Crops
CNS Canada — Soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) moved higher during the week ended Wednesday, and could be headed above the US$11 per bushel level if weather in the U.S. Midwest stays too wet, an analyst said. “If weather remains somewhat unfavourable we could see, over the medium term, prices maybe […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Soy headed above US$11 if weather stays wet
India’s Modi battles opposition to key land reform
New Delhi | Reuters — India’s opposition parties boycotted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest attempt to build consensus around a business-friendly land bill Wednesday, boding badly for his ambitious agenda of economic reform in a parliament session that starts next week. Almost half of India’s 31 chief ministers spurned Modi’s invitation to meet him in […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, soy fall on fund liquidation, better weather
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybeans and wheat fell on Wednesday, pressured by investment fund selling tied to outlooks for drier weather in the U.S. and reduced export demand. Corn futures reversed from earlier losses to finish narrowly higher as midday weather outlooks predicted hot temperatures that could stress plants during the crucial pollination phase. […] Read more
Both pros and cons to tile drainage
Being able to remove excess moisture is a big plus, but there are a lot of factors to take into account
Reading Time: 3 minutes It wasn’t long ago that if you asked most Alberta producers if they used tile drainage, they likely wouldn’t know what you were talking about. A common practice in Ontario and the U.S. Midwest, it’s only in recent years that Alberta growers have warmed to this system in which subsurface tubes remove excess moisture from […] Read more
Greenhouse growers have new fact sheet on integrated pest management
Reading Time: < 1 minute A new fact sheet is available to help greenhouse growers with their integrated pest management programs. “By taking appropriate steps, such as the ones outlined in this new publication, greenhouse growers can ensure a quality crop and a reduction in pest-related problems during the growing season,” said commercial horticulture specialist Dustin Morton. Entitled Greenhouse Sanitation, […] Read more
Get rid of unwanted meds and pesticides
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers and ranchers in southern Alberta will be able to dispose of unwanted or obsolete pesticide and livestock medications this fall. The Canadian Animal Health Institute and CleanFARMS will conduct the collection from Oct. 26-30 at 20 collection sites. A list of pickup sites will be posted at the CleanFARMS website later this summer. A similar […] Read more
‘Stinking nightshade’ a deadly menace
Noxious weed is poisonous to livestock and humans
Reading Time: < 1 minute In 2014, black henbane was spotted in Wheatland, Starland and Kneehill counties, and as far north as Lesser Slave River. All parts of this noxious weed are poisonous to livestock and humans. Poisoning can result in impaired vision, convulsions, coma, and death from heart or respiratory failure. Although known as ‘stinking nightshade,’ it does not […] Read more
Influential hedge fund takes stake in Syngenta
Reuters — Hedge fund Paulson + Co. has taken a stake in Syngenta, and could push for the board of directors of the Swiss pesticide maker to accept a takeover offer from U.S. seed company Monsanto, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday. Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, made a US$45 billion bid for […] Read more
Talks wrap on Canada/Ukraine free trade pact
Canada’s crop and livestock producers expect to benefit soon from a free trade agreement with Ukraine, on which the two countries’ governments have now formally completed talks. Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Tuesday, during a visit from Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, that trade negotiations between the two countries wrapped up in Kiev on July 9, and […] Read more
Lethbridge feed barley prices move upward, watch U.S. corn
CNS Canada — Hot, dry conditions in Alberta and western Saskatchewan are delaying and stressing this year’s barley crop — but action in U.S. corn is now the barley market’s primary driver, according to one expert. “This recent rally in corn has helped barley and feed wheat move higher; we’re in a market driven by […] Read more