is we hear all […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Low prices change growers’ marketing tack
CNS Canada — After years of western Canadian farmers rushing to lock in pulse crop contracts during the spring, this year that hasn’t been the case. “Normally I would say that I’d have my plant booked to December and I don’t have a single thing booked this year. But does that mean we’re not going […] 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