Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures were lower on Monday as early-session support from a lower-than-anticipated government forecast on spring plantings faded and the market’s focus turned to ample U.S. supplies and rising trade tensions with top importer China. Corn futures notched a 2-1/2-week high on the U.S. Agriculture Department’s bullish acreage forecast late […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans sink on plentiful stocks, trade tensions
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
U.S. grains: Corn, soy soar on bullish USDA plantings forecast
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures jumped nearly four per cent on Thursday and soybeans surged more than two per cent after the U.S. Department of Agriculture stunned traders by projecting a year-on-year decline in soybean plantings and a larger-than-expected drop in corn acres. Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures followed the firm trend, […] Read more
USDA sees soy, corn acreage falling as supplies hit record
Washington | Reuters — U.S. farmers will cut their plantings of both soybeans and corn this spring with supplies of both commodities at record highs, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday. Soybean plantings, despite the expected drop, will top corn acreage for the first time since 1983, USDA said. Wheat seedings will rise by […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat hits two-month low
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures dipped to two-month lows on Wednesday as improving weather for developing crops in the drought-hit southern Plains put the focus back on ample world supplies, traders said. Corn and soybean futures closed lower after a choppy session as traders squared positions a day ahead of key U.S. planting […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat down on better weather, positioning ahead of USDA
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures declined on Tuesday as rains in the Southern Plains breadbasket boosted prospects for the region’s drought-hit winter wheat crop, analysts said. Soybean futures fell while corn closed flat in light volume ahead of key data due this week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The government was […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans hit one-week high as trade fears ease
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures touched one-week highs on Monday as fears eased that a trade war with China will take a bite out of crop exports. The markets ultimately closed lower on technical selling and profit-taking, analysts said. However, traders were breathing easier after China’s commerce ministry on Friday did […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans end lower in volatile session
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed mostly lower on Friday after a wild session that saw the May soybean contract tumble to its lowest in over a month on worries about trade tensions, only to pare losses and briefly turn higher in late moves as soymeal soared. Corn closed modestly higher after notching […] 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
U.S. grains: Wheat rebounds after weather-driven selloff
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures firmed Thursday on bargain-buying a day after forecasts for much-needed moisture pressed the Kansas City May hard red winter wheat contract to a seven-week low, traders said. Corn futures closed modestly higher while soybeans ended mostly steady. Chicago Board of Trade May wheat futures settled up 2-1/4 cents […] Read more