Reading Time: 2 minutes Over the past week, most areas of the province received at least 10 mm of rain, with the western areas of the Southern, Central and North West Regions as well as southern areas of the Peace Region receiving over 20-30 mm of rain. About 96 per cent of crops across the province have now been […] Read more
Seeding nears the finish line, growing conditions good to excellent
Alberta crop conditions as of June 13
Parched soils threaten canola, spring wheat
Winnipeg | Reuters — Canada’s western farm belt, dogged by excessive rain in some areas this spring, is now facing parched conditions in others, threatening wheat and canola crops, crop analysts say. A large area of southern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba has received less than 40 per cent of normal precipitation during the 30-day period […] Read more
Ottawa still considering eliminating deferred grain cash tickets
Alberta crop commissions say federal finance officials don’t understand the serious impact of eliminating the tax break
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa is extending the public consultations on the “potential elimination” of deferred grain cash tickets by two months. But Alberta farm leaders say federal finance officials have “little understanding” of the importance of the income tax break and “the far-reaching implications if farmers were to lose access to this tool.” “We believe that the government […] Read more
Deadline extended for comment on cash ticket deferral
Public consultations on the income tax treatment of deferred grain cash tickets, with an eye toward “potential elimination” of farmers’ option to defer grain income, have been extended by two months. The federal government on Tuesday said the consultation, first announced in Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s March budget and due to end Wednesday, will instead […] Read more
Prairie oats at tipping point
CNS Canada –– Seeding delays in Western Canada could see more area shift into oats, which need a shorter growing season and minimal inputs compared to other options. However, with many fields still unharvested from last year, a tipping point will eventually be reached when nothing will be seeded at all in some areas. In […] Read more
CropChoice$ for 2017 now online
Reading Time: < 1 minute This years’s edition of the CropChoice$ planning tool is now available. The tool uses the latest crop insurance data from AFSC and projected crop costs to evaluate a crop plan in its entirety, said provincial crops economist Rawlin Thangara. “Let’s say a producer has a crop plan for 10 fields that he wishes to evaluate. […] Read more
StatsCan data confirm tight canola supplies
CNS Canada — Grain and oilseed stocks data released Friday from Statistics Canada were bullish for canola and wheat — though analysts suggest the effects of the report on the market may be short-lived. Figures for barley, lentils and peas were above year-ago levels, but movements in those markets are more likely be driven by […] Read more
Canadian canola stocks seen dwindling to four-year low
Winnipeg | Reuters — Canadian stockpiles of canola dwindled to a four-year low ahead of planting season after brisk demand from crushers and exporters, but wheat supplies swelled, according to a Reuters survey of 12 traders and analysts. On Friday, Statistics Canada will estimate crop supplies as of March 31, 2017, from commercial and farm […] Read more
Broadcast seeding: A last-resort option may gain traction this season
It’s far from ideal, but broadcasting may be the only choice for some this seeding season
Reading Time: 3 minutes All winter, many Albertan crop producers have had the distinct displeasure of driving past acres — in some cases, the many acres — they were unable to harvest last fall. In a best-case scenario, there will be enough time to harvest any redeemable crop, manage residue, and still seed in a timely fashion. But some […] Read more
Here are some options for late-spring seeding this year
Crop specialist Harry Brook says it’s worth taking a look at Polish canola, and checking historical frost dates for your area
Reading Time: 3 minutes Seeding in late spring is fraught with variables beyond producers’ control, but there are some things they can do to hedge their bets, says a provincial crop specialist. Most come down to plant and variety selection, and canola in particular features some strong options, said Harry Brook. “There are varieties out there that do fairly […] Read more
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