Reading Time: 2 minutes Nitrate accumulation can become a problem when crops experience light frosts of -1 C to -2 C for even only a few hours during the night. These conditions damage the leaves of the plants, but not the roots. Over the next three to four days, the roots continue to send nutrients up the plant, and […] Read more
Nitrate buildup a threat after a light frost
When this happens you need to either harvest quickly or wait for nitrate levels to subside
CP to chart weekly grain handling performance online
Canadian Pacific Railway plans to launch a new weekly “supply chain scorecard” next week, to chart its own performance handling Prairie grain. The Calgary company announced the new program Friday for an online launch Wednesday (Oct. 19), noting the scorecard “will include, when necessary, detailed information on any internal or external factors affecting grain movement” as […] Read more
Harvest halted. Snow flattens crops, covers swaths
Alberta crop conditions as of October 11
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to the long term normal (since 1960), most areas in Alberta experienced more snow for this time of the year than is typical. Over the past week, harvest has come to a halt due to snow flattening crops and covering swaths, followed by cold weather. It will take time for crops to dry up […] Read more
Oat crop quality varies with moisture damage
CNS Canada — Oat quality is mixed across Western Canada, one buyer says, as moisture caused damage to not-yet-harvested grains. “Any oats that are still out there that have had substantial amounts of rain are likely not going to make milling spec,” said Ryan McKnight of Linear Grain. The portion of production usable for the […] Read more
Harvest nears 50 per cent, wet soils slow progress
Alberta crop conditions as of September 27
Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers were able to harvest a further 14 per cent of crops this past week bringing the harvested total to near 50 per cent in spite of unsettled weather in all regions. All regions reported similar harvest progress for the week. Wet soils continue to hinder harvest operations necessitating the need to bypass acres with […] Read more
Wet weather slows harvest operations, halts some producers completely
Alberta crop conditions as of September 6
Reading Time: 2 minutes The wet weather over the past week slowed down or completely halted harvest operations in most areas across the province, especially the North East, North West and Peace Regions. The recent moisture will also have a potential impact on crop quality. Provincially, 16 per cent of the crop has been harvested (up seven per cent […] Read more
Canada’s canola, wheat stocks shrink less than expected
Winnipeg/Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian canola and wheat stockpiles were sharply lower in midsummer from a year earlier, the smallest in three years, but bigger than expected, a Statistics Canada report showed on Wednesday. StatsCan pegged all-wheat stocks as of July 31 at 5.2 million tonnes, down 27 per cent from a year ago but […] Read more
Wet weather continues to drag out harvest operations
Alberta crop conditions as of August 23
Reading Time: < 1 minute The wet weather pattern that has persisted throughout the entire growing season continued to affect the province this week with amounts varying from showers in the South to light rain in the Central and North East regions and heavy rain in the North West. Only the Peace received an extended period of dry weather which […] Read more
StatsCan’s canola estimates taken with grain of salt
CNS Canada — Statistics Canada’s latest crop production estimates are in and while they may raise a few eyebrows, the numbers aren’t likely to cause havoc in the markets, according to most trade analysts. StatsCan on Tuesday pegged canola production in 2016-17 at 17 million tonnes. That compares to pre-report ideas of 15.9 to 20 […] Read more
Inclement weather helps put harvest operations behind average
Alberta crop conditions as of August 16
Reading Time: 2 minutes Widespread showers and thunderstorms have continued to dominate weather patterns over the past several weeks. However, most areas across the province have also had some sunny and warm days to help mature crops. Provincially, crop growing conditions did not change from a week ago and are rated as 84 per cent good to excellent, compared […] Read more
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