Crops
Commodity News Service Canada — Many regions of central Alberta saw some beneficial rainfall going into the weekend, which provided some relief to dry fields and aided crops as they head into the filling stage. “What it’s basically going to do is help fill the crops. In some places they had up to two inches of rain […] Read more
Central Alberta receives weekend rainfall
Up to two inches in some areas will help fill crops
Prairie cash wheat prices down but durum bids up
Average CWRS wheat prices were down by $7 to $12 per tonne over the week
Commodity News Service Canada — Spring wheat cash bids across Western Canada moved lower during the week ended July 17, as losses in the U.S. futures and improving weather conditions in some parts of the Prairies weighed on values. However, durum was the one bright spot from a pricing standpoint, with declining Canadian crop prospects […] Read more
Fertilizer spill halts water use from Alta. river
Officials are urging users of water from southern Alberta’s Little Bow River and Travers Reservoir to shut down those uses until further notice, following a farm fertilizer spill. The province’s environment department said about 9,800 litres of liquid urea ammonium nitrate were “accidentally released” Wednesday from a container on private land in Vulcan County, northeast […] Read more
In bid for Syngenta, Monsanto woos U.S. farmer support
Reuters — As Monsanto struggles to convince rival Syngenta to discuss a potential merger, the seed and agrochemical giant is also wooing U.S. farmers, aiming to ease concerns about the proposed tie-up that could prompt regulatory challenges. Company executives have been criss-crossing the U.S. heartland, meeting with soybean and corn growers and a range of […] Read more
Canola replanting may hinder winter wheat seeding
CNS Canada — With canola as the preferred stubble choice into which to seed winter wheat in Western Canada, it’s possible farmers will run into problems seeding this fall due to vast canola reseeding in early June. “The crop insurance said there was over a million acres reseeded (in Manitoba), and when you reseed, unless […] Read more
Dry weather reducing Prairie wheat midge problems
CNS Canada — Wheat midge hasn’t been causing as many problems as first anticipated in Western Canada this year, as a dry spring hindered the pests’ emergence. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s wheat midge forecast, released earlier this year, initially showed high risk levels for the insect, but the dryness is hampering their effects on […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, wheat fall on dollar gains, weather
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and wheat fell as much as two per cent on Friday, while soybeans also declined as the dollar climbed and rains provided needed moisture in the western half of the U.S. Midwest crop belt. Chart-based selling also was noted as prices for the crops fell below key moving averages, […] Read more
Sask. grain handler cancels share buyback in dry spell
An independent grain terminal in parched northwestern Saskatchewan has called off a planned share repurchase, to conserve cash against a possible drop in its grain handle. North West Terminal, which operates a grain terminal and ethanol plant just east of Unity, about 90 km southwest of North Battleford, said Thursday it won’t go ahead with […] Read more
Alberta weekly pest update
Conditions as of July 16, 2015
Reading Time: < 1 minute Grasshoppers love the heat and so far this summer they’ve had more than their share. According to Scott Meers, insect management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, all the additional heat has allowed grasshoppers to reach their adult stage two weeks earlier than normal. If grasshoppers are attacking your crop, Meers offers some advice about […] Read more
Early Sask. lentil, pea harvests likely to support prices
CNS Canada –– Saskatchewan’s dryness could likely mean an earlier harvest and smaller yield for pea and lentil crops this year, according to a regional crop specialist. That means new-crop prices will be supported, said Chuck Penner, president at LeftField Commodity Research. Old crops are disappearing, he said, and the market will become active as […] Read more